The song is an emotionally charged ballad which finds Perri in a destructive relationship.

I can hold my breath
I can bite my tongue
I can stay awake for days
If that’s what you want
Be your number one.

I can fake a smile
I can force a laugh
I can dance and play the part
If that’s what you ask
Give you all I am.

I can do it
I can do it
I can do it.

But I’m only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I’m only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I’m only human.

I can turn it on
Be a good machine
I can hold the weight of worlds
If that’s what you need
Be your everything.

I can do it
I can do it
I'll get through it.

But I’m only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I’m only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I’m only human.

I'm only human
I'm only human
Just a little human.

I can take so much
'Til I've had enough.

'Cause I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I’m only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I’m only human.

Christina gives us the two visions of herself: the machine-hearted, iron-boned "I can be your everything" who sits on a pedestal and is perfect... and the human side of her, "I bleed when I fall down." At the end she gives up on pretending to be perfect and strong as a robot. She accepts her mistakes and remains only human - but more real.

It begins with impossible promises to stay awake for days, hold the weight of worlds, I can do it. So desperate for love she promises to be your everything to get it. His words to build me up become knives in my heart when she can't do it, she thinks she won't be loved anymore. She falls apart, screaming I bleed, I fall down, I'm only human. Love can't be bought by promises. Love isn't in never breaking down. Love is strongest when it's a gift, not when it's owed. True love is to someone despite their weaknesses, not because of their strengths.