"Another Love" by British singer-songwriter Tom Odell is a hauntingly beautiful indie-pop ballad that has transcended time to become a global anthem for heartbreak. Originally released in 2013, the song recently saw a massive resurgence on platforms like TikTok, resonating with a new generation of listeners who relate to its raw honesty about emotional burnout.
💔 The Deeper Meaning
At its core, "Another Love" is not just about a breakup; it is about the inability to love someone new. The narrator is addressing a current partner (or potential lover), explaining that he wants to give them everything—flowers, attention, affection—but he simply cannot. Why? Because his previous relationship was so traumatic and draining that it used up all his emotional energy. It explores the tragic feeling of meeting the right person at the wrong time, when you are too "broken" to love them properly.
🎵 Lyrics Breakdown and Analysis
Here is a look at the key lines that explain this painful emotional state.
(The Desire vs. The Reality)
"I wanna take you somewhere so you know I care / But it's so cold and I don't know where."
Analysis: He starts by expressing his intention. He wants to be a good partner and show he cares. However, the "coldness" represents his internal numbness. He is physically present but emotionally lost.
(The Chorus - Emotional Bankruptcy)
"On another love, another love / All my tears have been used up."
Analysis: This is the most famous line. He isn't crying because he doesn't care; he isn't crying because he has literally run out of tears. He spent so much emotion, energy, and fight on his previous lover ("another love") that he is now emotionally bankrupt. He has nothing left in his account to give to this new person.
(The Frustration)
"And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight / But my hand's been broken, one too many times."
Analysis: He wants to be her protector ("wanna fight"), but he is too damaged ("hand's been broken"). It’s a metaphor for being too scarred by past arguments and conflicts to engage in a new relationship fully.
📜 FULL ENGLISH LYRICS: ANOTHER LOVE
I wanna take you somewhere so you know I care But it's so cold and I don't know where I brought you daffodils in a pretty string But they won't flower like they did last spring
And I wanna kiss you, make you feel alright I'm just so tired to share my nights I wanna cry and I wanna love But all my tears have been used up
(Chorus) On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up
And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight But my hand's been broken, one too many times So I'll use my voice, I'll be so fucking rude Words they always win, but I know I'll lose
And I'd sing a song, that'd be just ours But I sang 'em all to another heart And I wanna cry, I wanna learn to love But all my tears have been used up
(Chorus) On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up
(Bridge) I wanna sing a song, that'd be just ours But I sang 'em all to another heart And I wanna cry, I wanna learn to love But all my tears have been used up
(Chorus) On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up On another love, another love All my tears have been used up
Conclusion
"Another Love" remains a masterpiece because it captures a very specific, painful human experience: the realization that past trauma has stolen your ability to enjoy a new future. Its deep meaning ensures it will remain a high-traffic search term for years to come.
Tags:
english lyrics