Nearly Love
Darren Hayes Lyrics


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In my eyes
Well your gaze always ends up there
There’s a touch of the insincere
But you can always tell I’m lying

Fighting words
Well nobody is keeping score
But we’re winning a cold, cold war
And I feel so cowardly

And now I love you, love you
Only slightly less than I loved you, loved you
And it’s hard to confess but my nearly love is not real enough
To be the one
To be the one

In your touch
Well your body can move in close
But my heart is a lonesome ghost
I’d never feel you anyway

And now I love you, love you
Only slightly less than I loved you, loved you
And it’s hard to confess but my nearly love is not real enough
To be the one
To be the one

And now I love you, love you
Only slightly less than I loved you, loved you
And my heart’s in a mess cause my nearly love is not real enough
To be the one
To be the one

Love you, love you
Only slightly less than I loved you, love you, love you
And it’s hard to confess but my nearly love is not real enough
To be the one
To be the one

And now I love you, love you
Only slightly less than I loved you, loved you
And my heart’s in a mess cause my nearly love is not real enough




To be the one
To be the one

Overall Meaning

The song "Nearly Love" by Darren Hayes is about being stuck in a love that is not quite enough. The lyrics paint a picture of a strained relationship where one person is not fully committed to the other. The line "There’s a touch of the insincere, but you can always tell I’m lying" suggests that there is a lack of honesty and authenticity in the relationship. The singer is aware of their deception, but is unable to be completely truthful with their partner.


The chorus of the song is where the title "Nearly Love" comes from. The singer sings, "And now I love you, love you, only slightly less than I loved you, loved you. And it’s hard to confess but my nearly love is not real enough to be the one." This line perfectly sums up the main theme of the song. The singer loves their partner, but not enough to make a true commitment. They are holding back because their love is not genuine enough to be the one they spend their life with.


Overall, "Nearly Love" is a song that explores the complexities of love and relationships. It is about being caught in between wanting to be with someone and not being sure if your feelings are real enough. The lyrics are honest and raw, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful.


Line by Line Meaning

In my eyes
I have a certain way of looking at you that reveals my true feelings


Well your gaze always ends up there
Even though you may be insincere, your eyes always seem to find their way towards me


There’s a touch of the insincere
There is something about you that feels false or not genuine


But you can always tell I’m lying
Even though I may try to hide it, I know you can see through my lies


Fighting words
We may argue or have disagreements, but we don't keep score


Well nobody is keeping score
We don't tally up each other's faults or wrongdoings


But we’re winning a cold, cold war
We are engaged in a silent struggle, where neither of us will admit defeat


And I feel so cowardly
I feel like I lack the courage to confront our issues


And now I love you, love you
I still have feelings for you, even though they are not as strong as they used to be


Only slightly less than I loved you, loved you
My love for you has decreased, but only marginally


And it’s hard to confess but my nearly love is not real enough
I struggle to admit it, but my feelings are not strong enough to make our relationship work


To be the one
To be the special person I commit to and make a life with


In your touch
When we are physically close, I still feel a sense of disconnection


Well your body can move in close
We may be physically intimate, but I still feel emotionally distant


But my heart is a lonesome ghost
My heart feels empty and unfulfilled, like a ghost wandering aimlessly


I’d never feel you anyway
I don't think I could ever truly connect with you on an emotional level


And my heart’s in a mess cause my nearly love is not real enough
My heart is confused and troubled because my feelings for you are not deep enough




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DARREN HAYES, PHILLIP THORNALLY, MADS HAUGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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