“Talking to the Moon” is a song by Bruno Mars from his first album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010). It was first released on his extended play, It’s Better If You Don’t Understand (2010).
In the song, Bruno Mars reminisces about a lost love that has now departed. The lyrics convey the heartfelt desire of a broken-hearted lover, hoping that his former partner is “talking to the moon” just like he is.
In this article, we’ll delve into the meaning behind the lyrics.
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Inspiration Behind “Talking to the Moon”
During an interview, Bruno Mars said he decided to write a song for himself after working on songs for other artists. He began writing “Talking to the Moon” while playing the piano.
When asked about the meaning of the song, Mars said, “[I] write songs that [I] really believe in and that come from [my] heart. There are no tricks. It’s about being honest with catchy melodies, and [I] put a lot of emotion into singing the s*** out of them.”
“Talking to the Moon” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I know you’re somewhere out there
Somewhere far away
I want you back, I want you back
My neighbors think I’m crazy
But they don’t understand
You’re all I had, you’re all I had
In Verse 1 of the song, Bruno Mars expresses that he believes his lost love is somewhere far away.
He expresses a strong desire to have that person back in his life, even though his neighbors might think he’s acting strangely because they don’t understand the depth of his feelings.
The verse conveys his sense of loneliness and longing for the person he’s lost.
[Pre-Chorus]
At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself
In the Pre-Chorus of the song, Bruno Mars describes how he spends his nights. He mentions sitting alone in his room, possibly gazing at the stars as they light up the sky.
This emphasizes his solitude and his thoughts about the person he’s lost, suggesting that he often reflects on their absence during these quiet moments.
[Chorus]
‘Cause every night, I’m talking to the moon
Still tryna get to you
In hopes you’re on the other side talking to me, too
Or am I a fool who sits alone talking to the moon?
Oh-oh
In the Chorus, Bruno Mars talks about his nightly routine of “talking to the moon.”
He is trying to reach out to the person he’s lost and hopes that they might be doing the same, even though they are apart.
He questions whether he’s a fool for believing in this connection.
[Verse 2]
I’m feeling like I’m famous, the talk of the town
They say I’ve gone mad
Yeah, I’ve gone mad
But they don’t know what I know
‘Cause when the sun goes down, someone’s talking back
Yeah, they’re talking back, oh
In Verse 2, Bruno Mars describes feeling like he’s become a topic of discussion in town. People think he’s gone mad, but he knows something they don’t.
He believes that when the sun sets, someone is responding to his feelings and talking back to him, even though others around him may not understand or be aware of this connection.
[Bridge]
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Do you ever hear me calling?
Oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh
In the Bridge, Bruno Mars sings “Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh” repeatedly, followed by “Do you ever hear me calling?” It conveys a sense of longing and a question directed toward the lost love.
He’s essentially asking if the person ever hears his emotional calls or pleas, expressing his hope for a response or connection despite the physical distance that separates them.
[Outro]
I know you’re somewhere out there
Somewhere far away
In the Outro, Bruno Mars repeats the idea that he believes his lost love is somewhere far away. This reinforces his sense of longing and the idea that despite the physical separation, he still believes in the connection between them.
It’s a final expression of his hope and desire to be reunited with the person he’s lost.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Talking to the Moon”
In the song, Bruno Mars reminisces about a lost love that has now departed. He hopes that his former partner is “talking to the moon” just as he is.
Some people interpret the song as describing Bruno Mars’s long-distance relationship with a girl, which, in my opinion, doesn’t quite add up. In the lyrics, Bruno Mars says, “My neighbors think I’m crazy.” Why would people think he’s crazy for missing a girlfriend who lives apart from him?
Throughout the song, there’s a palpable sense of lost love, as evident in the line “Still tryna get to you.” If Bruno Mars were in a relationship with a girl who lives in another country, he could simply have a FaceTime call with her; there wouldn’t be inner struggles like the ones portrayed in the song.
So, in the song, Mars is actually grappling with the absence of his beloved. The act of “talking to the moon” serves as a poignant metaphor for his desire to connect with his distant or departed lover.
The moon symbolizes the unreachable, the unattainable, and the universal presence shared by all. Its soft, glowing light and the mystery surrounding it make it a fitting symbol for the intense emotions associated with love and longing.
By addressing the moon, Mars conveys his hope that his words and feelings will somehow reach the one he deeply misses, even if they are physically separated.
He also hopes that the girl is also “talking to the moon,” which implies that she too is longing for him and reminiscing about their time together, so that their love isn’t one-sided from Bruno Mars alone.
Overall, “Talking to the Moon” is a heartfelt plea for connection, a declaration of enduring love, and a portrayal of the pain and loneliness that can accompany the absence of someone deeply cherished. It resonates with anyone who has experienced the ache of separation and the longing to bridge the emotional distance with a loved one.

Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.