Love Minus Zero
Bob Dylan Lyrics


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My love she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can't buy her

In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all

The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge

The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers' nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night blows rainy




My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing

Overall Meaning

In "Love Minus Zero / No Limit," Bob Dylan describes his love as someone who speaks in silence, without the need for grand gestures or idealistic principles. She breathes without judgment, holds herself and others without expectations or promises. She laughs like flowers, unlike the roses people hold and promises they make. She is a real person, not a symbol - true like both ice and fire. While people around her make predictions about the future, quote books, and draw conclusions on walls, she speaks softly as one who knows that failure is important, and that success cannot be defined by it.


Throughout the song, there are religious and mythological allusions that invoke ideas of folklore, mystery, and ritual. The cloak and dagger dangles and Madams light the candles all suggest a scene of mystique and wonder that surrounds love. The bridge at midnight trembles and statues made of matchsticks crumble into one another invoke the idea of a place where things are constantly in flux, where nothing is permanent, and everything is subject to change.


Line by Line Meaning

My love she speaks like silence
My lover speaks softly, but to me it is loud and clear


Without ideals or violence
She speaks with no ideology, neither with aggression


She doesn't have to say she's faithful
She does not need to explain her faithfulness to me


Yet she's true, like ice, like fire
Her loyalty is as solid and unwavering as ice, yet passionate as fire


People carry roses
People attempt to express love through material means


And make promises by the hours
Promises made in haste are often of little value


My love she laughs like the flowers
She has a natural and joyful spirit, like a blooming flower


Valentines can't buy her
She is not impressed by superficial declarations of love


In the dime stores and bus stations
In places of meager means and limited opportunities


People talk of situations
Conversations concerning life and its difficulties occur frequently


Read books, repeat quotations
Many seek knowledge through books and repeat the words of others


Draw conclusions on the wall
Attempting to solve problems by writing opinions on a wall is futile


Some speak of the future
There are those who plan and envision their future


My love she speaks softly
My lover has a gentle and calm demeanor


She knows there's no success like failure
She understands that failure is a necessary part of success


And that failure's no success at all
A failed attempt is not a triumph in itself


The cloak and dagger dangles
There are secretive and suspicious activities occurring


Madams light the candles
Women of questionable character ignite flames of attraction


In ceremonies of the horsemen
In activities suited for rugged and daring men


Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Even the lowest status individuals seek revenge


Statues made of matchsticks
Figures crafted from delicate substances easily fall apart


Crumble into one another
These things can fall and collapse


My love winks, she does not bother
My lover doesn't care for trivialities and playfully chooses to ignore them


She knows too much to argue or to judge
She is knowledgeable enough to not involve herself in arguments and judgments


The bridge at midnight trembles
The structure that links places is shaking during a moment in the night of uncertainty


The country doctor rambles
The local physician is deliriously wandering while talking


Bankers' nieces seek perfection
The wealthy and advantaged seek an impossible level of excellence


Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
Anticipating rewards and benefits without working for them


The wind howls like a hammer
The sound of the wind is harsh and powerful


The night blows rainy
The dark night shows itself in the form of rain


My love she's like some raven
My lover reminds me of a clever and alluring crow


At my window with a broken wing
She appears to me but in a vulnerable, weakened state




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

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

@WiEar

I still doubt about that between ...

Dylan and ... Schubert ...

They both wrote about 600 songs and Dylan is still at it ...

Maybe I should solve this pickle and state:

"Dylan is the 20th century Schubert" 😄



@NachoC025

My love she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can't buy her

In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all

The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge

The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers' nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night blows rainy
My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing



@Hitman22983

My love she speaks like silence,
Without ideals or violence,
She doesn't have to say she's faithful,
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses,
Make promises by the hours,
My love she laughs like the flowers,
Valentines can't buy her.
In the dime stores and bus stations,
People talk of situations,
Read books, repeat quotations,
Draw conclusions on the wall.
Some speak of the future,
My love she speaks softly,
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all.
The cloak and dagger dangles,
Madams light the candles.
In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks,
Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.
The bridge at midnight trembles,
The country doctor rambles,
Bankers' nieces seek perfection,
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring.
The wind howls like a hammer,
The night blows cold and rainy,
My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing.



