What does Dark Side mean?

Kelly Clarkson: Dark Side Meaning

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Album cover for Dark Side album cover

Song Released: 2011


Dark Side Lyrics

There's a place that I know
It's not pretty there and few have ever gone
If I show it to you now
Will it make you run away
Or will you stay
Even if it hurts
Even if I try to push you out
Will you return?
And remind me who I really...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Jun 18th 2012 !⃝

    To me the song is about someone sufferring with a personality disorder. They show the person they love a mask, believing that is what you want to love.

    Instead borderlines have such insecurities, they feel they aren't worthy of love, so 'they try to push you out' to see if you love them.

    They feel if they drop their mask, you won't like what you see.

    The stupidity of the situation is that if they didn't act in the way they did, you'd stay with them forever.

    It is so hard for them to face their problems, probably 20 times harder than stopping smoking, they don't show people 'the place they know' because they believe 'it's not pretty there' and no-one can therefore help.

    Daft thing is, it's probably the opposite. Unless you've been in a relationship with a borderline, you've no idea of the problems and if they'd only be themselves!

    Any one feeling they relate to these lyrics, please get help, whether you are the borderline or their partner. Too many lives are wrecked by ignorance to this 'illness'.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    May 30th 2012 !⃝

    I believe this song is not only acceptance but a song carries a deeper message about rehab because when she sings "there is a place i know but few have ever gone" and rehab isn't a pretty place and few haven't really gone. It's a song about hitting rock bottom and it reassuring people that there is help out there. They don't have to do it alone. She is saying that she has a dark side and if people would love her the way she is but i believe she is singing about other people who are in a state of depression because of the stuff they have done in their dark side-assessive amounts of alcohol, drugs, abuse.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    hhcoolmv1
    click a star to vote
    May 27th 2012 !⃝

    I think when she talks about the 'Dark Side', she's talking about imperfections and insecurities. She's asking will the person still like her with all of these, will they accept her for who she is, no matter what.

  4. anonymous
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    Jan 27th 2020 !⃝

    I think the song is more about somebody reflecting on what they regret about what they shouldn't do or what they have said to their loved one or family and telling them i know i am not perfect with the negative side of me and to not let them walk away because that person wants to promise that they will never act negative ever again and let them stay.

  5. anonymous
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    Oct 3rd 2018 !⃝

    Dark side song, it's too clear. Never been in this type of BPD relationship. Never been in any serious relationship. Guys I made friends with vanished into thin air. In any manner, Love overcomes all obstacles. But not all relationships have happy endings. Sorry about you guys, hoping you guys are both well

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 3rd 2018 !⃝

    Dark Side.......... she has a dark side. Meaning, she is not perfect. She has flaws and is afraid you will not like her if you see the real her. I believe not only women has this type of disorder. Hope the girl you loved all these years is now well. Sad to hear it didn't work out for you guys

    Never experienced loving a BPD, this I was never in any serious relationship. Only friends. All the guys I made friends with, vanished into thin air

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 2nd 2018 !⃝

    June 18, 2012 comment nailed it! Clearly about BPD. And you probably have to have been deep in a relationship with a BPD, like me, to grasp this. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to understand BPD and support her, she will never be able to let you fully inside to love you back (a la Springsteen’s Secret Garden) - so twisted in that all she wants is for you to love her and never run away yet she is incapable (low self esteem, etc.) of loving you back. Although relationships with a BPD can be worked through with great results, it is sad that many cannot - i.e. sad that two people who love each other more than anyone else they will ever met have to part. Many years later I still love her tho we never talk anymore.

  8. anonymous
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    Aug 13th 2014 !⃝

    This song shows daily problems that happen to some, if you watch the video it shows a man who lost his leg in a war, a girl during a divorce, a boy being beaten by other kids, and more, she asks if even from there past, will you still stand by them? It is true, we all do have problems and we need someone to help us cope

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 27th 2014 !⃝

    Everyone has a "dark side", whether it be a mental illness, eating disorder, addiction, self harm, abuse, disability, etc. Some people hide their dark side in fear that their loved ones will judge them because of it.

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 9th 2013 !⃝

    "It's about someone who sometimes has twisted thoughts, violent rage, someone who swung a chicken around, banging it's head repeatedly on it chicken coop, giggling with every bang. Someone who cried and held the chicken close to her chest as blood leaked from it beak, mourning the chicken's life. Someone who realized, even at the age of 8 that if anyone ever found out she would be hated, and everyone would be disgusted, no one would love her. Someone who yearns to be loved, held close. Someone who's brother molested her when he thought she was sleeping. She didn't stop him, no she enjoyed the small pleasure she got from his clumsy hands. But after...she would hate herself, she was afraid of him, she knew it was wrong and she feared him coming when she was unaware...She know's she's...wrong. She want's someone to love her...She's shy, she's lonely...She just want's to be loved for who she is...She listens to the words of this song "Everybody's got a dark side, do you love me? Can you love mine? Nobody's picture perfect, will you love me, even with my dark side? Don't runaway! Promise you'll stay...Will you love me?" Am I worth it? She wonders...Can anyone love me, or will I be put in a padded room? I want a man to hold me close, and sooth the rage. I want to be...loved. Who will love me now, she laughs bitterly. Who in their right minds...would love me?! She's older now...much older..."

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 19th 2013 !⃝

    I relate so much to this. The way I see it, she's talking about having depression, and always feeling like she has to put on a mask to hide her real feelings from everyone else, feeling like no one will understand. She's asking someone she loves, "If I show it to you now, will it make you run away? Or will you stay? Even if it hurts?"

  12. e_howe425
    click a star to vote
    Nov 5th 2013 !⃝

    In my opinion, this song is about accepting imperfection in others and in yourself, and not judging people by their flaws.

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 9th 2013 !⃝

    I think she's trying to say that there's a place that she's at in life but she needs some one to be with her but she's afraid that the person is going to back away and run away ( don't run away promise me you will stay . She's lost (please remind me who I really am ) and she might not like where she's at but she has to stay and she wants to give up but she knows she's gotta stay strong and

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 19th 2012 !⃝

    i think maybe shes trying to tell someone she loves that shes scared of showing them the other side of her.she scared about taking off the mask shes been hiding behind in case they leave her shes letting them know that everyone has a dark side and she dosnt want him to leave her because of hers as its not a crime to have imperfections or even a bad past.

  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 5th 2011 !⃝

    To me, this song is about being worried to show the person you're with that there is a darker side to you. It seems she is wondering what he will think about her dark side, but she's trying to prove that everyone has one.


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