☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the pain and longing after a breakup
- The person describes everyday actions but can't concentrate or enjoy them
- Feeling small and hoping to be missed by their ex-partner
- Friends try to console, but the advice doesn't get through to the person
- The person is not yet ready to let go and hopes for a reconciliation
Interpretation
The lyrics of "Spending My Time" by
Roxette are about the feelings and experiences of a person after a breakup. The person describes their days, which are marked by loneliness and longing for the lost love. They describe how they spend their time staring at the television, drinking coffee, and trying to read, but unable to concentrate. They feel small and miss their loved one, hoping that they are missed too.
The lines "Spending my time / Watching the days go by" illustrate the feeling of stagnation and standstill. They try to call their ex-partner, but they don't know what to say and instead leave a message on the answering machine.
Friends try to comfort them and assure them that life will go on and time will heal the wounds ("My friends keep telling me / 'Hey, life will go on'"). However, the person is trapped in their own world of grief and longing and can't truly accept these advice.
The lyrics make it clear that the person is not yet ready to let go and live their life without their loved one. They feel lost and hope to be able to come back together.