Only Love
- Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Alkaline Trioโs song โOnly Loveโ appears to be a meditation on mortality and the passing of time. By opening the song with the question โHow young are you going to be when you die?โ, the band seems to be encouraging listeners to contemplate their own mortality. The line โYouโre 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 โat 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 โlife 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 โfood and drinksโ as โpoisonโ 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
@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
@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 ๐งก
@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.