The Meaning and Significance of the Song 'When I Was Your Man' - Bruno Mars, About Failing to Move On from an Ex

Kapanlagi.com - Who doesn't know the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars? This pop piano ballad released in 2013 has successfully touched the hearts of many listeners with its lyrics full of regret.

The song When I Was Your Man itself has a deep meaning about a man who still remembers his past relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Meanwhile, the story behind this song is very personal for Bruno Mars. Dive deeper into the meaning of the song When I Was Your Man, which is part of Bruno Mars' second album, Unorthodox Jukebox.

Access articles about Bruno Mars at Liputan6.

1. Lyrics of 'When I Was Your Man' by Bruno Mars

Lyrics of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Instagram.com/brunomars/)

Same bed
(The same bed)
But it feels just a little bit bigger now
(But now it feels a bit bigger)
Our song on the radio
(Our song is playing on the radio)
But it don’t sound the same
(But it doesn’t sound the same)
When our friends talk about you
(When our friends talk about you)
All it does is just tear me down
(All it does is just hurt me)
Cause my heart breaks a little
(Because my heart breaks)
When I hear your name
(When I hear your name)
It all just sound like uh, uh, uh
(It all just sounds like uh, uh, uh)

Hmmm too young, too dumb to realize
(Hmmm too young, too dumb to realize)
That I should have bought you flowers and held your hand
(That I should have bought you flowers and held your hand)
Should have given all my hours when I had the chance
(Should have given all my hours when I had the chance)
Take you to every party
(Take you to every party)
Cause all you wanted to do was dance
(Because all you wanted to do was dance)
Now my baby is dancing,
(Now my baby is dancing,)
But she’s dancing with another man
(But she’s dancing with another man)

My pride, my ego, my needs and my selfish ways
(My pride, my ego, my needs and my selfish ways)
Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
(Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out of my life)
Now I'll never, never get to clean out the mess I’m in
(Now I'll never, never get to clean up this mess I’m in)
And it haunts me every time I close my eyes
(And it haunts me every time I close my eyes)
It all just sounds like uh, uh, uh, uh
(It all just sounds like uh, uh, uh, uh)

Although it hurts
(Although it hurts)
I’ll be the first to say that I was wrong
(I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong)
Oh, I know I’m probably much too late
(Oh, I know I’m probably much too late)
To try and apologize for my mistakes
(To try and apologize for my mistakes)
But I just want you to know
(But I just want you to know)
I hope he buys you flowers,
(I hope he buys you flowers,)
I hope he holds your hands
(I hope he holds your hands)
Give you all his hours when he has the chance
(Give you all his hours when he has the chance)
Take you to every party
(Take you to every party)
Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
(Because I remember how much you loved to dance)
Do all the things I should have done
(Do all the things I should have done)
When I was your man!
(When I was your man)

2. Meaning of the Song 'When I Was Your Man': About Failing to Move On from an Ex

The meaning of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Youtube.com/Bruno Mars)

In general, When I Was Your Man is a very emotional pop piano ballad that tells the story of someone who cannot move on from a relationship with an ex. The song depicts the feelings of a man who realizes his mistakes after losing his lover.

The first verse of this song immediately brings listeners into a mood of loneliness and emptiness after a breakup. The lyrics Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now / Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same describe a bed that feels empty without the presence of a lover.

Their song on the radio now sounds different, filled with sadness and deep regret. Every time his ex's name is mentioned, his heart feels hurt and shattered, as expressed in the lyrics When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down / Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name.

3. Ego and Regret that Haunt

The deep message of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Youtube.com/Bruno Mars)

In the second verse, the singer admits that pride, ego, personal needs, and selfishness are the main causes of the end of the relationship. The lyrics Uh, my pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways / Caused a good, strong woman like you to walk out my life show that he blames himself.

He realizes that he will never be able to fix the mistakes he has made, and this regret continues to haunt him. The phrase "And that haunts me every time I close my eyes" illustrates how past mistakes continue to overshadow his thoughts. The meaning of this song also contains regret and heartbreak after the relationship ends.

