About The Song
In the realm of country music, few names resonate with the same power and recognition as Garth Brooks. With his captivating baritone voice, heartfelt lyrics, and genuine stage presence, Brooks has earned his place as a true icon of the genre. Among his vast collection of chart-topping hits, one song stands out as a beacon of hope and resilience: “Learning to Live Again”.
Released in 1993 as the lead single from Brooks’ fourth studio album The Chase, “Learning to Live Again” chronicles the emotional journey of a man navigating the aftermath of a devastating loss. The song’s opening lines, “I burned my hand and I cut my face/Heaven knows how long it’s been/Since I’ve felt so out of place/Wonderin’ if I would fit in,” paint a vivid picture of the protagonist’s vulnerability and self-doubt.
As the song progresses, the listener is drawn into the protagonist’s tentative steps towards healing and rediscovering the possibility of love. The lyrics, “Debbie and Charlie said they’d be here by/I’m fixin’ my hair, tryin’ to act surprised/Like I ain’t been watchin’ the clock all day/Wonderin’ if I’ll make it through the night,” capture the mix of anticipation and apprehension that accompany a first date after a long period of heartbreak.
The chorus, “I’m learning to live again/I’m learning to love again/I’m learning to smile again/I’m learning to dream again,” serves as a powerful declaration of the protagonist’s determination to move forward despite the pain of the past. Brooks’s emotive vocals infuse these lines with a raw honesty that resonates deeply with listeners who have faced similar challenges in their own lives.
“Learning to Live Again” is more than just a country song; it’s a universal anthem for anyone who has experienced loss and found the strength to carry on. The song’s message of hope and healing has touched the hearts of millions, making it one of Garth Brooks’s most enduring and beloved hits.
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Lyric
I burned my hand, I cut my faceHeaven knows how long it’s beenSince I’ve felt so out of placeI’m wonderin’ if I’ll fit inDebbie and Charley said they’d be here by nineAnd Deb said she might bring a friendJust my luck, they’re right on timeSo here I go againI’m gonna smile my best smileAnd I’m gonna laugh like it’s going out of styleLook into her eyes and pray that she don’t seeThat learning to live again is killing meLittle cafe, table for fourBut there’s just conversation for threeAnd I like the way she let me get the doorAnd I wonder what she thinks of meDebbie just whispered, “You’re doin’ fine”And I wish that I felt the sameShe’s asked me to dance, now her hand’s in mineOh, my God, I’ve forgotten her nameBut I’m gonna smile my best smileAnd I’m gonna laugh like it’s going out of styleLook into her eyes and pray that she don’t seeThis learning to live again is killing meNow here we are beneath her porch lightAnd I say what a great time it’s beenA kiss on the cheek, a whisper goodnightAnd I say, “can I see you again”And she just smiles her best smileAnd she laughs like it’s going out of styleLooks into my eyes and says, “We’ll see”Oh this learning to live again is killing meGod this learning to live again is killing me