What love does, according to songs
September 12, 2022 3:27 PM Subscribe
I want to read all the song lyrics you can think of about things love does. Any era, any genre.
*Can either say "love does x and y" or give an action "love will tear us apart"
*Cannot be "love is"
*Love must be doing the actions--i.e. it's Rick Astley who's never gonna give you up, not love
(This is for a story about a witch, but no witchiness required in lyrics.)
Looking forward!
I think this search engine will give you what you need.
posted by foursentences at 3:36 PM on September 12, 2022
posted by foursentences at 3:36 PM on September 12, 2022
The Who, Love Reign O'er Me ("Only love can make it rain")
posted by perhapses at 3:42 PM on September 12, 2022
posted by perhapses at 3:42 PM on September 12, 2022
"Love Will Keep Us Together", by Captain and Tennille (1975)
posted by alex1965 at 3:44 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by alex1965 at 3:44 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love changes, changes everything/ Love makes you fly
posted by boudicca at 3:50 PM on September 12, 2022
posted by boudicca at 3:50 PM on September 12, 2022
Love will drive us insane, Talking Heads, Sax and Violins
posted by Frowner at 3:56 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Frowner at 3:56 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love Will Bring Us Back Together - Roy Ayers
Love Hurts - Roy Orbison ("Love hurts, love scars, love wounds, and marssssss...")
Love Kills - Freddie Mercury ("Love don't give no compensation, love don't pay no bills, love don't give no indication, love just won't stand still" - plus "drills you through the heart", "strikes like cold steel")
posted by doornoise at 3:56 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love Hurts - Roy Orbison ("Love hurts, love scars, love wounds, and marssssss...")
Love Kills - Freddie Mercury ("Love don't give no compensation, love don't pay no bills, love don't give no indication, love just won't stand still" - plus "drills you through the heart", "strikes like cold steel")
posted by doornoise at 3:56 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love Hurts - Nazareth
Love hurts, love scars
Love wounds and marks
Any heart
Not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud
Holds a lot of rain
Love hurts
Ooh, ooh, love hurts
posted by Sassyfras at 4:01 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love hurts, love scars
Love wounds and marks
Any heart
Not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud
Holds a lot of rain
Love hurts
Ooh, ooh, love hurts
posted by Sassyfras at 4:01 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Some that came to mind with other grammatical constructions, but still love and not necessarily the person doing the actions:
"First I get cold then hot
Think I'm on fire I'm not
Oh what a pain I've got it must be love..."
- It Must Be Love by Alan Jackson
"The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove..."
- The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News
posted by sigmagalator at 4:04 PM on September 12, 2022
"First I get cold then hot
Think I'm on fire I'm not
Oh what a pain I've got it must be love..."
- It Must Be Love by Alan Jackson
"The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
Change a hawk to a little white dove..."
- The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News
posted by sigmagalator at 4:04 PM on September 12, 2022
It Comes in Spurts
It Has Given Up
It Kills Slowly
posted by General Malaise at 4:09 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
It Has Given Up
It Kills Slowly
posted by General Malaise at 4:09 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: [Love's] savage and it's cruel and it shines like destruction
It comes in like a flood and it feels like religion
It's noble and brutal, it distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up and you're left like a zombie...
(Eurythmics, "Love Is A Stranger")
[Love] turns a genius to an ass
And makes a fool think he is wise;
It could make you regret your birth
Or turn cartwheels in your best suit
It costs a lot more than it's worth
And yet there is no substitute...
(Magnetic Fields, "Love Is Like A Bottle of Gin")
Love, love is gonna lead you by the hand
Into a white and soundless place
(Mountain Goats, "Love Love Love")
Love, love will tear us apart again
(Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart")
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
(Bonnie Raitt, "Thing Called Love")
posted by praemunire at 4:14 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
It comes in like a flood and it feels like religion
It's noble and brutal, it distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up and you're left like a zombie...
(Eurythmics, "Love Is A Stranger")
[Love] turns a genius to an ass
And makes a fool think he is wise;
It could make you regret your birth
Or turn cartwheels in your best suit
It costs a lot more than it's worth
And yet there is no substitute...
