Starting his vocal career with NZ punk band The Enemy in 1977, Knox has involved in the NZ music scene ever since. Frontman for the short-lived but energetic Toy Love and one half of the perpetually magical duo that is Tall Dwarfs - as well as recording and performing his own solo works. Knox assembled Chris Knox & The Nothing in the mid-2000s and recorded two albums.
On Thursday 11 June 2009, Knox was admitted to Auckland hospital suffering from a stroke. This initially left him with limited speech and mobility. Friends and family of Knox initiated a blog that kept people updated. An album of various musicians from around the world performing Knox's songs was produced entitled "Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox" with all proceeds going to Knox.
Not Given Lightly
Chris Knox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's morning, time to wake now
Your body and mine entwined will have to break now
I want your flesh, your warmth to stay beside me
Oh, how I wish you could be deep inside me
Show me your eyes, your love, most tender feeling
And I'll give you mine, be truthful and revealing
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
It's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
When we're alone I cannot always face you
Maybe my mood won't let these arms embrace you
That doesn't mean my love's somehow diminished
Give me the time to show our love's unfinished
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
I need your body, your mind and your emotions
Shed me your tears till I drown in your oceans
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
It's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing is true
What can I say the words destroy all meaning
There's only cliche to get across this feeling
That it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing's for you
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
This is a love song to John and Leisha's mother
This isn't easy
I might not write another
But it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's more than what it might be
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's love not given lightly
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
Chris Knox's song "Not Given Lightly" is a love song which expresses a deep and sincere love for someone special. The lyrics are intimate and emotional, as the singer declares their love, desire, and commitment to their partner. The refrain of "it's you that I love, and it's true that I love, and it's love not given lightly" sets the tone for the entire song, emphasizing the depth and seriousness of their feelings.
The song opens with a tender moment between lovers, but as the verses progress, the singer acknowledges that there are times when their love is difficult to express, or when they may be distant emotionally. However, the song insists that this does not diminish the love that they share, and that they will work together to show their love, even through the challenging times. The lyrics are direct and unapologetic, conveying a sense of vulnerability and raw honesty, which reinforces the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello my friend
Greeting a friend, perhaps a lover
It's morning, time to wake now
Acknowledging the start of a new day
Your body and mine entwined will have to break now
Physical embrace must come to an end
I want your flesh, your warmth to stay beside me
Expressing desire for physical presence
Oh, how I wish you could be deep inside me
Expressing desire for sexual intimacy
Show me your eyes, your love, most tender feeling
Requesting for emotional intimacy
And I'll give you mine, be truthful and revealing
Returning the request for emotional intimacy
'Cause it's you that I love
Acknowledging love for the other person
And it's true that I love
Affirming the truth of the love
It's love not given lightly
Stating that the love is significant and not given easily
But I knew this was love
Acknowledge of the true love felt
And it's more than what it might be
Describing the depth of the love
When we're alone I cannot always face you
Admitting limitations and shortcomings
Maybe my mood won't let these arms embrace you
Explaining emotional barriers to physical intimacy
That doesn't mean my love's somehow diminished
Assurance that the love remains
Give me the time to show our love's unfinished
Requesting patience and commitment to relationship
I need your body, your mind and your emotions
Expressing need for complete intimacy
Shed me your tears till I drown in your oceans
Requesting emotional vulnerability
And every word I sing is true
Emphasizing the authenticity of the song
What can I say the words destroy all meaning
Acknowledging the limitations of language to fully express emotions
There's only cliche to get across this feeling
Using cliches as a way to express the intensity of emotions felt
This is a love song to John and Leisha's mother
Revealing the inspiration behind the song
This isn't easy
Admitting the difficulty of the songwriting process
I might not write another
Acknowledging the possibility of not being able to create another song of the same intensity and authenticity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER KNOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juliaconnell
wanted to share my favouite Chris Knox story (I have two, lol).
this was back in the early 1990's - I was at uni & I was going through a difficult breakup.
a group of us, including my then boyfriend (who was acting like a complete and utter dick, being really really nasty to me - we'd been together a couple of years, we were living together and engaged, really upset and confused by his behaviour - later found out he was cheating on me) - anyway we were all out at a bar in Manner Mall in Wellington. him, me and a group of his mates.
