About the song
Background:
- Released in 2014 on the album “Melody Road”.
- It’s a return to Neil Diamond’s classic soft rock sound, reminiscent of the 1980s [Source: There Came a Day blog].
- There’s not much confirmed information about the song’s inspiration, but some speculate it might be semi-autobiographical, reflecting on past experiences [Source: Neil Diamond Central].
Themes:
- The song clearly deals with heartbreak and the aftermath of a failed relationship.
- Lyrics like “She broke my heart in two” and “drifting in a small boat” paint a picture of emotional devastation and isolation.
- But there’s also a flicker of hope. The latter part of the song suggests the narrator finds solace and a “new shore” thanks to someone new [Source: YouTube comments, lyrics analysis].
- It could be a reflection on learning from past experiences and finding resilience.
Overall, “Nothing But A Heartache” is a classic heartbreak ballad with a glimmer of hope for the future.
Video
Lyrics
It wasn’t nothing but a heartacheIn the middle of a bad dreamLike I took on the whole worldAnd I never had a chance, girl
Was a one-way conversationI never got the invitationThe sharpness of her words deceivingAnd I couldn’t stop the bleeding
And Lord, I tried to be forgivingBut getting by don’t mean you’re livingAnd on that highway going nowhereWas an exit overdue
And all she had to give was heartacheSo she broke my heart in twoYes, she did
You found me drifting in a small boatIn the middle of an oceanYou were there on my horizonAnd I didn’t have a notion
Unprepared to comprehend itFelt alone and unattendedSaid my prayers and reached my hand outAnd you appeared to me that day
Came and led me to a new shoreI had never been there beforePut me in the right directionAnd you led me out of Hell
And if it wasn’t for your good heartI’d have never broke her spell‘Cause you promised me tomorrowBut I learned that lesson wellYes, I did. Oh yes, I did
You’re the sum of all my heartbeatsYou’re the only truth my heart needsShowed me how to make the journeyI can’t let you walk away, no, not today
‘Cause I’ve already slept with heartacheTime to chase the night awayJust the two of us togetherAnd does forever sound okay?
Say, “Yes, it does”Say, “Yes, it does”Oh, yes it does