(Magnetic Fields, "Love Is Like A Bottle of Gin")
Love, love is gonna lead you by the hand
Into a white and soundless place
(Mountain Goats, "Love Love Love")
Love, love will tear us apart again
(Joy Division, "Love Will Tear Us Apart")
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
(Bonnie Raitt, "Thing Called Love")
posted by praemunire at 4:14 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh, and
Love, it will not betray you,
Dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free,
Be more like the man you were made to be.
(Mumford & Sons, "Sigh No More")
posted by praemunire at 4:16 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love, it will not betray you,
Dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free,
Be more like the man you were made to be.
(Mumford & Sons, "Sigh No More")
posted by praemunire at 4:16 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
I want to love you,
and treat you right.
I want to love you.
every day and every night.
We'll be together,
with a roof right over our heads...
We'll share the shelter,
Of my single bed.
We'll share the same room,
Jah provide the the bread...
Is this love, is this love that I'm feeling?
Is this love? Bob Marley
posted by Windopaene at 4:28 PM on September 12, 2022
and treat you right.
I want to love you.
every day and every night.
We'll be together,
with a roof right over our heads...
We'll share the shelter,
Of my single bed.
We'll share the same room,
Jah provide the the bread...
Is this love, is this love that I'm feeling?
Is this love? Bob Marley
posted by Windopaene at 4:28 PM on September 12, 2022
Love makes the world go ‘round
Love makes the world go ‘round
Somebody soon will love you
If no one loves you now
--From Carnival, which opened on Broadway in 1961.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 4:29 PM on September 12, 2022
Love makes the world go ‘round
Somebody soon will love you
If no one loves you now
--From Carnival, which opened on Broadway in 1961.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 4:29 PM on September 12, 2022
Love Can Build a Bridge - The Judds
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me
posted by Sassyfras at 4:39 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me
posted by Sassyfras at 4:39 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Joe Cocker: Love lifts up up where we belong.
Counterpoint from Moulin Rouge: Love makes us act like we are fools.
posted by mbrubeck at 4:41 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Counterpoint from Moulin Rouge: Love makes us act like we are fools.
posted by mbrubeck at 4:41 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
I always liked Christine McVie's "Love Will Show Us How."
posted by less-of-course at 4:43 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by less-of-course at 4:43 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Talking Heads, Love → Building on Fire: my love stands next to your love [...] and they go tweet tweet tweet tweet tweet tweet tweet tweet tweet like little birds.
posted by mbrubeck at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mbrubeck at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Def Leppard:
Love bites, love bleedsposted by mbrubeck at 4:49 PM on September 12, 2022 [5 favorites]
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
It's no surprise
Love begs, love pleads
It's what I need
Under Pressure:
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
posted by Jeanne at 5:05 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
posted by Jeanne at 5:05 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh wait also there's a Phillip Glass song from Songs from Liquid Days with a section that goes:
Love likes me
Love takes it shoes off and sits on the couch
Love has an answer for everything
Love smiles gently and crosses its legs
[...]
I offer love a beer
Love watches television
Love needs a bath
Love could use a shave
Love rolls out of the chair and wiggles on the floor
Jumps up
I'm laughing at love
I'm laughing at love
posted by less-of-course at 5:20 PM on September 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Love likes me
Love takes it shoes off and sits on the couch
Love has an answer for everything
Love smiles gently and crosses its legs
[...]
I offer love a beer
Love watches television
Love needs a bath
Love could use a shave
Love rolls out of the chair and wiggles on the floor
Jumps up
I'm laughing at love
I'm laughing at love
posted by less-of-course at 5:20 PM on September 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Love grows one by one,
Two by two and four by four;
Love grows round like a circle
And comes back knocking at your front door.
posted by Daily Alice at 5:22 PM on September 12, 2022
Two by two and four by four;
Love grows round like a circle
And comes back knocking at your front door.
posted by Daily Alice at 5:22 PM on September 12, 2022
The Mountain Goats -- Love, Love, Love
"Love, love is going to lead you by the hand
Into a white and soundless place"
I know, I know you said not "love is" but this "love is" as a way of verbalizing action it's doing, not something like "love is beautiful" or whatnot.
posted by foxfirefey at 5:24 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Love, love is going to lead you by the hand
Into a white and soundless place"
I know, I know you said not "love is" but this "love is" as a way of verbalizing action it's doing, not something like "love is beautiful" or whatnot.
posted by foxfirefey at 5:24 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
On mobile, so no links, sorry.