My mate Gary who is a musician (not a famous one, just a really passionate one) went out for a smoke, was gone a while - came and said to me 'çome with me'- 'where are we going'- wouldn't tell me.
turns out he had found Chris Knox busking on the street. Chris Knox the well known, well respected - a legend - and there he is busking on the street.
just because he loves music and playing - (as he explains to us). even more shocking then him busking there is no crowd around him, which is a shock to both Gary and me - he's tucked away on in Manners Mall - not on Courtney Place where there is more people passing, but still.
"Not Given Lightly" is not yet the Vogels song but it is his most well known and loved song - and of course everyone always requests it - so he is reluctant to play it - but my friend Gary explains how his friend (my then boyfriend) is being a complete and utter jerk to me - I'm upset and well pretty miserable (all so true) and so...
Chris Knox plays this song just to me, with Gary standing there grinning his head off.
Never forget this moment, back there right now.
thank you Chris ♥
Chris - we met a few years later - I came up to you after one of your shows in the (moved) Bar Bodega - cause my mate Matt (from Lamp Chop - an American band based in Nashville) had stayed with you years ago. you're such a sweet & lovely man. respect
@gin3s
Hello my friend, it's morning, time to wake now
Your body and mine entwined will have to break now
I want your flesh, your warmth, to stay beside me
Oh, how I wish you could be deep inside me
Show me your eyes, your love, most tender feeling
And I'll give you mine, be truthful and revealing
'Cause it's you that I love and it's true that I love
It's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
When we're alone I cannot always face you
Maybe my mood won't let these arms embrace you
That doesn't mean my love's somehow diminished
Give me the time to show our love's unfinished
'Cause it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
I need your body, your mind and your emotions
Shed me your tears till I drown in your oceans
'Cause it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing is true
What can I say, the words destroy all meaning
There's only cliché to get across this feeling
That it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing's for you
'Cause it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
This is a love song to John and Leisha's mother
This isn't easy, I might not write another
But it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's more than what it might be but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's love not given lightly
'Cause it's you that I love and it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly but I knew this was love
And it's you that I love and it's more than what it might be
@laurawilke3713
Not Given Lightly
Chris Knox
Hello my friend
It's morning, time to wake now
Your body and mine entwined will have to break now
I want your flesh, your warmth to stay beside me
Oh, how I wish you could be deep inside me
Show me your eyes, your love, most tender feeling
And I'll give you mine, be truthful and revealing
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
It's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
When we're alone I cannot always face you
Maybe my mood won't let these arms embrace you
That doesn't mean my love's somehow diminished
Give me the time to show our love's unfinished
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
I need your body, your mind and your emotions
Shed me your tears till I drown in your oceans
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
It's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing is true
What can I say the words destroy all meaning
There's only cliche to get across this feeling
That it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
And every word I sing's for you
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
This is a love song to John and Leisha's mother
This isn't easy
I might not write another
But it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's more than what it might be
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's love not given lightly
'Cause it's you that I love
And it's true that I love
And it's love not given lightly
But I knew this was love
And it's you that I love
And it's more than what it might be
@Gramsci
Probably one of the best love songs ever written.
@joeb267382
That's what I was thinking also. I wanted to hear it because Valentine's Day is tomorrow.
@heathcornbeef
No probably IT'S SITTING UP HIGH LOOKING DOWN AT ALL THE OTHER LOVE SONGS AND SHOWING THEM WHAT TRUE EMOTION AND LOVE IS ABOUT
@TheChantycat
It's so beautifully honest
@kristhompson8112
Adore this song ..Miss seeing my buddy Chris, he re-wrote and recorded the 2nd verse for my late wife and myself's wedding. A true honour... Thank you
@nevadatan7323
Much love it means such a lot to us all. Overseas. Different generations. Singletons. Everybody who feels it.
Hope you are doing incredibly well and thank you for a special comment where we could reflect
@JulietMarovic
❤
@jocelyntawhi5352
Love this song and love my country New Zealand
@jimmyjames950
ANZAC up bro
@terryoneil7128
Love your country too!!! Especially the fantastic music scene you are so lucky to have. NZ rules!!!