About the song
Alright, let’s dive into the classic that is “Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do” by Neil Sedaka. Now, this isn’t just a song, it’s a cultural touchstone. Released in 1962, it perfectly captured the teenage angst of the era, that raw emotion of first love and heartbreak. Sedaka, with his boyish charm and that instantly recognizable voice, delivered a song that resonated with a generation and continues to strike a chord with listeners today.
What makes “Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do” so enduring? Firstly, the melody is simply infectious. It’s one of those tunes that burrows its way into your brain and refuses to leave, and you’ll find yourself humming it long after the song has finished. The structure of the song, with its verse-chorus build-up and those pleading “Don’t take your love away from me” lines, creates a real sense of drama and emotional urgency.
Then there are the lyrics. They’re straightforward, almost conversational, which makes the pain of the narrator all the more palpable. He’s not using flowery metaphors or complex poetic imagery; he’s just laying bare his feelings of sadness and desperation. Lines like “Remember when you held me tight / And you kissed me all through the night” evoke a sense of nostalgia for happier times, making the prospect of breaking up even more unbearable.
But “Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do” isn’t just a sad song. There’s an underlying optimism, a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they can work things out. This is reflected in the energetic, almost defiant, bridge section where the music picks up tempo and Sedaka sings, “Don’t you leave my heart in misery / If you go then I’ll be blue / ‘Cause breaking up is hard to do.” It’s this mix of vulnerability and resilience that makes the song so relatable. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? That feeling of wanting to hold on, even when we know it might be time to let go.
Sedaka himself has spoken about how the song came about. He was challenged by his publisher to write a classic ballad in the style of “Crying” by Roy Orbison. He initially resisted, wanting to break away from the teen idol image he had cultivated. But he eventually relented, and the result was a song that transcended its genre and became a timeless classic.
“Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do” went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been covered by countless artists over the years, including a slower, more melancholic version by Sedaka himself in 1975. It’s a testament to the song’s enduring appeal that it continues to be embraced by new generations of listeners. It’s a reminder that some emotions, like the pain of heartbreak, are universal and timeless.
Video
Lyrics
Do do do
Down dooby doo down down
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Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Breaking up is hard to do
Don’t take your love away from me
Don’t you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I’ll be blue
‘Cause breaking up is hard to do
Remember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we’ve been through
And breaking up is hard to do
They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know
I know that it’s true
Don’t say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
I beg of you don’t say goodbye
Can’t we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let’s start anew
‘Cause breaking up is hard to do
Now I know
I know that it’s true
(Don’t say that this is the end)
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
I beg of you don’t say goodbye
Can’t we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let’s start anew
‘Cause breaking up is hard to do
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down