Loved Changes Everything from Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd Webber:
Love changes everything (followed by a list of changed things)
Love makes fools of everyone
Love changes everyone
Love bursts in (and suddenly all our wisdom disappers)
Love will never, never let you be the same
Wait for It from Hamilton
Love doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes, and it takes, and it takes
Don't Bring Her Flowers from Olympus on my Mind
Love will bloom in quick succession
Once you've shared that prized posession:
A little something of yourself
Love requires more than flowers
It takes some sacrifice
Love Don't Roam by Neil Hannon (Dr Who soundtrack)
Because love, it stays within you,
It does not wash up on a shore.
We Beseech Thee from Godspell
Come sing about love
That made us first to be
...
That made the stone and tree
...
That draws us lovingly
posted by DebetEsse at 5:26 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Loved Changes Everything from Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd Webber:
Love changes everything (followed by a list of changed things)
Love makes fools of everyone
Love changes everyone
Love bursts in (and suddenly all our wisdom disappers)
Love will never, never let you be the same
Wait for It from Hamilton
Love doesn't discriminate
Between the sinners and the saints
It takes, and it takes, and it takes
Don't Bring Her Flowers from Olympus on my Mind
Love will bloom in quick succession
Once you've shared that prized posession:
A little something of yourself
Love requires more than flowers
It takes some sacrifice
Love Don't Roam by Neil Hannon (Dr Who soundtrack)
Because love, it stays within you,
It does not wash up on a shore.
We Beseech Thee from Godspell
Come sing about love
That made us first to be
...
That made the stone and tree
...
That draws us lovingly
posted by DebetEsse at 5:26 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love sears, according to Napalm Death (Incendiary Incoming), and love burns according to the eponymous song by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
posted by cobaltnine at 6:07 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by cobaltnine at 6:07 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love I hear makes you sigh a lot;
Also, love, I hear, leaves you weak.
Love, I hear, makes you blush and turns you ashen
You try to speak with passion, and squeak... I hear
Love, they say, makes you pine away
But you pine away, with an idiotic grin
I pine, I blush, I squeak, I squawk
Today I woke too weak to walk
What's love I hear, I feel, I fear, I'm in...
posted by amtho at 6:12 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also, love, I hear, leaves you weak.
Love, I hear, makes you blush and turns you ashen
You try to speak with passion, and squeak... I hear
Love, they say, makes you pine away
But you pine away, with an idiotic grin
I pine, I blush, I squeak, I squawk
Today I woke too weak to walk
What's love I hear, I feel, I fear, I'm in...
posted by amtho at 6:12 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
"...but Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?" --Niel Young
"Only Love Can Break A Heart, only love can mend it again" - Gene Pitney
posted by muddgirl at 6:18 PM on September 12, 2022
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?" --Niel Young
"Only Love Can Break A Heart, only love can mend it again" - Gene Pitney
posted by muddgirl at 6:18 PM on September 12, 2022
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young
Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney (Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again)
Love Can Make You Happy - Mercy (Love can make you happy if you find someone who cares, To give a life time to you and who has a love to share)
Love is Like Oxygen - Sweet (Love is Like Oxygen, You get too much, you get too high, Not enough and you're gonna die. Love gets you high.)
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:18 PM on September 12, 2022
Only Love Can Break A Heart - Gene Pitney (Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again)
Love Can Make You Happy - Mercy (Love can make you happy if you find someone who cares, To give a life time to you and who has a love to share)
Love is Like Oxygen - Sweet (Love is Like Oxygen, You get too much, you get too high, Not enough and you're gonna die. Love gets you high.)
