Breaking Us In Two

Joe Jackson's song "Breaking Us In Two" delves into the complexities and challenges of maintaining a romantic relationship when two individuals have differing desires and needs. The lyrics express a sense of frustration and longing for change, as the narrator questions whether their relationship can survive the constant push and pull of their conflicting interests. The opening lines, "Don't you feel like trying something new / Don't you feel like breaking out / Or breaking us in two," set the tone for the song, highlighting the tension between the desire for personal freedom and the fear of losing the relationship altogether.

Throughout the song, Jackson explores the idea that while love is often portrayed as two hearts beating as one, the reality is much more complicated. The lines, "They say two hearts should beat as one for us / We'll fight it out to see it through / I say that won't be too much fun for us," suggest that the ideal of perfect harmony in a relationship is unrealistic and that the struggle to maintain it can be exhausting. The narrator acknowledges that advice from others may sound good in theory, but putting it into practice is a different story.

The song also touches on the idea of intimacy and the difficulty of truly connecting with another person. The lyrics, "Could we be much closer if we tried / We could stay at home and stare / Into each other's eyes / Maybe we could last an hour / Maybe then we'd see right through," reflect the uncertainty and vulnerability that come with trying to bridge the gap between two people. Ultimately, "Breaking Us In Two" captures the bittersweet reality of love, where the desire for closeness is often met with the challenge of maintaining individuality and personal freedom.