The lyrics of "Heart Like A Wheel" compare a heart to a wheel that once bent cannot be mended, symbolizing the fragility of love. The singer expresses heartbreak and longing for a lost love, comparing it to a sinking ship in the ocean. Despite the pain caused by lost love, the singer believes that only love has the power to completely transform and dismantle a person.

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Meaning of "Heart Like A Wheel" by Kate & Anna McGarrigle


The lyrics of "Heart Like A Wheel" poignantly capture the profound anguish and despair of love lost. Through the metaphor of a heart like a wheel, the singers convey the idea that once love is damaged, it cannot be repaired. The sinking ship symbolizes the hopelessness and inevitability of the end of a relationship. The singer's longing for death to escape the pain of lost love underscores the depth of their suffering. The repeated chorus highlighting the destructive power of love resonates with the idea that love has the ability to completely transform a person, for better or for worse. Despite the pain and heartache, the singer acknowledges that love, despite its capacity to wreck a human being, is also the most powerful force in the world. The vulnerability and raw emotion in the lyrics reflect the universal experience of heartbreak and the search for meaning in the face of lost love.