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:18 PM on September 12, 2022
Love sees love's happiness
But happiness can't see that love is sad
That love is sad
Sadness is hanging there
To show love somewhere something needs a change
They need a change
They Might Be Giants - They'll Need a Crane
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:22 PM on September 12, 2022
But happiness can't see that love is sad
That love is sad
Sadness is hanging there
To show love somewhere something needs a change
They need a change
They Might Be Giants - They'll Need a Crane
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:22 PM on September 12, 2022
When love comes in and takes you for a spin
Oo la la, c'est magnifique.
It's the wonder of the world
It's a rocket to the moon
It gets you high
It gets you low
But once you get that glow...
Love, love hooray for love
posted by brookeb at 6:35 PM on September 12, 2022
Oo la la, c'est magnifique.
It's the wonder of the world
It's a rocket to the moon
It gets you high
It gets you low
But once you get that glow...
Love, love hooray for love
posted by brookeb at 6:35 PM on September 12, 2022
Love will get you like a case of anthrax, and that’s something I don’t wanna catch.
posted by mhoye at 6:39 PM on September 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 6:39 PM on September 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Since it's a witchy story maybe a bit of
"Couldn't sleep and wouldn't sleep
When love came and told me I shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I"
posted by brookeb at 6:57 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Couldn't sleep and wouldn't sleep
When love came and told me I shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I"
posted by brookeb at 6:57 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Another Love Changes Everything, this one's from "Aspects of Love."
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:04 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by JimN2TAW at 7:04 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love Will Lead You Back
"Love will lead you back
Someday I just know that
Love will lead you back to my arms
Where you belong
I'm sure, sure as stars are shining
One day you will find me again, it won't be long
One of these days our love will lead you back"
posted by Constance Mirabella at 8:29 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
"Love will lead you back
Someday I just know that
Love will lead you back to my arms
Where you belong
I'm sure, sure as stars are shining
One day you will find me again, it won't be long
One of these days our love will lead you back"
posted by Constance Mirabella at 8:29 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
George and Ira Gershwin, Love Walked In (here performed by Leontyne Price) and Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse.
posted by Rash at 9:28 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 9:28 PM on September 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thing called love
It can lift you up never let you down
Take your world and turn it around
Ever since time nothing's ever been found
That's stronger than love
Thing Called Love, by Johnny Cash
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:46 PM on September 12, 2022
It can lift you up never let you down
Take your world and turn it around
Ever since time nothing's ever been found
That's stronger than love
Thing Called Love, by Johnny Cash
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:46 PM on September 12, 2022
Daniel Johnston - Love Defined
Love bears all things
Believes all things
Hopes all things
Endures all things
You might have heard this at weddings; it's 1 Corinthians 13.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:13 AM on September 13, 2022
Love bears all things
Believes all things
Hopes all things
Endures all things
You might have heard this at weddings; it's 1 Corinthians 13.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:13 AM on September 13, 2022
"And True Love Waits
In haunted attics
And true love lives
On lollipops and crisps
Just don't leave
Don't leave" -- Radiohead
posted by muddgirl at 7:21 AM on September 13, 2022
In haunted attics
And true love lives
On lollipops and crisps
Just don't leave
Don't leave" -- Radiohead
posted by muddgirl at 7:21 AM on September 13, 2022
I heard love can fall so hard, it can bury a kingdom
I heard it makes the spring appear out of season
I Love, I Love, by Dar Williams
posted by kite at 5:05 PM on September 13, 2022
I heard it makes the spring appear out of season
I Love, I Love, by Dar Williams
posted by kite at 5:05 PM on September 13, 2022
Not the exact syntax you're looking for, but I think it will bear fruit:
Book of Love, Magnetic Fields (For the sake of children don't listen to the Peter Gabriel cover of this song)
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 9:51 PM on September 13, 2022
Book of Love, Magnetic Fields (For the sake of children don't listen to the Peter Gabriel cover of this song)
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 9:51 PM on September 13, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by valrus at 3:35 PM on September 12, 2022 [2 favorites]