Life Goes On

The speaker looks back on a relationship in which the other person played with her feelings and left her confused and hurt. At first, she admits she gave a lot and wishes she had understood the situation sooner. Gradually, the repeated idea that “life goes on” becomes a statement of strength: the past cannot be changed, but she can move forward and try to make better choices.

The comparison to a toy that someone “cranks and winds” suggests being controlled or used for another person’s amusement. “You held all the cards” means the other person had the advantage or control in the relationship. The saying about being fooled once and twice expresses the idea that someone who is tricked repeatedly may also need to learn from the experience. Here, however, the speaker also blames the other person for misleading her.

The lyrics are confident, but they do not suggest that moving on is effortless. The speaker calls it a “fight” and says she wants to get things right where she is, which implies that recovery takes effort. Her admission that she “should’ve known better” may show regret, though it could also be a way of claiming responsibility and taking back control. The song leaves room for both feelings: she is still affected by what happened, but she believes it has made her stronger.