Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker has many references. These include 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the slint album Spiderland.

Same Love That Made Me Laugh
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your love is like a chunk of gold
Hard to get and hard to hold
Like a rose that's soft to touch
Love has thorns, they hurt so much

Oh why, why
Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?

Well, you think of love as sitting on a mountain
You think of it being a great big rock
Won't you think before you start rolling down
Because once you start, you can't make a stop

I've given all that I've got to give
And if you don't want me, I don't want to live

So why, why
Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?

Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?
Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's song Same Love That Made Me Laugh are about the duality of love - how it can bring joy and happiness, but also pain and heartbreak. The first stanza begins by likening love to gold and a rose, suggesting that it is both valuable and delicate. However, love also has its "thorns" which can cause pain. The chorus repeats the question "why must the same love made me laugh make me cry?" highlighting the confusion and frustration that comes with the conflicting emotions of love.

The second stanza uses a metaphor of love being a "great big rock" sitting on a mountain, warning the listener to be cautious and not rush into love without thinking. The singer has already given their all to this love, but they feel that if they are not wanted in return, life is not worth living. This despair and desperation is reflected in the repeated chorus at the end of the song.

The lyrics are poignant and relatable- showcasing the ups and downs of love and how it can affect people in different ways.

Line by Line Meaning

Your love is like a chunk of gold
Your love is valuable and precious

Hard to get and hard to hold
It's difficult to attain and maintain your love

Like a rose that's soft to touch
Your love seems gentle and delicate

Love has thorns, they hurt so much
However, your love also has a painful side

Oh why, why
The singer is questioning the reasons behind his situation

Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?
Why must the same love that brought joy now cause pain?

Well, you think of love as sitting on a mountain
The singer believes the other person has an unrealistic view of love

You think of it being a great big rock
Like an immovable object that is unchanging

Won't you think before you start rolling down
The singer urges the other person to consider their actions

Because once you start, you can't make a stop
Once they commit to the relationship, they can't easily turn back

I've given all that I've got to give
The singer has devoted all his love to the other person

And if you don't want me, I don't want to live
He is so heartbroken that he doesn't see a reason to go on if they don't want him

So why, why
The singer is still looking for answers

Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?
He still can't reconcile the pain his love has caused him

Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?
He's repeating his question, perhaps in disbelief or resignation

Must the same love made me laugh make me cry?
The repeated line underscores the heartache this love has brought him

Contributed by Jayce A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@laceciarelli

Capolavoro

@yawnandjokeoh

I love this album, but every time I see the cover I’m like: what did Dinosaur JR have an extra album cover laying around or sumtin?

just now