Bernadette Peters' "I Never Thought I'd Break" Lyrics

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:25pm

I recently got Bernadette Peters' Sondheim: Etc. Etc. album which features a beautiful and rather sad rendition of "I Never Thought I'd Break" composed by Peter Allen. I've been looking for the lyrics all over the internet and every web site that seems to have had it says that the artist has chosen to remove the lyrics to the song. First of all, I was wondering why Peters would do this with this specific song, and second I was hoping someone would perhaps have the lyrics. This is my favorite song in the album, it's a pity she doesn't perform the song anymore in her concerts.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 12:27am

Can't help you, but did want to add that Peters performed the song as a tribute to Allen and it was a very sad (yet thrilling due to Peters' spectacular rendition of the song) moment during the concert. I prefer the version in the concert to the one she originally recording in Bernadette.

[mentaltenant]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 5:01am

that song is available on her first cd "Bernadette" (one of my favorites).

Peter Allan and Bernadette were good friends from what I remember reading in interviews.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 6:30am

I held up pretty well
The first few days I even tried to diet
To get my mind off you
Friends said I looked like hell
They said they'd snap like that!
If they'd been through what I'd been through
They'd simply fall apart
Well, I'm about to start...

I never thought I'd break
I thought I could hang on
'Till all the hurt had all run out
And I'd be fine
I guess I'm not that kind

Not the kind to fall apart
When lovers go away
Until today, it finally hit me- You were gone
Now I'm barely hanging on

I never thought I'd break
I never thought you'd make me miss your face
And make me ache to hear your voice
But now I have no choice
I've always had the answers
You were my one mistake
Until the day I woke up
I thought I knew what I could take
Until the day we broke up
I never thought I'd break.

- - these are from memory so they may be off by a word or two - but I used to sing that song around the house constantly when I was about 16. I remember seeing her sing it on some talk show - maybe Mike Douglass or Johnny Carson or something like that - tears streaming down her face by the end of the song. She is a truly fine actress.

[LEStheatreGuy]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 8:46am

I totally agree. I adore Bernadette's first CD, Bernadette, and I wish all the tracks from the two LP's it combines were released (dying to hear her "Dedicated To The One I Love").

In any case, "I Never Thought I'd Break" is one of my favorite things she ever sang and I will rush to buy Sondheim Etc PART TWO now that I know there's a live version.

[moljul]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 2:34pm

This thread has caused me to listen to this song for the first time in quite a while. Such a gorgeous song. RedHot, your memory is very good. Just a few adjustments based on her redition at Carnegie Hall. Though Bernadette is famous for making minor changes to songs from performance to performance. It is a stunning song and equally stunning performance. I wish I had been at the concert.

I held up pretty well
The first few days I even tried to diet
To get my mind off you
Friends said I looked like hell
They said they'd snap like that!
If they'd been through what I'd been through
They'd simply fall apart
Well, I'm about to start...

I never thought I'd break
I thought I could hang on
'Till all the hurt had all run out
And I'd be fine
I guess I'm not that kind

I'M Not the kind to fall apart
When lovers go away
Until today, it finally hit me- You were gone
And now I'm barely hanging on

I never thought I'd break
I never thought you'd make me miss your face
And make me ache to hear your voice
But now I have no choice
I always had the answers
You were my one mistake
Until the day I woke up
I never thought I'd break.

I never thought I'd break
I never thought you'd make me miss your face
And make me ache to hear your voice
But now I have no choice
I always had the answers
You were my one mistake
Until the day I woke up
I thought I knew what I could take
Until the day we broke up
I never thought I'd break.

I remember an interview they gave on Good Morning America in the late 80s when they were touring a concert together. They were obviously VERY good friends and they spent most of the interview giving each other a hard time and teasing and laughing a great deal about it.



Updated On: 11/1/06 at 02:34 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 5:08pm

Thanks, guys. Peters really shines with this song. I wish I had been able to see her live when she performed the song in the concert, she sounds like she truly feels the song.