It’s no secret that the landscape of Birds of Tokyo’s home of Western Australia; a desert-like state so vast and unforgiving that to provide it with a soundtrack requires a higher level of grandeur and majesty one would ever dare associate with the ‘pop’ music tag.
But, down to its bones, pop music is what Birds of Tokyo write… they just layer those bones in muscle, and give the beast a heart.
Beautifully expressive in its texture, yet thick and rich in its deceptive simplicity; Birds Of Tokyo’s music is universal and incredibly humanistic. In what could be described as the blink of an eye, the band have struck a nerve in their homeland, giving way to an unprecedented rise to popularity, but it is in their blossoming international recognition can be seen the band’s true strength and ability to connect with people.
The Dark Side of Love
Birds of Tokyo Lyrics
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And leads us to believe we are one
It's a sick game the winner takes their prize
The loser's left to slowly die
I can't take much more im leaving
For another place where no one knows me
Here I'll start it over
And this has to be the dark side of love
So many nights have I been down, I've been thinking of you
So many right, so many wrong
What have you done to me
Where have you gone, my dear
Where do you go?
Just let it take control and drag you to the bottom now
It's a long way down on your own
So you must take a passenger along
I can't take no more, I'm leaving for another place where you won't find me
Here I'll start it over I will find a way to piece myself together
Oh, for you and me
And this has to be the dark side of love
So many nights have I been down ,I've been thinking of you
So many right, so many wrong
What have you done to me
Where have you gone my dear?
So many nights have I been down
I've been thinking of you
So many right, so many wrong
I've been thinking of you
So many nights have I been down
(I don't know what to do)
So many right, so many wrong
What have you done to me
Where have you gone my dear
Where do you go
The lyrics of Birds of Tokyo's song "The Dark Side of Love" are a poignant reflection on the challenging, and often heartbreaking aspects of love. The opening line, "Love is a ticking clock that laughs," is a powerful metaphor describing love's unpredictability and its ability to lead us to believe that we are one with our partner, only to leave us shattered as a result of its insidious game. Although love can start as an empowering feeling, it can quickly devolve into darkness as winners take their prize and the losers are left to slowly die.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is a ticking clock that laughs
Love is unpredictable and even though it can be joyful one moment, it can quickly change and become laughing mockery of your hopes and dreams.
And leads us to believe we are one
Love can make us feel a deep connection to another person, as if we are one entity instead of two separate individuals.
It's a sick game the winner takes their prize
Love can sometimes be a cruel game where one person wins at the other's expense. The idea of 'winning' someone's love implies a contest rather than a mutual exchange.
The loser's left to slowly die
When love doesn't work out, the person who feels they have lost the game can be left feeling devastated and like a part of them is dying inside.
I can't take much more im leaving
The artist has reached a breaking point and feels they cannot handle the struggles of their relationship anymore. They are choosing to walk away from it all.
For another place where no one knows me
The singer needs to get away from everything familiar so they can find themselves again and get a fresh start on life.
Here I'll start it over
The singer has taken control of their life and is ready to start anew, free from their past problems and mistakes.
I will find a way to piece myself together for you and me
The artist acknowledges that they need to work on themselves before they can be part of a healthy relationship.
And this has to be the dark side of love
The artist has come to realize that love can have negative consequences and they have experienced some of the worst parts of it.
So many nights have I been down, I've been thinking of you
Despite feeling hurt and wanting to move on, the artist still spends a lot of time thinking about the person they are leaving behind.
What have you done to me
The singer is questioning how they ever got so entangled in this toxic relationship and what effects it has had on their life as a result.
Where have you gone, my dear
The artist is mourning the loss of what they thought was a real connection with this person.
Where do you go?
The singer is left feeling lost and confused about where their relationship went wrong and how it all fell apart so quickly.
Just let it take control and drag you to the bottom now
Sometimes, it can feel easier to let yourself sink down into the darkness of the situation rather than try to salvage what's left of the relationship.
It's a long way down on your own
Being alone is a scary concept when you have experienced the highs and lows of a relationship. It can feel like a daunting journey to go through another low point without someone to lean on.
So you must take a passenger along
The artist has come to realize that they don't want to go through this dark time alone and need someone to rely on during this difficult period.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY JOHN T JACKSON, IAN LEWIS KENNY, ADAM JOHN SPARK, ADAM PETER WESTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind