What does Turning Tables mean?

Adele: Turning Tables Meaning

Tagged:   No tags, suggest one.
Album cover for Turning Tables album cover

Song Released: 2011


Turning Tables Lyrics

Close enough to start a war,
All that I have is on the floor,
God only knows what we're fighting for,
All that I say, you always say more,

I can't keep up with your turning tables,
Under your thumb, I can't breathe,

So I won't let...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 17th 2011 !⃝

    The person who she's singing about seems to have been manipulative and knew exactly how to turn things to get what they want, and make her feel like she doesn't get what she wants because she isn't good enough, when actually they don't deserve her. They have to be in control, and the moment they start to lose it, they use emotional games to get it back. The phrase 'braved many storms to leave you' could be metaphorical for the rages they have at her and the tactics they use to keep her from leaving, or the feelings she feels at having to do it, because your confidence is greatly knocked from being in that sort of relationship, but what comes after the storm is peace and worth 'braving' the storm to get to it. A very inspiring song, and having come out of a relationship very similar to this a few months ago, I relate to it so much.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 15th 2011 !⃝

    the song means that one day he wants to be with her and the other he wasn't, he turns the table "I won't let you close enough to hurt me" that means that she wants him but she doesn't want him so close because he really is not sure if he wants to be with her, and that hurts her.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 11th 2011 !⃝

    I agree that this song is about an abusive relationship, But I think it's more about what she's taken away from it. While they were at first very close, she was not enough for him in too many ways and through that pain learned that the only way to protect herself was to distance herself from him and all other people that might hurt her...or at least that's what I get from "i won't let you close enough to hurt me" and "next time I'll be braver I'll be my own savior". Thoughts?

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 10th 2011 !⃝

    I agree that the song is about getting out of a relationship in which one constantly puts the other down and makes it so they can never be right. It also sounds like the inflictor is nice and loving one minute then cold and critical another, characterized as "turning tables" on the victim. But while Adele may have had a romantic senarioi in mind I believe this song could represt any relationship in which the victim has been abused emotional and is ending the relationship for their own wellbeing; the inflictor's mood changes has given the victim whiplash and their fed up.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 7th 2011 !⃝

    That she has just split up with her ex, and that she feels that its time to forget about him, and leave all the times behind, she can't deal with the pain, and so she's not gonna let him do it to her again. She wants to let go, and leave him well behind.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 24th 2011 !⃝

    turning tables- as in waiting on tables used as a metaphor for waiting in her own life and working her ass off for other people
    "its time to say goodbye..to turning tables"

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 23rd 2011 !⃝

    This song is definitely about someone who is in love with a person who has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and is sick of the abuse and decides to take back control. If you are informed about NPD, you know what I'm talking about. The person with NPD is always turning the tables to get what they want. Am I right? And the victim, is constantly dealing with this BS. You either leave the son of a bitch or you learn how to take back control. If you don't, you'll be miserable FOREVER.

12 next ›



More Adele songs »


 


Latest Articles

 


Submit Your Interpretation

[ want a different song? ]




Just Posted

I'm a Slave 4 U anonymous
Happy? anonymous
Rock Show anonymous
Don't Go anonymous
Tek It anonymous
Don't Leave Me anonymous
Chop Suey anonymous
Taking Over Me anonymous
All The Good Girls Go To Hell anonymous
Wingriddenangel anonymous
I Spoke to The Devil in Miami anonymous
This Woman's Work anonymous
Action! Not Words anonymous
Everybody Loves Me, Baby anonymous
Fall in to Sleep anonymous

(We won't give out your email)