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Rewrite Lyrics

You don't know me
You can't hold me
I'll slip through your hands
I am one single grain of sand

You are free to love
Happily received
You are free to love
If that is all you need

I'm an empty space
I can't be replaced
So when you're finished with this dream
Delete begin to rewrite me

You are free to love
Happily received
You are free to love
If that is all you need

You are free to love
Happily received
You are free to love
If that is all you need

You are free to love
Happily received
You are free to love
Delete and rewrite me
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9 Meanings

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Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

I think this song is about a woman who is closed to falling in love hence with "you don't know me" But she is telling this partner "you are free to love" her and that she happily will receive this if this is all he needs but she can't promise the same in return. She can't be replaced because she never gave herself, she was an empty space. So basically anything he feels is a fantasy, can be deleted and rewritten anyway he likes because it's how he interprets her. I can be wrong but this is what I feel. <3

@Soulstar same thoughts!

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

Sup Sexy Amz, hell yeah rock on for the Sia lovers lol....I agree this song is great inspiration for song writing or poetry as u mentioned, maybe one day u to will get to meet her, fingers crossed hey babe would be awesome hey

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

It helps me write more (insert word:___) on my Poem and for something else.cough 'stories' cough

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

It doesnt get much deeper than this.

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

What can I say? Remarkable. I wouldn't expect anything else from Sia.

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

This song reminds me of my recent split with my girlfriend.

In the first verse it seems that the speaker is reminiscing on how things were when her and her partner were together, and how things are now (apart). She remarks that her partner doesn't "know her" and can't "hold her", which seems to reflect an admission that they have distanced from each other considerably. I like the lines, "I slip through your hands/I am one single grain of sand". It's kind of a line of humility that says about to her partner, "I'm not in your life anymore, but I realize that not only my life but your life moves on - for I'm just one small piece of your life; important at one time, but eventually I've become a fleeting memory". There's something so painful about those lines, yet they still capture a feeling of acceptance about the couple's split in the way she sings it.

In the second verse the speaker continues to acknowledge the separation that now exists between her and her partner, but she seems to hold herself in somewhat better esteem than the first verse. By saying that she "can't be replaced", and that she's an "empty space", the speaker more assuredly says that she really was an important part of her partner's life, and she's irreplaceable. However, in the next couple of lines the asks her ex to delete her from the ex's memory, it seems, because of what comes next in the chorus...

"you are free to love/happily received/you are free to love/if that is all you need"

It seems like when we get to that chorus that we have the speaker doing something that is to me, one of the toughest things about breaking up with someone - finally coming to closure that you want your ex to be happy, even if it means they're not with you. The speaker is trying to accept that this person she grew so close to is moving on to continue to love, but not her. Everyone needs love, and the speaker recognizes that moving on is the healthiest thing for both people involved. At the same time, it is definetly one of the hardest things ever

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

I think this song is about escaping an abusive relationship. One where the controlling partner always "re-wrote" the victimized partner into something they weren't maybe by diminishing them so they felt worthless.

You don't know me (You never knew the real me) You can't hold me (You can't control me any more) I'll slip through your hands/I am one single grain of sand (I've escaped, precisely because you made me so small. Small things easily slip away)

You are free to love/Happily received/You are free to love/If that is all you need (I'm letting you go without malice, You are free to find love somewhere else)

The second verse is a real mastery of poetry: I'm an empty space/I can't be replaced (You tried to make the real me disappear, but emptiness is powerful, it's all around us and can't be replaced by something else) So when you're finished with this dream/delete, begin to rewrite me (When you're finished fantasizing about what happened, I know you'll re-write me all over again, anyway)

My Interpretation

Lots of abusive relationships being written about on this site. I'm gathering you've never been in one...at least not on the receiving end. But ask me how it feels to be used for a frggin' "voice" and used for compassion and kindness....then tossed aside time and time again. Yup, I've been there. And now I'm signing off 'cause I am tired of hearing non-victims claim to be victims. Look in the mirror, Sally Sue; you decided LONG ago you're not worth more than you have at this very moment. And nobody is to blame (or credit) but YOU. Ugh. Goodnight....

@Ismelstar I agree with this interpretation. Except one thing, are we sure the line isn't "I can be replaced"? I don't hear a T, of course even if it is "can't" i'm sure Sia won't be pronouncing the T, but still. I think it makes more sense if the victim is realizing that her part in the relationship can just be replaced by the abuser with a new victim.

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

gorgeous.. it is so beautiful to chill to and when you are in a thoughtful mood.. also great to write poetry to and just makes you think, as all of sia´s songs do.. she has such a unique voice.. zero 7 (band she is in) is also great..

Cover art for Rewrite lyrics by Sia

I think this is about being afraid to be loved because of bad experiences.

My Interpretation