Released in 2008, “Chasing Pavements” is a soul-pop track from Adele, and her first international hit. It’s about being stuck in a relationship that’s going nowhere and trying to decide whether to keep fighting for it or walk away.
Below is a section-by-section breakdown of the lyrics in “Chasing Pavements.”
- Song: Chasing Pavements
- Artist: Adele
- Songwriters: Adele Adkins, Eg White
- Released: 2008
- Album: 19
- Genre: Soul, Pop
What Does “Chasing Pavements” Mean?
According to Adele, she got into an argument with her boyfriend at a club, slapped him, and ran away. After seeing that he wasn’t coming after her, she thought to herself, “You’re chasing pavements,” her way of saying she was the only one trying.
In the song, “chasing pavements” means pursuing or staying in a relationship that’s probably going to fail.
What is “Chasing Pavements” About?
Verse 1: Convinced It’s Love
I’ve made up my mind
Don’t need to think it over
She’s trying to convince herself she’s certain about this.
She seems to be arguing with her own doubts.
If I’m wrong, I am right
Don’t need to look no further
This is a contradiction that only makes sense when you’re in love. Even if the relationship doesn’t work out, her feelings are still real.
She’s right about loving him, even if she’s wrong about it going anywhere.
This ain’t lust, I know this is love, but
If I tell the world, I’ll never say enough
‘Cause it was not said to you
She’s sure about what she feels, but talking about it to anyone besides him is pointless.
She can tell a hundred people she’s in love, but she can only say all of the things she really feels to the person she cares about.
And that’s exactly what I need to do if I end up with you
She knows what has to happen. If she wants any chance with him, she has to actually say it to his face.
But the “if I end up with you” shows she’s already doubting it’ll work.
Chorus: The Central Question
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
She’s asking herself if she should keep going after this when she already knows where it ends.
The question itself shows she knows this is probably pointless.
Or would it be a waste, even if I knew my place?
Even if she understood exactly where she stood with him, would that make it worth continuing?
Knowing you’re in a dead-end doesn’t make it any less of a dead-end.
Should I leave it there?
Should she just drop the whole thing now and save herself the trouble?
Obviously, dropping it is a lot easier said than done for her.
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Verse 2: Working Up the Courage
I build myself up and fly around in circles
Waiting as my heart drops
She’s trying to gather the courage to tell him, but she keeps losing her nerve.
She’s repeating the same mental loop of “I’ll tell him, no wait, I can’t.”
Her heart dropping shows that fear is winning out over the confidence she’s trying to build.
And my back begins to tingle
Finally, could this be it, or?
Her body is reacting to the nerves. That tingling is the anticipation and fear mixing together.
She’s asking herself if this is finally the moment she tells him, but the “or?” at the end shows she’s back to second-guessing herself and wondering if it’s worth it.
“Chasing Pavements” Song Meaning: When Love Feels Pointless
“Chasing Pavements” is about being stuck between walking away from someone and holding onto hope. She’s fairly certain the relationship won’t work out, but she hasn’t been able to let go yet. The whole song is her wrestling with whether to keep trying or cut her losses.
What makes it worse is that she hasn’t even told him how she feels. She’s already convinced it’s doomed before she’s even been able to say how she feels out loud.
Songs Like “Chasing Pavements”
Here are a few songs with similar themes to “Chasing Pavements”:
1. “Someone Like You” by Adele
Another Adele hit, “Someone Like You” is about seeing an ex who’s completely moved on while you’re still processing the breakup.
Related: “Someone Like You” Song Meaning
2. “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry
This pop ballad is about looking back at someone who could have been the one if things had gone differently.
3. “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri
In “Jar of Hearts,” Perri calls out an ex who keeps returning and expecting forgiveness after repeatedly hurting her.
Related: Best Songs with “Heart” in the Title
4. “Grenade” by Bruno Mars
Mars’ hit is about loving someone so much you’d do anything for them, even though they wouldn’t do the same for you.
Conclusion
Honestly, when I first heard “Chasing Pavements,” I thought she was saying “chasing payments,” which weirdly works with a lot of the lyrics.
What I find really cool about this one is that Adele had a random phrase in her head after a fight, wrote a song about it, and that song became a hit. Plus, it’s relatable. Plenty of people have “chased” someone who wasn’t returning the favor.
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