We Can Break Away lyrics

I had known Jan d’Haese for a few years before he contacted me about writing for the girl band Indiana. In fact, I had written a piece about him for a songwriting magazine when he was head of publishing at EMI Music in Belgium. Amongst several other successes he had discovered the singer Lio with “Banana Split” a few years previously.

In 1997, Jan had another dream, a girl duo that would sing songs of classic pop. His idea was to get tracks such as those written by Roxette and Abba back into the charts (and it’s still a good idea). He noticed two Belgian girl singers that appeared on separate TV shows, put them together and called them Indiana. Ingrid De Smedt and Viola Furleo got singing lessons, clothes and the whole shebang.

Italian pop, Belgian accent

I first wrote a ballad called “Every Time I See You”, which didn’t do much. But having deep experience in Europe, one of the songs Jan came up with was “Aspettavo te”, a hit for Ambra Angiolini who is now a respected actress in Italy. I have a secret fondness for good Italian pop (there, it’s no secret any more!) and lived briefly in Italy. So I jumped on this, giving the song lyrics a big hopeful tone that was more suitable for two young girls.

The result was “We Can Break Away“, which I still enjoy. It sounds dated by now, but I still think it is a great pop song waiting to happen. I salute the original writers, S. Acqua/S. Magnanensi/Assolo about whom I know nothing.

WE CAN BREAK AWAY

Outside my window

Night is running out of town

And I know in the light of day

Things will never look the same

‘Cos lovers kiss each other and promise one another the world

– that’s what they say

But words they don’t mean nothing without the

special something called love

– that I have for you

We can break away

Start again today

We can paint the world another colour

We can make it dance – discover romance

Do all of this when I’m with you

We can break away

Start our life today

We can paint the world another colour

We can make it turn – watch the fires burn

Yes, all of this when I’m with you

Tell me a secret

Tell me anything at all

‘Cos I know when we’re together

Love will break the highest wall

Some people come together and always stay forever and that

– that’s just the way

Hey we can run for cover; we’re made for one another and that’s

– why I’m telling you

We can break away

Start again today

We can paint the world another colour

We can make it dance – discover romance

Do all of this when I’m with you

We can break away

Start our life today

We can paint the world another colour

We can make it turn – watch the fires burn

Yes, all of this when I’m with you

Writers: M. Leahy/S. Acqua/S. Magnanensi/Assolo

Published by ©Sugar Music (Italy)

More lyrics by Michael Leahy