With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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The Book of Love
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing
But I i love it when you read to me
And you you can read me anything
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb but I
I love it when you sing to me and you
You can sing me anything
You can sing me anything
The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know
But I i love it when you give me things
And you you ought to give me wedding rings
And I i love it when you give me things
And you you ought to give me wedding rings
I love it when you give me things and you
You ought to give me wedding rings
You ought to give me wedding rings
In Craig Cardiff's song "The Book of Love," the lyrics explore the multifaceted nature of love and the various forms it takes. The opening lines convey a sense of monotony and dullness associated with the book of love, suggesting that it is lengthy and uninteresting to most people. The idea that "no one can lift the damn thing" suggests that it is heavy and burdensome, perhaps difficult to fully comprehend. The book is described as containing charts, facts, figures, and instructions for dancing, indicating that it encompasses both practical and abstract aspects of love.
Despite its perceived boring nature, the singer expresses their love for someone reading the book to them. This implies that through the act of sharing and experiencing love together, even something mundane can become meaningful and enjoyable. The idea that the book of love has music in it — and that music itself derives from this book — highlights the transformative power of love. It suggests that love has the ability to transcend the ordinary and touch something deeper within us.
As the song continues, the lyrics acknowledge that the book of love contains elements that may be both profound and trivial. There are references to transcendental music alongside "really dumb" parts, indicating that love encompasses both moments of profound transcendence and mundane, silly aspects. The singer expresses their love for when the other person sings to them, emphasizing the beauty and significance of shared musical experiences.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics mention that the book of love includes flowers, heart-shaped boxes, and knowledge that is beyond the understanding of the young. These symbols evoke notions of romance and secrets yet to be discovered. The final lines express a desire for the other person to give the singer things, specifically wedding rings. This suggests a longing for commitment and a deepening of their relationship.
Overall, "The Book of Love" captures the complexity of love, ranging from the tedious and ordinary to the transcendent and romantic. It celebrates the power of shared experiences, particularly through reading and music, and expresses a yearning for deeper commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
The book of love is long and boring
Love can be complex and tedious to understand
No one can lift the damn thing
It is difficult for anyone to fully comprehend love
It's full of charts and facts and figures
Love is often analyzed and quantified
And instructions for dancing
Love comes with guidelines on how to navigate relationships
But I i love it when you read to me
I find joy and comfort when you share love with me through words
And you you can read me anything
You have the power to convey love to me in any form
The book of love has music in it
Love inspires and originates from music
In fact that's where music comes from
Music draws from the essence of love
Some of it is just transcendental
Certain aspects of love hold a higher, spiritual meaning
Some of it is just really dumb but i
Some expressions of love may seem irrational or silly, but I
I love it when you sing to me and you
I feel immense affection when you express love to me through singing
You can sing me anything
Your love can be expressed to me in any song or melody
The book of love is long and boring
Understanding love can be a lengthy and uninteresting process
And written very long ago
The concept of love has been recorded since ancient times
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
Love is associated with romantic symbols and gestures
And things we're all too young to know
There are aspects of love that are beyond our understanding while we are still young
But I i love it when you give me things
I cherish the gestures of love and affection you show me
And you you ought to give me wedding rings
It would be fitting for you to express a deeper commitment by giving me wedding rings
I i love it when you give me things
I find great pleasure when you present me with tokens of love
And you you ought to give me wedding rings
It is appropriate for you to symbolize our love with the exchange of wedding rings
I love it when you give me things and you
Receiving gifts from you brings me immense joy and fulfillment and you
You ought to give me wedding rings
You should express our commitment to each other by exchanging wedding rings
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind