Certainly one of the most beautiful and powerful songs ever written. But never presented better than by Chris McNulty on her Whispers the Heart album. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1962 for Jerry Butler. But later made popular by the Walker Brothers and many others.

It is the ultimate song about the greatest tragedy in teenage life: breaking up with someone. When love has that fresh innocence and hope to it. A teenager in the 50s and 60s. About breaking up and how hard it was hard to do.

But the way that Chris McNulty interprets this song puts it into the universe of important songs. With her version, it is no longer about the break-up of a teenage romance. While the emotions of this breakup are more powerful and real than others that will follow in life, there will be others following. But all patterned in some way on these early years of dating. It could apply to anyone at anytime in a life. When one is forced to break apart from someone or something loved for a period of time.

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In this song, told from the narrative voice of a woman who is addressing a former lover. It might be a man addressing his former lover. So many in life have made the confession contained in the words of this gorgeous piece of music. Written by the greatest songwriters of this period: Burt Bachorach and Hal David. The piece written for Jerry Butler in 1962.

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Lyrics

Oh, breaking up
Is so very hard to do

If you really love him
And there’s nothing I can do
Don’t try to spare my feelings
Just tell me that we’re through

And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up
Is so very hard to do

And if the way I hold you, can’t compare to his caress
No words of consolation will make me miss you less
My darling, if this is goodbye, I just know I’m gonna cry
So run to him before you start crying, too

And make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up
Is so very hard to do
Oh baby, it’s so hard to do

So make it easy on yourself
Make it easy on yourself
‘Cause breaking up
Is so very hard to do