Songs for your true love/arch-nemesis.
February 7, 2014 11:52 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for more love songs with a specific theme - essentially, "You drive me fucking crazy and sometimes I want to throttle you and we're both kind of fucked up AND ALSO I love you more than anything and need you more than air and think you're the best person ever."
This question: Sarcastic love? hits some of what I'm looking for, but I'd like a little more focus on the "we're in this together and will be forever, even if it leads to mutually assured destruction" part.
A few examples of songs that capture this feeling:
"No Children" by the Mountain Goats - song - lyrics (this is the best example; it will likely be our wedding song)
"Stuck With You" by Voltaire - song - lyrics
"Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues - song - lyrics (although according to my personal ethics this can only be played between Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Lyrics are really the key for me (to give you an idea, I'm one of those people that signed the "John Darnielle for poet laureate" petition). I'm open to any genre of music, though my preferences generally lean towards indie, folk, punk, metal, and hardcore.
This question: Sarcastic love? hits some of what I'm looking for, but I'd like a little more focus on the "we're in this together and will be forever, even if it leads to mutually assured destruction" part.
A few examples of songs that capture this feeling:
"No Children" by the Mountain Goats - song - lyrics (this is the best example; it will likely be our wedding song)
"Stuck With You" by Voltaire - song - lyrics
"Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues - song - lyrics (although according to my personal ethics this can only be played between Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Lyrics are really the key for me (to give you an idea, I'm one of those people that signed the "John Darnielle for poet laureate" petition). I'm open to any genre of music, though my preferences generally lean towards indie, folk, punk, metal, and hardcore.
Every song Pink ever wrote, most recently True Love?
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:58 AM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:58 AM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
What's that Rhianna/Eminem song that always makes me cringe?
posted by Sophie1 at 11:59 AM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 11:59 AM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Love the Way You Lie by Eminem and Rihanna.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:00 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:00 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
Come With Me by Puff Daddy. Not joking
posted by steinsaltz at 12:02 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by steinsaltz at 12:02 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: From the same album so you've almost certainly heard it, but International Small Arms Traffic Blues.
posted by naturalog at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by naturalog at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, The Cure
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:06 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
girlfriend in a coma the smiths
and maybe but possibly not laid by james
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
and maybe but possibly not laid by james
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:07 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
My Life Would Suck Without You, Kelly Clarkson
posted by luciernaga at 12:08 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by luciernaga at 12:08 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: and if you want to go full fucked up: delia's gone by johnny cash
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:08 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:08 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: I Can't Decide by the Scissor Sisters
Love Me Dead by Ludo
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 12:09 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Love Me Dead by Ludo
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 12:09 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Jay Bennett - Replace You
The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine
posted by diamondsky at 12:13 PM on February 7, 2014
The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine
posted by diamondsky at 12:13 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: Corey Dargel's Other People's Love Songs album may fit the bill; this is the song I'm most familiar with.
(Though I will never find a more perfect example than "No Children," which leapt to mind immediately upon seeing your title. Glad to know you have that covered.)
posted by mlle valentine at 12:13 PM on February 7, 2014
(Though I will never find a more perfect example than "No Children," which leapt to mind immediately upon seeing your title. Glad to know you have that covered.)
posted by mlle valentine at 12:13 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: Road Rage, by Catatonia.
Also, Tom Jones, from Space with Cerys from Catatonia - great lyrics, really funny and sounds like what you're after.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:15 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, Tom Jones, from Space with Cerys from Catatonia - great lyrics, really funny and sounds like what you're after.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:15 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would say about a half a dozen from Sondheim have this attitude. He enjoys juggling contradictions. I'm at work so I can't link YouTubes but here are some snippets of lyrics.
Sorry-Grateful.
You're always sorry
You're always grateful
You're always wondering what might have been
Then she walks in
And still you're sorry
And still you're grateful
And still you wonder
And still you doubt
And she goes out
Buddy's Blue.
I've got those "God-why-don't-you-love-me-oh-you-do-I'll-see-you-later" Blues,
That "Long-as-you-ignore-me-you're-the-only-thing-that-matters" Feelin,
That "If-I'm-good-enough-for-you-you're-not-good-enough" and,
"Thank-you-for-the-present-but-what's-wrong-with-It?"
Leave You (although that's pure sarcasm).
Putting thoughts of you aside
In the south of France,
Would I think of suicide?
Darling, shall we dance?
Could I live through the pain
On a terrace in Spain?
Would it pass? It would pass.
Could I bury my rage
With a boy half your age
In the grass? Bet your ass.
In fact, the entire musical Company is about the contradictions of love.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:16 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Sorry-Grateful.
You're always sorry
You're always grateful
You're always wondering what might have been
Then she walks in
And still you're sorry
And still you're grateful
And still you wonder
And still you doubt
And she goes out
Buddy's Blue.
I've got those "God-why-don't-you-love-me-oh-you-do-I'll-see-you-later" Blues,
That "Long-as-you-ignore-me-you're-the-only-thing-that-matters" Feelin,
That "If-I'm-good-enough-for-you-you're-not-good-enough" and,
"Thank-you-for-the-present-but-what's-wrong-with-It?"
Leave You (although that's pure sarcasm).
Putting thoughts of you aside
In the south of France,
Would I think of suicide?
Darling, shall we dance?
Could I live through the pain
On a terrace in Spain?
Would it pass? It would pass.
Could I bury my rage
With a boy half your age
In the grass? Bet your ass.
In fact, the entire musical Company is about the contradictions of love.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:16 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: More from Company.
Being Alive
Someone to hold you too close.
Someone to hurt you too deep.
