Wednesday 25 January 2023

Songs. Listening. M. Cyrus/B. Mars

When I Was Your Man is a song released by Bruno Mars in 2012, from his album Unorthodox Jukebox. The song became popular again in 2023 after Miley Cyrus released her new song Flowers, with recalls the words in Bruno Mars’ lyrics. Both are breakup songs from different perspectives, and there is a reason why Miley Cyrus chose this song as an inspiration for the message she wanted to give to her ex Liam Hemsworth.

When I Was Your Man is a breakup song where Bruno Mars regrets the behaviors that led his girl to leave. In the lyrics, the singer expresses his melancholy, the feeling of loneliness, and wishes he could go back in time and behave differently, giving more attention to the girl he loves.

The reason why people rediscovered this song after Miley Cyrus Flowers is the similarity between the two choruses. Miley Cyrus sings about all the self-love she can give herself now that her man is gone, whereas Bruno Mars mentions all the things he should have done when his relationship was still present, to prevent the breakup. They are both talking about the same love gestures, as you can see in the comparison below.

From Miley Cyrus’ Flowers lyrics:

I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in sand
Talk to myself for hours, yeah
Say things you don’t understand
I can take myself dancing, yeah
I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can

From Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man lyrics

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
Now my baby’s dancin’
But she’s dancin’ with another man



We were good, we were goldKinda dream that can't be soldWe were right 'til we weren'tBuilt a home and watched it burn
Mm, I didn't wanna leave youI didn't wanna lieStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowersWrite my name in the sandTalk to myself for hoursSay things you don't understandI can take myself dancingAnd I can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, baby
Paint my nails, cherry redMatch the roses that you leftNo remorse, no regretI forgive every word you said
Ooh, I did not wanna leave you, babyI didn't wanna fightStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowersWrite my name in the sandTalk to myself for hours, yeahSay things you don't understandI can take myself dancing, yeahI can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me betterI can love me better, babyCan love me better
I did not wanna leave youI didn't wanna fightStarted to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowers (oh)Write my name in the sand (mmh)Talk to myself for hours (yeah)Say things you don't understand (never will)I can take myself dancing, yeahI can hold my own handYeah, I can love me better thanYeah, I can love me better than you can

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