Sledgehammer Lyrics
Like a waterfall, my tears dropped to the floor, the floor
They left a swimming pool of salted crimes, crimes
Oh, what could I do to change your mind?
Nothing
I'm using all my strength to get out of this hole
[Chorus]
I hit a wall, I thought that I would hurt myself
Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious
And on the floor I'd be lying cold, lifeless
But I hit a wall, I hit 'em all, watch the fall
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
I can't survive a life that's without you, that's without you, yeah
And I will rise up from the ashes now, the ashes now
Oh, the sparrow flies with just the crumbs of loving spilled, yeah
I gathered all my strength and I found myself whole
Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious
And on the floor I'd be lying cold, lifeless
But I hit a wall, I hit 'em all, watch the fall
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
You're just another brick and I'm a sledgehammer
This songs speaks to me because it reminds me of when I found out my first serious boyfriend was on his way to my place to break up with me. I was distraught over what was about to happen and was expecting to be completely crushed, because I had never experienced a painful breakup ("Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious / And on the floor I'd be lying cold, lifeless"). It was a very rough feeling for awhile ("Yeah I hit a wall, I prayed that I would make it through"), but what I braced myself for was worse than what I'd felt in actuality.
To get past it, I focused on how miserable he had been making me for quite some time, what a jerk he turned out to be, and how unattractive and disappointing he really was. I then transformed the sadness, rejection, and loneliness into clarity, power, and strength. I felt confident, beautiful, and free; my life only went up from there- I have achieved a great deal compared to him, and used the experience as a lesson in how to choose someone better.
My next serious relationship turned into what is now a great marriage! I now see my ex as "just another brick," meaning another brick in the wall (something that toughened me up), and a brittle object that would smash easily if he could only see me now ("and I'm a sledgehammer").
It's, in my opinion, about being done with something you never thought you'd be done with. Walking away from what hurts you with the idea that it will kinda crumble you, but somehow it doesn't.