Someone to sit in you chair,
To ruin your sleep,
Someone to need you too much.
Someone to know you too well.
Someone to pull you up short,
And put you through hell,
Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.
Someone to crowd you with love.
Someone to force you to care.
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Or:
Mary Me A Little
Marry me a little
Body, heart not soul
Keep a tender distance
Always in control.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:30 PM on February 7, 2014
Being Alive
Someone to hold you too close.
Someone to hurt you too deep.
Someone to sit in you chair,
To ruin your sleep,
Someone to need you too much.
Someone to know you too well.
Someone to pull you up short,
And put you through hell,
Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.
Someone to crowd you with love.
Someone to force you to care.
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Or:
Mary Me A Little
Marry me a little
Body, heart not soul
Keep a tender distance
Always in control.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:30 PM on February 7, 2014
Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants?
posted by Lemmy Caution at 12:40 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by Lemmy Caution at 12:40 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: The cartoon Phineas and Ferb has a few great songs along this line:
When We Didn't Get Along
My Nemesis
posted by Sublimity at 12:42 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
When We Didn't Get Along
My Nemesis
posted by Sublimity at 12:42 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Shawn Mullins "Beautiful Wreck"
When my dear friend drank himself to death, this became the song that I will forever remember him by.
posted by humboldt32 at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2014
When my dear friend drank himself to death, this became the song that I will forever remember him by.
posted by humboldt32 at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2014
My favourite love song: Nine Inch Nails - We're In This Together
posted by corvine at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by corvine at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2014
Ani DiFranco, Gravel:
"you came crawling back to say
that you want to make good in the end
oh, let me count the ways that i abhor you
you were never a good lay
and you were never a good friend
but oh, what can i say, i adore you"
posted by epanalepsis at 12:56 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
"you came crawling back to say
that you want to make good in the end
oh, let me count the ways that i abhor you
you were never a good lay
and you were never a good friend
but oh, what can i say, i adore you"
posted by epanalepsis at 12:56 PM on February 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
"Crazy Bitch", by Buckcherry
posted by alex1965 at 1:14 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by alex1965 at 1:14 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I can't believe I forgot The Inbreds!
The songs from their album Winning Hearts all apply here, like this one
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:18 PM on February 7, 2014
The songs from their album Winning Hearts all apply here, like this one
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:18 PM on February 7, 2014
Face to Face, Siouxsie and the Banshees? From the 1992 Batman Returns soundtrack, it was the Batman/Catwoman theme. Though it might be the *opposite* of what you're looking for...
posted by Andrhia at 1:33 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by Andrhia at 1:33 PM on February 7, 2014
John Prine: In Spite of Ourselves
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:37 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 1:37 PM on February 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
I hate you, then I love you - Celine Dion & Luciano Pavarotti (!)
posted by JenThePro at 1:53 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by JenThePro at 1:53 PM on February 7, 2014
Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch." (As much as I loath it, I can't forget it.)
posted by Carol Anne at 2:48 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by Carol Anne at 2:48 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: These are kind of close to your criteria, but maybe more in a you are bad for me and I can't quit you type of way.
Long-Forgotten Fairytale by The Magnetic Fields
Like a Friend - Pulp
posted by Lapin at 2:53 PM on February 7, 2014
Long-Forgotten Fairytale by The Magnetic Fields
Like a Friend - Pulp
posted by Lapin at 2:53 PM on February 7, 2014
Breathe Around You by Tanya Donelly.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Best of this ilk are old standards (many of which have contemporary versions out). E.g. Billie Holiday made an entire career of singing such songs. Links are to lyric pages:
Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
I've got you under my skin
Good Morning Heartache
I get along without you very well
etc. etc...
posted by Quisp Lover at 4:38 PM on February 7, 2014
Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
I've got you under my skin
Good Morning Heartache
I get along without you very well
etc. etc...
posted by Quisp Lover at 4:38 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: I immediately thought of "My Love Is You" by David Byrne:
"Sometimes dear
You tell me I'm an asshole
Sometimes you're an asshole too
Even though we're filled with
imperfections
I don't think any less of you"
posted by aecorwin at 5:44 PM on February 7, 2014
"Sometimes dear
You tell me I'm an asshole
Sometimes you're an asshole too
Even though we're filled with
imperfections
I don't think any less of you"
posted by aecorwin at 5:44 PM on February 7, 2014
Best answer: This may be a bit more anodyne than the above-mentioned songs, but John Legend's "Take It Slow"?
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
Girl, I'm in love with youposted by simulacra at 6:14 PM on February 7, 2014
This ain't the honeymoon
Passed the infatuation phase
Right in the thick of love
At times we get sick of love
Seems like we argue everyday
I know I misbehaved and you made your mistakes
And we both still got room left to grow
And though love sometimes hurts
I still put you first
And we'll make this thing work but I think maybe we should take it slow
Best answer: You might like Your Love Is (Love Song with Metaphor) by Paul & Storm
posted by blurker at 8:49 PM on February 7, 2014
posted by blurker at 8:49 PM on February 7, 2014
U Stink But I ♥ U by Billy and the Boingers
posted by Shmuel510 at 12:40 AM on February 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Shmuel510 at 12:40 AM on February 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
I Hate Myself For Loving You - Joan Jett
Jesse - Carly Simon
Mamma Mia - Abba
posted by SisterHavana at 10:43 PM on February 8, 2014
Jesse - Carly Simon
Mamma Mia - Abba
posted by SisterHavana at 10:43 PM on February 8, 2014
Another one from Space: Bastard Me, Bastard You, from their Avenging Angels single release.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:35 AM on February 20, 2014
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:35 AM on February 20, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:55 AM on February 7, 2014