Even If Love
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
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Of twelve hundred feelings
All in electric lights
We see what we can
And I love the sound of wind
Blowing at night through trees
From the roof I can see tombs
And I have been yours
In foul and in praying
And I loved to look at you
From the side at night with music playing
And love will protect you
To the edge of the wood
Then a monster will get you
And love does no good
And even if love were not what I wanted
Love would make love the thing most desired
The lyrics of the song 'Even if Love' by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy reflect upon the complexities of love and its impact on our lives. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of the world being a chaotic place filled with a plethora of emotions that are sometimes difficult to understand. The reference to 'electric lights' here can be interpreted as a metaphor for the fast-paced world we live in, where everything happens in an instant and we don't have time to process our emotions. The love that the singer talks about seems to be very personal and intimate, as he goes on to describe the beauty of nature and how much he loves the sound of the wind blowing through the trees at night. The mention of tombs in the lyrics adds an eerie touch to the song and creates a contrast between the beauty of nature and the mortality of human beings.
The chorus of the song talks about the protective nature of love, but also acknowledges that it cannot protect us from everything. The reference to a monster getting us reinforces the idea that no matter how much love we have in our lives, there will always be things that are beyond our control. However, the singer seems to suggest that even with all the ups and downs of love, it remains the most desirable thing in life. The last line of the song, 'even if love were not what I wanted, love would make love the thing most desired', summarises the idea that love is central to the human experience, and we cannot imagine our lives without it.
Line by Line Meaning
Once again in the world
Returning to the world, with all its complexities and emotions
Of twelve hundred feelings
Acknowledging the multitude of feelings one can experience
All in electric lights
Referring to the artificiality of modern society
We see what we can
Making the most of what is observable in the world
And I love the sound of wind
Appreciating the natural world
Blowing at night through trees
Finding peace in the sounds of nature
From the roof I can see tombs
Being able to observe the past from a distance
Past the houses of the city
Contrasting the past with the present urban environment
And I have been yours
Acknowledging a previous romantic relationship
In foul and in praying
Experiencing highs and lows with a partner
And I loved to look at you
Finding beauty in one's partner
From the side at night with music playing
Enjoying intimate moments with music as a backdrop
And love will protect you
Believing that love can provide safety and security
To the edge of the wood
Providing a boundary beyond which safety cannot be guaranteed
Then a monster will get you
Implying that there are dangers beyond our control
And love does no good
Recognizing the limitations of love in certain situations
And even if love were not what I wanted
Considering the possibility of not wanting love
Love would make love the thing most desired
Acknowledging that love has a way of becoming the most important thing
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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AugustVonpetersborg
Love is a treacherous thing, a torture when not returned, but the most beautiful gift that can be given when it is shared.
Jonathan Wyall
27 likes and no dislikes. love this crowd.
Cliffrock Alliance
Brume does a sweet doom-like version of this that I also love.
Susanita lugano
SIMPEL AND DEEP...THANKYOU....
reformational
From the roof I can see TOMBS... in FOUL and in praying...
hughquinn007
classic
Alan Anon
achingly good
PeterVerduyn
part of my (very personal) best of bonnie playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT91cNLpw17r7h2J61vh7GstXwTnobSVn
kayla macdonald
beautiful
J H
Terrible spelling. Great track though.