I heard the news baby
All about your disease
Yeah, you may have all you want baby
But I got somethin' you need, oh yeah

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Just like I told you before, yeah before

You know you're semi-good lookin'
And on the streets again
Oh yeah, you think you're really cookin' baby
You better find yourself a friend, my friend

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't gonna talk about love
Just like I told you before, before
Before, before, before

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Babe, it's rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' bout love
Just like I told you before, before

I been to the edge
And there I stood and looked down
You know I lost a lot of friends there baby
I got no time to mess around, mmm

So if you want it, got to bleed for it baby
Yeah, got to, got to bleed, baby
Mmm you got to, got to bleed, baby
Hey, got to, got to bleed baby

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Just like I told you before, before, before

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Don't wanna talk about love
Don't need to talk about love
Ain't gonna talk about love
No more, no more

Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen talk about love in a different way than what is traditionally expressed in rock and roll love songs. The first verse addresses someone with a disease, and although they may have all they want, the singer claims to have something they need. This leads to the chorus where the singer states that his love is "rotten to the core" and he isn't talking about love in the way the listener might expect. The second verse is directed towards someone who believes they are attractive and successful ("semi-good lookin'") but the singer advises them to find themselves a friend.

The bridge of the song then takes a dark turn as the singer talks about going to the edge and losing friends there, but not having time to "mess around". The final chorus emphasizes the point that the singer is not going to talk about love anymore. The overall interpretation of the song is that love is a dangerous game and not something to be taken lightly. It is a critical reflection on the superficial nature of relationships and also warns against the dangers of being too self-centered.

Line by Line Meaning

I heard the news baby
I am aware of what's going on with you

All about your disease
I know all about your problems and troubled state

Yeah, you may have all you want baby
You may have everything you fancy

But I got somethin' you need, oh yeah
But there's something you lack that I can provide

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
I'm not talking about romantic love

My love is rotten to the core
My affection is tainted and degraded

Just like I told you before, yeah before
As I already mentioned to you before, it's not love that I'm after

You know you're semi-good lookin'
You consider yourself only somewhat attractive

And on the streets again
You're back on the road again

Oh yeah, you think you're really cookin' baby
You're under the impression that you're doing great

You better find yourself a friend, my friend
You should seek companionship, my dear

Babe, it's rotten to the core
My love is corrupted and decayed, darling

I been to the edge
I faced a serious challenge

And there I stood and looked down
There I was, standing and contemplating

You know I lost a lot of friends there baby
I lost many allies in that situation, dear

I got no time to mess around, mmm
I can't waste any time playing around

So if you want it, got to bleed for it baby
If you want what I have to offer, you have to endure some pain and suffering

Mmm you got to, got to bleed, baby
You really have to go through some ordeal, darling

Ain't talkin' 'bout love
I'm not referring to romantic love

Don't wanna talk about love
I don't want to discuss affection

Don't need to talk about love
There's no need to touch on the topic of love

Ain't gonna talk about love
I won't speak of love

No more, no more
Never again

Hey, hey, hey
Interjection

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, David Roth, Michael Anthony

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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