Lyrics Meaning #35: Grenade - Bruno Mars

We all heard Bruno Mars' romantic side prior to Grenade such as Just The Way You Are, a song which perfectly describes a woman you love and a perfect song for courting a girl*, and the collaboration Nothin' On You (with B.O.B.). This time, he talks about love not being given back, or shall we say unrequited love. Such theme might sounds cliché but this one has its extreme, as it expresses what you can do for love yet it was not reciprocated.

YouTube/Bruno Mars

Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live
Oh take, take, take it all but you never give
Lyrics

It's really obvious at the beginning of the song what kind of woman the character has fallen in love with. She's not giving back what the character has been giving. Of course, if you are giving, especially about love, there is an expectation that it's give and take. It's even impossible that the woman doesn't know the guy loves him.

I'd catch a grenade for ya (yeah yeah)
Throw my head on a blade for ya (yeah yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for ya (yeah yeah)
Lyrics

So this is what the guy can do. It's not just about not giving the love back, but the character can do anything for the girl. If it involves catching a grenade, why not? He is willing to do that. And even throwing his head on a blade or jump on a train. To be honest, it doesn't sound realistic though. Of course, if you did those then you are dead. But it's hyperbole which you are expressing what you can do for love.

If my body was on fire
Ooh you'd watch me burn down in flames
You said you love me, you're a liar
'Cause you never ever, ever did
Lyrics

It shows the woman doesn't care. If you are in a midst of a danger, i.e. being in flames, she will just watch you and will never care. Another hyperbole I think, unless the woman is crazy. But the last two lines actually is true. She might say she loves you yet she is not doing anything to show it.

Bruno Mars already had hits as a featured artist, but as a solo artist, he scored a big hit with Just The Way You Are. With the follow-up success of Grenade, he broke the one-hit wonder status after scoring two consecutive hits as solo artist. In America, it was his second solo number 1 hit according to Billboard. It was as successful in UK being his second solo number 1 hit too. Its music video was also popular and was viewed more than 780 million on YouTube as of this writing.

Credits:
Songwriters: Andrew Wyatt / Ari Levine / Brody Brown / Bruno Mars / Claude Kelly / Jeff Tweedy / Philip Lawrence / Peter Gene Hernandez
Grenade lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

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