What They Call Love
Bettie Serveert Lyrics


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What they call love
Is just mother nature trying to have her way
Like a chemical inside your mind
It turns you deaf and dumb and blind so easily

When I care more than I care to know
I just play it down, so my fears don't show
How many times can I push them aside
I don't know

And here's to the fear
That blinded me all those years
And here's to the times
When I almost lost my mind

I take care of myself
I don't need no one else
But I love the way you say my name
So sweetly

I wonder should I trust in you
Or anyone, no matter who
You say you love me like a friend
Is this for real or just pretend, oh, no offense

And here's to the fear
That blinded me all those years
And here's to the times
When I almost lost my mind

I said to myself




I don't need no one else
But I love the way you say my name

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bettie Serveert's song "What They Call Love" touch on the theme of love as a chemical reaction in the brain. The singer suggests that what we often think of as love is just our biology taking over, turning us "deaf and dumb and blind so easily." Despite her awareness of this, the singer still finds herself caring deeply for someone but tries to keep her feelings at bay, so her fears don't show.


The song, however, is not merely about superficial love. It delves deeper into how fear can be a major factor in our relationships, and how it can blind and almost drive us to madness. The singer is afraid of trusting in anyone, even those who claim to love her. She wonders if their love is just fake, and if anyone is truly trustworthy.


The repeated lines of "here's to the fear that blinded me all those years, and here's to the times when I almost lost my mind" speak of the singer's past experiences in love and the fear that continues to haunt her. The lyrics are poignant and relatable, with a vulnerable honesty that will resonate with listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

What they call love
The term 'love' is just a construct created by nature to fulfill its own desires


Is just mother nature trying to have her way
Nature uses the concept of love to further its own agenda


Like a chemical inside your mind
Love is like a powerful substance that affects the mind


It turns you deaf and dumb and blind so easily
Love has the ability to make a person oblivious to what's happening around them


When I care more than I care to know
Sometimes caring too much can be overwhelming


I just play it down, so my fears don't show
To cope with overwhelming emotions, one may pretend they don't exist


How many times can I push them aside
Questioning if it's possible to continue ignoring emotions


I don't know
Uncertainty regarding emotional capacity


And here's to the fear
Acknowledging and raising a glass to past emotional struggles


That blinded me all those years
Fear that rendered someone unable to see their own needs and desires for an extended period of time


And here's to the times
Recognizing and celebrating difficult experiences


When I almost lost my mind
Remembering a time of personal crisis


I take care of myself
Self-assuredness regarding personal care and independence


I don't need no one else
Not relying on anyone else for emotional stability


But I love the way you say my name
Appreciation for someone's affection


So sweetly
Complementing the way the individual expresses themselves


I wonder should I trust in you
Questioning the honesty of another individual


Or anyone, no matter who
Referring to the general inability to trust others completely


You say you love me like a friend
Expressing how someone else loves/cares for the singer


Is this for real or just pretend, oh, no offense
Expressing skepticism at the genuineness of someone else's feelings




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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