The Meaning Behind The Song: Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia’s hit song “Torn” released in 1997 became an instant success and remained in the UK Top 40 charts for three months. The song also won several awards and nominations for its soothing melody and powerful lyrics. The music video was equally popular, and Natalie’s stunning performance in it captured many hearts. This article explores the meaning behind the song and what inspired its creation.
The Inspiration Behind The Song
“Torn” is a cover song originally written by the American alternative rock band Ednaswap and released on their album “Ednaswap” in 1995. However, it was Natalie Imbruglia’s cover that popularized it and made it a global sensation. The song’s lyrics are about a woman who has lost her sense of direction in life and feels disconnected from everything around her.
Natalie revealed in several interviews that she could relate to the song’s lyrics because she had just come out of a long-term relationship and was trying to find herself again. She said, “I was at a parallel point in my life where I didn’t know what was going on, and I wanted to feel pure and free. The song helped me express those emotions, and I think that’s why it resonated with so many people.”
The Lyrics and their Meaning
The opening lines of the song set the tone for what’s to come:
“I thought, I saw a man brought to life
He was warm, he came around like he was dignified”
These lines show the protagonist’s vulnerability and how she’s looking for someone to bring her back to life. She’s searching for someone who can make her feel whole again. The next few lines further emphasize her confusion and lack of direction:
“He showed me what it was to cry
Well, you couldn’t be that man I adored
You don’t seem to know, don’t seem to care
What your heart is for”
Here, the protagonist realizes that the man she’s with isn’t the one she thought he was. She’s struggling to understand what her heart is telling her, and the man she’s with isn’t helping her figure it out. The chorus of the song is where the protagonist’s emotions become more intense:
“I’m all out of faith
This is how I feel
I’m cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor”
The lyrics in the chorus represent the protagonist’s state of mind. She’s lost faith in herself and the man she’s with. She feels exposed and vulnerable, lying naked on the floor, both physically and emotionally. The next few lines further highlight her desperation:
“Illusion never changed into something real
I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn”
This part of the song suggests that the protagonist was living in a bubble, an illusion, where she thought everything with the man she was with was perfect. But the reality is that her world is falling apart, and she’s wide awake to see it. The perfect sky is torn, which represents the protagonist’s shattered life.
The second verse of the song tells a story of a relationship that’s not meant to last:
“There’s nothing where he used to lie
My inspiration has run dry
That’s what’s going on, nothing’s fine, I’m torn”
The protagonist now fully understands that the relationship she was in has run its course. Her inspiration has dried up, and she’s left with nothing. The outro of the song is where Natalie adds her own lyrics and enhances the song’s meaning:
“There’s nothing left, I used to cry
My conversation has run dry
That’s what’s going on, nothing’s fine, I’m torn”
This part of the song summarizes the protagonist’s story and her realization that she’s torn. Her emotions have drained her, and she’s left with nothing to say. The song ends with the protagonist’s vulnerability completely exposed.
The Impact of the Song
“Torn” became an instant classic and is still a popular song that artists cover today. It won several awards, including the Billboard Music Award for “Top New Pop Single” and three ARIA Awards. Its video also won the MTV Video Music Award for “Best New Artist.” What made the song so powerful was its simplicity and relatability. Almost everyone has gone through a tough breakup, and “Torn” captures those emotions perfectly.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Natalie Imbruglia said, “I’m thrilled that ‘Torn’ has become such an iconic song. It’s one that people still stop me in the street to talk about or tell me it was their wedding dance or that their child loves it.”
In Conclusion
The meaning behind the song “Torn” is one of heartbreak and loss. Natalie Imbruglia’s powerful voice and the song’s haunting lyrics captured the emotions of a woman who has lost her sense of direction in life and is searching for something to make her feel whole again. The song’s success is due to its relatability and the fact that almost everyone can relate to the pain of a broken relationship. “Torn” will continue to be a timeless classic that will remain relevant for generations to come.