@user-fn9hx2ve2t

My love, she speaks like silence
내 사랑, 그녀는 침묵으로 보여줘요
Without ideals or violence
이상이나 폭력없이
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
그녀는 자신이 충실하다고 굳이 말할 필요가 없어요
Yet she's true like ice, like fire
그녀는 얼음같고, 불같이 진실돼요
People carry roses
사람들은 장미를 들고
And make promises by the hour
시간마다 사량을 약속하지만
My love she laughs like the flowers
내사랑 그녀는 꽃처럼 웃지요
Valentines can't buy her
발렌타인에도 그녀를 가질 수 없어요
In the dime stores and bus stations
구멍가게와 버스정류장에서
People talk of situations
사람들은 현상황을 이야기해요
Read books, repeat quotations
책을 읽고, 인용구를 반복해서
Draw conclusions on the wall
벽에 결론을 내려요
Some speak of the future
일부는 미래를 예측해요
My love, she speaks softly
내 사랑, 그녀가 점잖게 말해줘요
She knows there's no success like failure
그녀는 실패같은 성공이 없다는걸 알고
And that failure's no success at all
실패는 전혀 성공적이지 않은것도 알아요
The cloak and dagger dangles
망토와 단검이 달랑거리고
Madams light the candles
마담들은 촛불을 켜요
In ceremonies of the horsemen
기사(높은계층)의 승리 의식에
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
졸병(낮은계층)이라도 원한을 품어야 해요
Statues made of matchsticks
성냥으로 만든 조각들이
Crumble into one another
서로 부딪칩니다
My love winks she does not bother
나의 그녀가 자기는 신경안쓴다고 암시해줘요
She knows too much to argue or to judge
그녀는 논쟁하거나 판단하기에는 과하단걸 알거든요
The bridge at midnight trembles
자정에 교량이 흔들리고
The country doctor rambles
시골의사는 변명을 해요
Bankers' nieces seek perfection
은행원의 조카딸은 완벽을 추구해요
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
현자가 모든 해답을 가져오길 기대하면서
The wind howls like a hammer
바람이 망치소리같이 울부짖고
The night wind blows cold n' rainy
밤바람에 차가운 비가 내려요
My love, she's like some raven
내사랑, 그녀는 까마귀 같네요
At my window with a broken wing
날개가 부러져 내 창문에 머무는



@patriciathewisher2315

This one brings me to tears - Bob Dylan - Wedding Song (Official Audio) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com › watch
Lyrics
I love you more than ever, more than time and more than love,
I love you more than money and more than the stars above,
Love you more than madness, more than waves upon the sea,
Love you more than life itself, you mean that much to me.
Ever since you walked right in, the circle's been complete,
I've said goodbye to haunted rooms and faces in the street,
To the courtyard of the jester which is hidden from the sun,
I love you more than ever and I haven't yet begun.
You breathed on me and made my life a richer one to live,
When I was deep in poverty you taught me how to give,
Dried the tears up from my dreams and pulled me from the hole,
Quenched my thirst and satisfied the burning in my soul.
You gave me babies one, two, three, what is more, you saved my life,
Eye for eye and tooth for tooth, your love cuts like a knife,
My thoughts of you don't ever rest, they'd kill me if I lie,
I'd sacrifice the world for you and watch my senses die.
The tune that is yours and mine to play upon this earth,
We'll play it out the best we know, whatever it is worth,
What's lost is lost, we can't regain what went down in the flood,
But happiness to me is you and I love you more than blood.
It's never been my duty to remake the world at large,
Nor is it my intention to sound a battle charge,
'Cause I love you more than all of that with a love that doesn't bend,
And if there is eternity I'd love you there again.
Oh, can't you see that you were born to stand by my side
And I was born to be with you, you were born to be my bride,
You're the other half of what I am, you're the missing piece
And I love you more than ever with that love that doesn't cease.
You turn the tide on me each day and teach my eyes to see,
Just bein' next to you is a natural thing for me
And I could never let you go, no matter what goes on,
'Cause I love you more than ever now that the past is gone.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Bob Dylan / Dylan Bob
Wedding Song lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC



