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Love And Greed
Blues Traveler Lyrics


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I want to tell you about something special
I want to tell you what makes men need
I think I'm talking 'bout what we all get into
I think I'm talking 'bout love & greed

You can take it anyway but take it at your own speed
'Cause you wouldn't be the first to fall to love & greed

A man in love willing to walk through fire
A greedy man like a moth to a flame
A man in love willing to go half crazy
A greedy man likely to go insane

You can take it anyway but take it at your own speed
'Cause you wouldn't be the first to fall to love & greed

So the trap's been set and you've took the bait
You saw it all go down just a little too late
But now you're hooked and to your surprise
You saw how some of it was real and some was lies
But you're in too deep 'cause you care too much
And there's never been a cure for that as such
You could see prison bars or call it home sweet home
But like it or not you're no longer alone

A man in love don't know what he's doing
A greedy man always says he does
A man in love sold his soul up the river
That's where a greedy man's soul always was

You can take it anyway but take it at your own speed
'Cause you wouldn't be the first to fall to love & greed

Overall Meaning

Blues Traveler's song Love And Greed explores the dichotomy between love and greed and how they can both be equally powerful motivators. John Popper, the lead singer and songwriter, starts off by saying that he wants to tell the listener about something special, about what makes men need. He believes that what he's talking about is something that we all get into - love and greed. The lyrics caution the listener to take it slowly and not rush into either love or greed because you wouldn't be the first to fall victim to either.


The next verse contrasts a man in love with a greedy man. A man in love is willing to walk through fire, while a greedy man is like a moth to a flame. A man in love can go half crazy, while a greedy man is likely to go insane. Popper is highlighting how the two emotions, while seemingly different, can both have extreme consequences for those who are caught up in them.


The final verse describes how once the trap has been set, and someone has taken the bait, they become hooked. Whether the person realizes it too late or not, they are now in too deep and care too much to escape. The verses describe how a man in love doesn't know what he's doing while a greedy man always thinks that he does. The lyrics are essentially saying that both love and greed can be destructive forces in someone's life, and they should be aware and cautious of the potential consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

I want to tell you about something special
I want to share with you something important


I want to tell you what makes men need
I want to explain what motivates men


I think I'm talking 'bout what we all get into
I think I'm discussing something we all experience


I think I'm talking 'bout love & greed
I think I'm discussing the complex intersection of love and greed


You can take it anyway but take it at your own speed
You can interpret it as you wish, but do so thoughtfully


'Cause you wouldn't be the first to fall to love & greed
Many have been ensnared by the entanglement of love and greed before


A man in love willing to walk through fire
A man in love is willing to endure great hardship


A greedy man like a moth to a flame
A greedy man is irresistibly drawn to wealth and excess


A man in love willing to go half crazy
A man in love may act irrationally due to his passion


A greedy man likely to go insane
A greedy man's insatiable desire for more can lead to madness


So the trap's been set and you've took the bait
You've fallen into a trap and taken the bait


You saw it all go down just a little too late
You realized what was happening too late to avoid it


But now you're hooked and to your surprise
You're addicted and it's surprising you


You saw how some of it was real and some was lies
You saw that some of what you were pursuing was genuine and some was not


But you're in too deep 'cause you care too much
You're in too deep because you're emotionally invested


And there's never been a cure for that as such
There's no easy cure for caring too much


You could see prison bars or call it home sweet home
You could recognize the situation you're in as harmful or embrace it as comforting


But like it or not you're no longer alone
Regardless, you're not alone in this struggle


A man in love don't know what he's doing
A man in love may act impulsively without considering consequences


A greedy man always says he does
A greedy man thinks he knows what he's doing but is blinded by his desire for more


A man in love sold his soul up the river
A man in love may make questionable choices to attain love


That's where a greedy man's soul always was
A greedy man's priorities have been and will always be centered on personal gain


You can take it anyway but take it at your own speed
You can process the lyrics at your own pace and in your own way


'Cause you wouldn't be the first to fall to love & greed
Others have succumbed to the complicated pull of love and greed before




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHAN KINCHLA, JOHN C. POPPER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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