Inclined

Song Meaning

Melissa Manchester's "Inclined" is a masterclass in bittersweet resignation, a quiet anthem for the almost-lovers, the ones who recognize a deep connection but understand its ultimate impossibility. The song meaning isn't about explosive heartbreak; it's about the gentle, melancholic acceptance of a love that can never fully bloom. Manchester paints a portrait of a 'song seller, a story teller, a dream vendor,' someone whose artistic soul captivates, but whose emotional availability remains perpetually out of reach. The singer acknowledges she's not the only one drawn to this enigmatic figure, yet she possesses the self-awareness to recognize the futility of vying for his affection. It's a love tinged with sadness, 'the sad, quiet kind,' aware of its nowhere-bound trajectory. The core of "Inclined" rests on the repeated line, 'Now I'm inclined to let my dreams / Take care of their own.' This isn't a declaration of independence as much as it is a poignant surrender. The singer acknowledges the potential – 'we could have cared for each other's dreams' – but ultimately chooses to protect herself from further vulnerability. She sees the 'eyes of heartache met with time' in the object of her affection, hinting at a past that makes him incapable of fully reciprocating the depth of emotion she offers. She could be his 'earth mother,' his 'best lover,' his 'day's sunrise,' but she understands that her nurturing love wouldn't necessarily heal him, and might, in fact, be another burden. Ultimately, "Inclined" transcends simple romantic disappointment. It becomes a meditation on the nature of unrequited affection and the wisdom of self-preservation. The final verse offers a quiet blessing, a wish that the 'song seller' will one day find someone to whom he can wholeheartedly dedicate his art and his love. The song lyrics suggest that he bestow upon her the songs he couldn't offer to the singer, that he inspire her dreams with the same passion he ignited in her. It's a selfless act of letting go, a recognition that sometimes, the most profound act of love is to allow someone to find happiness elsewhere, even if it means forfeiting your own. Melissa Manchester doesn't offer a fairytale ending, but a mature, emotionally intelligent understanding of love's complex and often unfulfilled promises.