Woke up this morning desperation a.m.
What I've been saying won't say them again
My head's not empty, it's full with my brain
The thoughts I'm thinking
Like piss down a drain

And I feel like a beetle on its back
And there's no way for me to get up
Love'll get you like a case of anthrax
And that's something I don't want to catch

Ought to control what I do to my mind
Nothing in there but sunshades for the blind
Only yesterday I said to myself
The things I'm doing are not good
For my health

"Love crops up quite a lot as something to sing about,
cos most groups make most of their songs about falling in love
or how happy they are to be in love,
you occasionally wonder why these groups do sing about it all the time -
it's because these groups think there's something very special about it
either that or else it's because everybody else sings about it and always has,
you know to burst into song you have to be inspired
and nothing inspires quite like love.

These groups and singers think that they appeal to everyone
by singing about love because apparently everyone has or can love
or so they would have you believe anyway
but these groups seem to go along with what, the belief
that love is deep in everyone's personality.
I don't think we're saying there's anything wrong with love,
we just don't think that what goes on between two people
should be shrouded with mystery."

Love'll get you like a case of anthrax
And that's something I don't want to catch
Love'll get you like a case of anthrax
And that's something I don't want to catch

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gang of Four's song "Love Like Anthrax" express the fear and dread of falling in love. The song begins with the singer feeling desperate and regretting the things they've been saying. Their mind is filled with thoughts that they compare to "piss down a drain," suggesting that they feel overwhelmed and powerless. They then describe feeling like a beetle on its back, unable to escape the situation they find themselves in. The comparison to a case of anthrax reinforces the idea that love is dangerous and something to be avoided.

In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that they need to take control of their thoughts and actions in order to protect their mental health. They recognize that the things they've been doing are not good for them and need to change. The lyrics then shift to a commentary on the prevalence of songs about love in popular music. The singer questions why so many songs are about falling in love, suggesting that it's a tired and overused theme. They also speculate that perhaps these songs are popular because they tap into a deep-seated belief that love is a fundamental part of being human.

Overall, "Love Like Anthrax" is a cynical and somewhat bleak commentary on love and its place in society. The song suggests that love can be dangerous and that it's overemphasized in popular culture. However, the fact that the lyrics are delivered in a catchy and rhythmic musical style creates a sense of tension between the message and the music.

Line by Line Meaning

Woke up this morning desperation a.m.
I woke up feeling helpless and desperate

What I've been saying won't say them again
I won't repeat my previous statements

My head's not empty, it's full with my brain
I am thinking deeply about things

The thoughts I'm thinking, like piss down a drain
My thoughts seem to be going nowhere

And I feel like a beetle on its back
I feel helpless or stuck

And there's no way for me to get up
I can't seem to find a solution

Love'll get you like a case of anthrax
Love can be as dangerous as a deadly disease

And that's something I don't want to catch
I don't want to get hurt or fall into a dangerous situation

Ought to control what I do to my mind
I should be mindful of what I think and do

Nothing in there but sunshades for the blind
I am trying to hide from the truth

Only yesterday I said to myself
I recently made a confession to myself