4. Sincerity in the Midst of Delay

The touching lyrics of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Youtube.com/Bruno Mars)

The chorus section is the core of the regret felt by the singer, detailing simple yet important things he should have done. He laments his failure to give his best to his ex-lover.

This shows the lack of attention and effort he put in while they were together. The lyrics That I should've bought you flowers / And held your hand / Shoulda gave you all my hours / When I had the chance / Take you to every party / 'Cause all you wanted to do was dance serve as a reminder of all the missed moments.

Although it is painful, there is courage in admitting his mistakes. The lyrics Although it hurts / I'll be the first to say that I was wrong are a sincere acknowledgment. He knows that it may be too late to apologize or fix things, but he still wants his ex-lover to know about his regret. This message is conveyed with hope, But I just want you to know.

5. Bitter Reality: She Dances with Another Man

About the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Youtube.com/Bruno Mars)

The peak of this regret is the bitter realization that his ex-girlfriend has now found new happiness. The lyrics Now my baby's dancin' / But she's dancin' with another man describe the painful reality.

He sees his ex-girlfriend doing things that he should have done with her, but now with another man. This is a heavy blow to his ego and adds depth to his pain.

6. The Best Prayer for an Ex's Happiness

The song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars (credit: Youtube.com/Bruno Mars)

The final part is the most touching, where he prays for his ex-girlfriend's happiness with her new man. He hopes that the new man will do all the things he failed to do.

The lyrics I hope he buys you flowers / I hope he holds your hand / Give you all his hours / When he has the chance / Take you to every party / 'Cause I remember how much you love to dance / Do all the things I should've done / When I was your man show that even though he regrets, he still loves and wishes the best for his ex-girlfriend, even if it means he has to see her happy with someone else.

7. QnA Meaning of the Song 'When I Was Your Man'

1. What is the main meaning of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars?

The main meaning of this song is the deep regret of a man after losing his lover due to his own selfishness. The song describes the feeling of failing to move on from a past relationship, as well as the hope that the ex will find happiness with someone else.

2. When was the song When I Was Your Man released?

The song When I Was Your Man was released as the third promotional single on December 3, 2012, and then as the second single from the album Unorthodox Jukebox on January 15, 2013. Meanwhile, the music video for this song was released on February 6, 2013, through Bruno Mars' YouTube channel.

3. What made Bruno Mars feel nervous when releasing this song?

Bruno Mars revealed that this song is the most honest and real thing he has ever sung, and he felt nervous because the song was inspired by his fear of losing his girlfriend.

4. How do the lyrics of the song depict the singer's regret?

The lyrics of the song detail the things he should have done, such as buying flowers, holding hands, spending time together, and asking to dance, all of which he failed to provide while they were still together.

Follow the latest celebrity news only at Kapanlagi.com. If not now, when?

8. Ego and Regret that Haunt

In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that pride, ego, personal needs, and selfishness are the main reasons for the end of the relationship. The lyrics “Uh, my pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways / Caused a good, strong woman like you to walk out of my life” show that he blames himself.

He realizes that he will never be able to fix the mistakes he has made, and this regret continues to haunt him. The phrase “And that haunts me every time I close my eyes” illustrates how past mistakes continue to shadow his thoughts.

9. Sincerity in the Midst of Delay

Although it is painful, the *bridge* section shows the singer's courage to admit his mistakes. The lyrics “Although it hurts / I'll be the first to say that I was wrong” is a sincere acknowledgment.

He knows that it may be too late to apologize or fix the situation, but he still wants his ex-lover to know about his regret. This message is conveyed with hope, “But I just want you to know.”

10. The Best Prayer for an Ex's Happiness

The last part of the *chorus* is the most touching, where the singer prays for the happiness of his ex-lover with her new man. He hopes that the new guy will do all the things he failed to do: buy her flowers, hold her hand, spend time with her, and take her dancing.

The lyrics “I hope he buys you flowers / I hope he holds your hand / Give you all his hours / When he has the chance / Take you to every party / 'Cause I remember how much you love to dance / Do all the things I should've done / When I was your man” show that even though he regrets, he still loves and wants the best for his ex, even if it means he has to see her happy with someone else.

(kpl/nlw)