A Great Big World, ‘Say Something’ Feat. Christina Aguilera – Song Meaning

Words can sting like anything, but silence? Silence breaks the heart. 'Say Something,' A Great Big World's achingly beautiful duet with Christina Aguilera, captures the end of a relationship, when it's far too late for words. But that doesn't stop the participants from offering that one last chance, however fleeting and futile.

We're offering our interpretation of this spare, but powerful song.

"Say something, I'm giving up on you / I'll be the one, if you want me to / Anywhere, I would've followed you / Say something, I'm giving up on you."

Someone has to say it. Someone has to make the first move, when you start a relationship and end it. Both situations hard, with one being decidedly harder.

"And I will swallow my pride / You're the one that I love / And I'm saying goodbye."

The narrator sucks it up and initiates the end, but it's clear, he or she does not like the present scenario. Maybe he or she doesn't really want to end it... but has no other choice.

"And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you / And anywhere, I would have followed you."

How that's for grinding glass and acid into a festering, fresh wound. It didn't have to be this way, but it is. Ouch.

That's our read on 'Say Something,' a beautiful song that tugs at each and every heartstring.

Listen to 'Say Something'