Sometimes, when we break up with someone, we want nothing to do with them. Sometimes, we could just care less.
“Damage Done” by Sea Girls reflects this sentiment quite well, giving off a kind of “Gives You Hell” by the All American Rejects vibe.
The progression of the song is rather straightforward, adhering to the standard verse ‒ chorus ‒ verse ‒ chorus ‒ bridge ‒ chorus ‒ outro, however, in addition, there is a little acoustic version of the chorus after the outro. Furthermore, the music itself is quite upbeat and fun, with the band playing throughout.
Anyways, let’s look at the first chorus:
You’re not the inspiration,
You’re not the reason for this song,
If you want an explanation,
The damage is, damage is done.
This is self-explanatory, as our singer clearly wants to convey the fact that he’s over her. After all, it does seem that it is her fault for the way the relationship ended, as the line “the damage is done,” is testament to.
Amusingly, the second and third chorus are extended, as they include the former stanza but also contain this one:
Don’t try to make me jealous,
I don’t care if you get enough with him,
Just so there’s no confusion,
The damage is, damage is done.
As if the first half wasn’t blunt enough, he is either really trying to get the message across because he thinks she can’t fully comprehend the first stanza, or he’s simply trying to throw some jabs. There’s no point in trying to make him jealous because he’s over her, yet the inclusion of this line seems to indicate that she’s going to attempt this regardless, just for the hell of it.
I’m talking to myself again.
No, I don’t really want to dance.
A point of note here is that the line “no, I don’t really want to dance,” is said twice before both of the first two choruses as well. We can take this literally, or we can dig deeper (as you always should) and take it for its metaphorical meaning. Our singer is addressing his ex, telling her that he doesn’t want to “dance” in the sense that he’s sick of the back and forth of her trying to get at him (making him jealous) and him telling her not to bother since the damage is done.
It is curious though, the inclusion of the line “I’m talking to myself again.” This would lead us to believe that all these lyrics have been mere thoughts in his head, yet they most certainly aren’t now, as they are part of a public song. Thus, he’s been thinking of this all along, and that by the time his ex hears this song, he would’ve already thought ten, one hundred, or one thousand times that he doesn’t really want to “dance” because the damage is done.
One last comment on the ending acoustic chorus, which draws on the line “just so there’s no confusion.” Our singer is so keen to deliver this message that he cuts out most of the instruments so that she can hear his voice more clearly.
Oftentimes, the blunt way is the best way.
