5 Deep Meanings Behind Avicii's "Monday I Was Broken" Lyric That Still Resonate Today

The lyric "Monday I was broken, Tuesday I was through with hoping" is one of the most instantly recognizable and emotionally resonant lines in modern electronic dance music (EDM). As of December 12, 2025, this powerful phrase continues to trend and capture the public's curiosity, not just as a catchy line, but as a microcosm of the emotional depth that defined the music of its creator, the legendary Swedish DJ and producer Avicii.

The line is the centerpiece of the pre-chorus in Avicii's 2015 global hit, "Waiting For Love," a track that has cemented its place in music history by recently achieving the monumental milestone of one billion streams on platforms like Spotify. This enduring popularity, years after its release and the tragic passing of its artist, Tim Bergling, underscores the lyric's universal message of despair, resilience, and the relentless search for connection.

The Life and Enduring Legacy of Tim "Avicii" Bergling

The man behind the music, Tim Bergling, was a musical prodigy whose career, though brief, redefined the sound of global pop music by fusing electronic beats with country, folk, and soul influences. His story is one of meteoric rise, immense creative pressure, and an eventual, heartbreaking loss that brought the conversation about mental health in the music industry to the forefront.

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• Full Name: Tim Bergling
• Stage Name: Avicii
• Born: September 8, 1989, in Stockholm, Sweden
• Died: April 20, 2018, in Muscat, Oman (Age 28)
• Genre: Electronic Dance Music (EDM), Progressive House, Dance-Pop
• Career Highlights: Nominated for two Grammy Awards; won two MTV Music Awards and one Billboard Music Award.
• Breakthrough Singles: "Levels" (2011), "Wake Me Up" (2013), "Hey Brother" (2013), "The Nights" (2014).
• Studio Albums: True (2013), Stories (2015).
• Posthumous Album: Tim (2019).
• Key Collaborators: Martin Garrix, Aloe Blacc, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Simon Aldred, Nile Rodgers.
• Legacy: The Tim Bergling Foundation was established by his family to advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Avicii's impact extends far beyond his discography; he championed the "EDM crossover" sound, proving that electronic music could carry deep, narrative lyrics and resonate with a mainstream audience. His work, including "Waiting For Love," is a powerful artifact of his genius and the internal struggles he faced.

The Context: Unpacking the "Waiting For Love" Anthem

"Waiting For Love" was released on May 22, 2015, as the lead single from Avicii's second and final studio album, Stories. The track is a masterclass in collaboration, co-produced with fellow Dutch EDM superstar Martin Garrix and featuring uncredited, yet distinct, vocals from Simon Aldred of the band Cherry Ghost.

The song is structured around a narrative of a week-long journey through emotional turmoil, culminating in a moment of clarity and hope. The lyric that has become a cultural touchstone—"Monday left me broken, Tuesday I was through with hoping"—is the starting point of this emotional arc. The full sequence of the lyric is:

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• "Monday left me broken"
• "Tuesday I was through with hoping"
• "Wednesday my empty arms were open"
• "Thursday waiting for love, waiting for love"

This simple, chronological structure is a brilliant lyrical device, making the complex feeling of depression and recovery instantly relatable and easy to remember. It maps the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of despair (Monday/Tuesday) and the gradual shift toward active hope (Wednesday/Thursday), which is a core theme of the song's title.

5 Interpretations of the Iconic "Monday I Was Broken" Lyric

The power of Avicii's music lies in its ability to be intensely personal yet universally applicable. The "Monday I was broken" lyric is no exception, resonating with millions for several deep-seated reasons:

1. The Universal Struggle of the Work Week

For many, the lyric perfectly encapsulates the emotional drag of the start of the typical work or school week. Monday is often associated with the 'broken' feeling of post-weekend blues or facing a new set of challenges. Tuesday, being the second day, often represents the point where initial enthusiasm is gone, and one is "through with hoping" for an easy week, settling into the grind. This makes the lyric a powerful expression of daily, relatable fatigue and existential dread.

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2. The Journey of Mental Health and Recovery

Given Avicii's well-documented struggles with anxiety and mental health, the lyric can be seen as a poignant reflection of his own internal battles. The "broken" state represents a low point, while being "through with hoping" is the feeling of giving up on the possibility of relief or change. The following lines, which move into "empty arms were open" and "waiting for love," symbolize the slow, difficult, but necessary process of opening oneself up to healing and external support.

3. The Narrative of a Relationship's End

On a more straightforward level, the lyric tracks the immediate aftermath of a breakup or a significant loss. Monday is the day the realization hits—the person is "broken." Tuesday is the day the mind begins to accept the finality of the situation, leading to a temporary cessation of "hoping" for reconciliation. This interpretation aligns with the song's title, as the narrator is now "Waiting For Love" to return in a new form.

4. A Testament to Avicii's Musical Genius

The lyric’s success is also a testament to Avicii’s skill in combining profound emotional honesty with a euphoric musical backdrop. The contrast between the sad, vulnerable lyrics and the massive, uplifting drop is a signature of his style. This juxtaposition creates a feeling of catharsis—you acknowledge the pain, but you choose to dance through it. This emotional complexity is what elevates the track beyond simple party music.

5. The Enduring Posthumous Message

Since Avicii’s passing in 2018, the lyric has taken on a new, heavier meaning. It serves as a reminder of the internal pain he was managing while creating music that brought joy to millions. For fans, hearing the line now is a way to connect with Tim Bergling's vulnerability and to honor his legacy by recognizing the importance of mental health advocacy, which the Tim Bergling Foundation actively promotes.

The Billion-Stream Legacy of a Broken Heart

The ongoing relevance of "Waiting For Love" is undeniable. In recent times, the track officially surpassed the one billion stream mark on Spotify, placing it among a select group of global megahits, alongside Avicii's other seminal tracks like "Wake Me Up" and "Levels."

This milestone, achieved many years after its release, proves that the song is more than a fleeting summer anthem; it is a permanent fixture in the soundtrack of a generation. The success is a direct result of the powerful entities woven into the song’s fabric: the instantly recognizable melody, the driving production by Avicii and Martin Garrix, and the heartfelt, narrative lyrics penned by Simon Aldred.

The lyric "Monday I was broken, Tuesday I was through with hoping" is not just a line in a song; it's a cultural shorthand for resilience. It captures the moment of rock bottom and the subsequent, inevitable turn toward hope. It ensures that the creative spirit and emotional honesty of Tim Bergling, the visionary known as Avicii, continue to inspire and resonate with new listeners around the globe, cementing his place as an immortal figure in the history of music.