That’s How the Whole Thing Started

Song Meaning

The narrator opens with a feeling of intense, "rightness" about a love, declaring "It's never been so strong." This initial euphoria, however, is immediately undercut by a dawning realization: "I feel this is a big mistake." The contrast between the physical sensation of love and the intellectual acknowledgment of error sets up a central tension. The lyrics suggest a conflict between immediate desire and past principles, particularly the narrator's own stated belief that they "should remain free." The core of the conflict appears to be the narrator's own agency versus external influence. They claim "that was up to you and not to me," implying a passive role in their commitment to freedom, yet they also admit, "I started strong but I've met someone." This admission reveals a personal failing, a deviation from their own stated ideals, leading to the repeated, almost resigned refrain, "That's how the whole thing started." The repeated phrase acts as a stark, almost fatalistic explanation for the unfolding drama. It’s not a justification, but an acknowledgment of how a series of choices, perhaps small ones initially, led to a predictable outcome. The narrator confesses, "Baby baby it's wrong," and admits to having "been in and out of love so long," hinting at a pattern of behavior that leads to repeated heartbreak, culminating in the painful admission, "I broke your heart again." This cyclical nature of falling into and out of love, causing hurt along the way, is what makes the lyrics hit hard. The narrator's self-awareness of the mistake, coupled with the inability to break the pattern, creates a poignant picture of someone caught in their own emotional history. The simple, repeated phrase becomes a mantra for self-sabotage and the inevitable consequences that follow.