Turning Tables

Lore & Background

The song emerged from a turbulent period in April 2009 when Adele was navigating her first serious relationship with a man ten years her senior. After two weeks of unproductive studio sessions that yielded only one satisfactory track, 'Take It All', she cancelled remaining dates following a bitter argument with her boyfriend that ended their 18-month relationship. Heartbroken yet musically stimulated, she channeled these emotions into songs examining the failed relationship from various perspectives. When Adele approached Ryan Tedder in London for a collaboration, he arrived four hours early to familiarize himself with her work and composed the opening piano sequence. Coincidentally, Adele arrived moments after another altercation, denouncing her ex-lover's tendency to 'turn the tables' during arguments—an expression Tedder immediately incorporated into the lyrics.

In Their Own Story

The narrative unfolds as a domestic dispute where the narrator refuses to be drawn back into a manipulative cycle. Opening with a piano sequence, Adele sings of being 'Close enough to start a war,' with everything she has left 'on the floor.' The chorus marks a decisive turning point: 'So I won't let you / Close enough to hurt me / No, I won't rescue / You to just desert me.' She vows emotional distance to shield herself from future heartbreak, declaring, 'I can't give you / The heart you think you gave me / It's time to say goodbye / To turning tables.' Lyrically, the song captures a shift from victimhood to self-preservation, where the narrator accepts the termination of a contentious relationship and refuses to play the game any longer.

Reader's Guide

Musically, 'Turning Tables' is set in C minor with common time at 78 beats per minute. The accompaniment utilizes Seventh and Ninth chords following specific progressions: Cm7(i7)-A♭M9(VI M9)-Fm9(iv9)-A♭(VI) for the main progression, and a bridge progression of A♭(VI)-Fm7(iv7)-A♭(VI)-B♭(VII). Neil Cowley plays the piano while Chris Elliot arranged the strings performed by fifteen musicians including Patrick Kernan and Stephen Morris. Adele's vocal range spans from G3 to C5, delivering a performance described as 'fragile' yet powerful enough to show her upper register without ignoring her lower soulful tones. Critics noted the cinematic strings serve as a fitting counterpoint to the 'heartbroken, hollowed-out lyrics,' with Bryan Boyd likening her delivery to 1980s rocker Bonnie Tyler in its mixture of anger, pain, and pathos.

Did You Know?

• The song was sent to UK mainstream radio on 5 November 2011 as the fifth single from the album 21.
• Ryan Tedder composed the opening piano sequence and first few lines before Adele arrived at the studio, having been inspired by her description of an ex-lover who would 'turn the tables' during arguments.
• The song reached number two on the Belgium Ultratip singles chart in Wallonia and number four in Flanders.
• Gwyneth Paltrow performed a cover of the single in the Glee episode titled 'A Night of Neglect'.
• As of May 2015, 'Turning Tables' had sold 883,000 digital downloads in the US alone.