Pentatonix - Last Christmas Lyrics
Lyrics
Intro
Gave you my heart
You gave it away
Save me from tears
You gave it away
Chorus
Last Christmas I 'gave 'you my heart '(Gave you my heart)
But the very 'next day you gave it away (Gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears (Save me from tears)
I'll give it to someone special (You gave it away)
Last Christmas I gave you my heart (Gave you my heart)
But the very next day you gave it away (Gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special (Woah, oh-oh-oh, gave it away)
Verse 1
Once bitten and twice shy (Twice shy)
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby, do you recognize me?
Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
Merry Christmas, I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I love you", I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now, I bet you'd fool me again (Fool again)
Chorus
Last Christmas I gave you my heart (I gave you my heart)
But the very next day you gave it away (Gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears (Oh-oh-oh)
I'll give it to someone special (Woah, oh-oh-oh, gave it away)
Last Christmas I gave you my heart (Gave you my heart)
But the very next day (Very next day) you gave it away (You gave it away)
This year (This year), to save me from tears (Oh-oh-oh)
I'll give it to someone special
Verse 2
A crowded room, friends with tired eyes (Oh-oh-oh)
I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice (Woah-oh-oh)
My God, I thought you were someone to rely on (Rely on)
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man under cover, but you tore me apart (Tore me apart)
Oh, oh, now (I've found) I've found a real love
You'll never fool me again
Bridge
Ah
Gave it (Tada)
Away (Away, ah)
Gave it away
Gave it away (Ah, ah, ah)
Chorus
(Gave it away) Last Christmas I gave you my heart (Gave you my heart)
But the very next day you gave it away (I gave it away)
This year (This year), to save me from tears (To save me from tears)
I'll give it to someone special, to someone (Ah)
Outro
(Woh-oh-oh, woh-oh)
Special (Woh-oh-oh-oh, woh)
I give it to someone, I gave it to someone special
Video
Pentatonix - Last Christmas (Official Video) ft. HIKAKIN & SEIKIN
Meaning & Inspiration
Pentatonix’s rendition of “Last Christmas,” released on their 2022 album *Holidays Around the World*, offers a fresh vocal tapestry to a familiar narrative of love's sting. While the original song, a global phenomenon, speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak during the festive season, Pentatonix imbues it with their signature a cappella brilliance, creating an arrangement that, while sonically rich, directs our attention to the song's underlying message of emotional self-preservation and the hope for genuine connection. The story behind "Last Christmas" is a poignant one of misplaced trust and the painful realization that a gift of the heart, freely given, can be carelessly discarded. This betrayal, occurring "the very next day," underscores the swiftness and unexpectedness with which love can turn to sorrow, leaving the protagonist "bitten and twice shy." The verses paint a vivid picture of someone attempting to guard their emotions, keeping distance yet still drawn to the person who caused them pain, acknowledging a past foolishness, yet recognizing the enduring allure that could lead them astray again.
The song’s central theme, however, transcends mere romantic disappointment; it resonates with a deeper spiritual truth about safeguarding our most precious inner selves. The act of giving one's "heart" can be seen as a metaphor for offering vulnerability, trust, and love, gifts that, when not received with reciprocity and care, can inflict deep wounds. This echoes the wisdom found in Proverbs 4:23, which urges us to "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the springs of life." The protagonist’s resolve to "save me from tears" by giving their heart to "someone special" this year speaks to a mature understanding of emotional boundaries and the pursuit of a love that is both secure and life-giving. It’s a journey from pain to a hopeful re-engagement with love, but this time with discernment and a desire for a more steadfast connection. The experience of being "tore apart" in the second verse highlights the destructive power of superficial affection or a love built on false pretenses, a stark contrast to the enduring and true love we are called to seek. This reminds us of the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27, where a house built on solid rock stands firm, while one built on sand crumbles—a powerful illustration of the importance of a foundation of genuine character and commitment in any relationship. Pentatonix's vocal arrangements, by stripping away instrumental accompaniment, allow the lyrical narrative to come to the forefront, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss, and to embrace the promise of finding a love that is truly special and built to last, reflecting the enduring love God offers, as described in Romans 8:38-39, where nothing can separate us from it.