No Expectations

The speaker is leaving a relationship and expects not to return. The lyrics move from a practical request for a train or plane to a more personal expression of loss. Although the speaker mentions having once been rich and now being poor, the emotional focus is on feeling something unfamiliar and watching a loved one go. The repeated refrain sounds resigned, but the song still carries pain.

Several images make that loss vivid. A heart “like a diamond” suggests someone precious or strong, while “throw your pearls at swine” implies that valuable love or care is being given to people who do not appreciate it. The speaker also says the departing person takes their “peace of mind,” suggesting that the breakup leaves them troubled. Comparing love to water splashing on stone presents it as brief and unable to leave a lasting mark; the comparison to music that comes and goes reinforces its passing quality.

The “rich” and “poor” lines may refer to money, but they could also describe a change in the speaker’s sense of worth or fortune. The lyrics do not explain what caused the separation or whether either person is to blame. The speaker seems to accept that the relationship is over, yet the strong images suggest that accepting departure does not mean feeling unaffected.