Only Love
- Alkaline Trio Lyrics


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How young are you gonna be when you die?
I guess I never really thought about that
You're dying when you start thinking like that
All I know is that time is undefeated so far

Get right with god before its time
I hear that the telephone works both ways
Think you can make a little effort some day?

I gotta awful lot going on with the things that I can see
And what I see are the reasons that I be
And the blood I give to her, and her
That's all there is

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions
At the end there is only love

Separate these lies like there's a truth
I don't know who the hell told you
You've probably been lying since you murdered my youth

I know you're going take what's left, but you'll never see me run
No, here I am
Can you see what's in these hands?
It's everything I need to see, to breath, to feel

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions
At the end there is only love

I lie awake, don't miss her
I lay with all that I love
And all I need on this earth
Like what's below

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions




At the end there is only love
At the end there is only love

Overall Meaning

Alkaline Trioโ€™s song โ€œOnly Loveโ€ appears to be a meditation on mortality and the passing of time. By opening the song with the question โ€œHow young are you going to be when you die?โ€, the band seems to be encouraging listeners to contemplate their own mortality. The line โ€œYouโ€™re dying when you start thinking like thatโ€ suggests that dwelling too much on death can be unhealthy and lead to a kind of spiritual death. Despite this, the song acknowledges that time is undefeated and that everyone will eventually die. The repetition of the chorus that โ€œat the end there is only loveโ€ implies that, no matter how we live our lives, the one thing that matters in the end is the love we have given and received.


The song also seems to offer a critique of modern life and the various distractions we use to avoid confronting our mortality. The line โ€œlife is deadโ€ implies that our existence can feel aimless and empty when we are constantly trying to stave off thoughts of death. The focus on โ€œfood and drinksโ€ as โ€œpoisonโ€ may be a reference to the way we distract ourselves with consumption or the use of substances. As the song draws to a close, the final lines suggest that love is what truly matters in life, and that it is possible to find meaning and joy even in the face of death.


Line by Line Meaning

How young are you gonna be when you die?
Asking about the age a person will be when they die


I guess I never really thought about that
Having not considered the question before


You're dying when you start thinking like that
Contemplating about death brings you closer to it


All I know is that time is undefeated so far
Time has always won over life


Get right with god before its time
Find peace with faith before death


I hear that the telephone works both ways
Communication is a two-way street


Think you can make a little effort some day?
Asking for an attempt in communication


I gotta awful lot going on with the things that I can see
Busy with what's in front of them


And what I see are the reasons that I be
The things they see define their reasons for living


And the blood I give to her, and her
Giving love and devotion to someone


That's all there is
Love and devotion is everything for them


It's only love that keeps us here
Love is the reason for living


And this food and these drinks they are poison
The pleasures of life can be harmful


And life is dead
Life has no meaning without love


So die well with some good distractions
Enjoy life while it lasts


At the end there is only love
Love is the ultimate truth


Separate these lies like there's a truth
Differentiating between lies and truth


I don't know who the hell told you
Unsure of the source of information


You've probably been lying since you murdered my youth
Blaming someone for taking away their youth with lies


I know you're going take what's left, but you'll never see me run
Being confident they won't run away from their situation


No, here I am
Presenting themselves as who they are


Can you see what's in these hands?
Asking if others can recognize what they hold


It's everything I need to see, to breath, to feel
Posessing everything they need to live


I lie awake, don't miss her
Unable to sleep without her beside them


I lay with all that I love
Surrounded by everything they love


And all I need on this earth
The only necessity in life


Like what's below
Referring to the ground, where they will eventually be buried


At the end there is only love
Love is the ultimate truth




Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL ANDRIANO, DEREK GRANT, MIKE SKIBA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Miguel-ik5ct

How young are you gonna be when you die?
I guess I never really thought about that
You're dying when you start thinking like that
All I know is that time is undefeated so far

Get right with god before its time
I hear that the telephone works both ways
Think you can make a little effort some day?

I gotta awful lot going on with the things that I can see
And what I see are the reasons that I be
And the blood I give to her, and her
That's all there is

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions
At the end there is only love

Separate these lies like there's a truth
I don't know who the hell told you
You've probably been lying since you murdered my youth

I know you're going take what's left, but you'll never see me run
No, here I am
Can you see what's in these hands?
It's everything I need to see, to breath, to feel

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions
At the end there is only love

I lie awake, don't miss her
I lay with all that I love
And all I need on this earth
Like what's below

It's only love that keeps us here
And this food and these drinks they are poison
And life is dead
So die well with some good distractions
At the end there is only love
At the end there is only love



All comments from YouTube:

@sheslikeamaze

Dan's songs are always my favorite. This song gives me the chills. "Only Love" is probably my favorite song on the record so far.

@davidadams7985

Beautiful song, Dan always hits it home with his songs.

@jlangston58

It makes me so happy to see so many loyal trio fans

@phatmanwc

This song is beautiful. It resonates in a way I can't describe, but that Dan probably could.

@ejyounggun08

Bought this album a few days ago and can't stop listening. This is probably my favorite song thus far.

@maeaomalley972

One of their best ๐Ÿงก

@Tiberiumfreek

Dan always makes the album even better. Way to go Dan! :D

@dennisholmes7782

This new album makes me proud of my 11 year old alkaline trio tattoo again hahah

@TheRJDH

Love to hear this acoustic.

@ToothPicksInMyEyes

Dan the man hasn't got a single shit song to his name.

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