@user-ip9yu7lp1q

Love Minus Zero / No limit
사랑 - 0 / ∞
Bringin' it all Back Home (1965)

My love she speaks like silence Without ideals or violence
내 사랑, 그녀의 언어는 침묵이야 이상과 완력 없는 그런 언어지
She doesn't have to say she's faithful
스스로 자신의 헌신을 밝힐 필요 없고
Yet she's true like ice like fire
유빙과 화염같이 명확해
People carry roses And make promises by the hours
혹자는 장미를 나르고 시간에 맞추어 약속을 하지만
My love she laughs like the flowers
내 사랑은, 웃음이 꽃과 같아
Valentines can't buy her
발렌타인도 그를 가질 수 없다네

In the dime stores and bus stations
잡화점과 버스 정류장에서는
People talk of situations
사람들이 현상(現狀)에 대해 이야기하는데
Read books repeat quotations
책을 읽고, 금언을 되풀이하고
Draw conclusions on the wall
벽 위에 결말을 그려 보네
Some speak of the future
혹자는 미래에 대해 이야기하지만
My love she speaks softly
내 사랑, 그는 온화하게 말하네
She knows there's no success like failure
그는 실패와 같은 성공은 없는 것을 알고
And that failure's no success at all
실패는 성공이 아니라는 것을 안다네

The cloak and dagger dangles
망토와 단검이 이리저리 흔들리고
Madams light the candles In ceremonies of the horsemen
주인들은 양초를 밝히지 기수의 의식에서는
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
졸개는 원한을 가져야 하지만
Statues made of matchsticks Crumble into one another
성냥개비로 만든 동상은 서로를 향해 부서져 버려
My love winks she does not bother
내 사랑, 그는 방해하지 않아
She knows too much to argue or to judge
그녀는 따지거나 판단하기에 아는 것이 너무 많다네

The bridge at midnight trembles
자정의 다리는 율연(慄然)하고
The country doctor rambles
벽지의 의사는 열심히 지껄이지
Banker's nieces seek perfection
은행가의 사촌은 완벽을 추구하고
Expecting all the gifts that wisemen bring
현자가 가져오는 모든 선물을 바래
The wind howls like a hammer
망치처럼 울리는 바람과
The night blows rainy
세차게 몰아치는 밤
My love she's like some raven
내 사랑, 그는 까마귀야
At my window with a broken wing
날개가 부러진 채, 내 창문 앞에 앉아 있네



All comments from YouTube:

@seanfried5583

Still sounds great today. Bob is a genius. This was a fantastic album.

@brendan2243

Is a fantastic album

@MonotoneCreeper

The most sincere and beautiful love song ever written. True like ice, like fire.

@CooManTunes

LMAO! Bullshit. There's no such thing. It's simply a great song that you love. Is this not enough for you, slob? :'D

@drew9719

CooManTunes what the fuck is wrong with your attitude

@drew9719

Also what does the ice fire thing even mean lmao

@dougr.2398

Monotone no, it’s phony, like BD

@dougr.2398

Drew you’ll find out in time.... trials of life

14 More Replies...

@Sesamebee300

Bob Dylan is an absolute lyricist - a perfect poet. What a legend in his own lifetime.. there's nothing since that replicates him.

@thanos2101

Bob's poetry has impacted my life more than any other artist. I am 20 years old and believe Bob is the best songwriter of all time!

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