Black & Blue
Devaughn Raheem Lyrics


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I just wanna speak from the heart right now
To a friend in need
I hope you get this

Love ain't pain love ain't fear
Love ain't bruises love ain't tears
Love ain't two in the morning phone call, phone call to 911
Love ain't fear for your life day and night
Isolated from your loved ones
And I know it ain't make up to cover your scars
Compromising who you are

So tell me (tell me)
What type of love is that to you (to love you)
To love you till you're black and blue (oh no woman)
That's something I would never do (no)
I'd never put my hands on you

Love ain't ? love ain't shame
Love ain't callin' you out your name
Love ain't leavin' you blue and black
Love is a man who has your back
Love won't knock you to the ground
Love ain't designed to bring you down
Love don't beat you or mistreat you
Or only loves you when he needs to

So tell me (tell me yeah yeah)
What type of love is that to you (what type of love is that)
To love you till you're black and blue (black and blue)
That's something I would never do (I would never ever ever ever)
I'd never put my hands on you

(Love is)
Love is courage love is hope
Love is facing all your fears
Love is strength in seeking help
Love is the joy inside your tears
Love is help to lend a hand
Being loved by a real man
Love is this, from me to you
'Cause I would never put my hands on you

Tell me
What type of love is that to you (what type of love)
To love you till you're black and blue
(what man would leave you black and blue)
That's something I would never do (no)
I would never put my hands on you (never put my hands on you)

Tell me
What type of love is that to you (yeah what type of love)
To love you till you're black and blue (that's something I would never do)
That's something I would never do
(I would never never never never put my hands on you)
I would never put my hands on you





[Repeat: x8]
(Only) only love you, only kiss you only hug you, only love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Devaughn Raheem's song Black & Blue send a powerful message about what love is and what it should never be. The singer talks to a friend in need, hoping that they will get the message, and takes a clear stance against abusive relationships. The song starts off by listing all the things that love is not - pain, fear, bruises and tears, calling 911 in the middle of the night, isolating you from loved ones, making you compromise who you are. The chorus asks a series of questions aimed at the abuser: what type of love is that to make someone black and blue? The answer, of course, is that it is not love at all.


The song goes on to define what love really is - courage, hope, facing your fears, and seeking help. Love is not designed to bring you down or mistreat you, and it is not conditional on the abuser's needs. Love has your back, it does not knock you to the ground. The song concludes with reaffirmations of the singer's pledge to never put his hands on someone and ends on a positive note, with an assertion that love is about kissing, hugging, and loving someone who deserves it.


Line by Line Meaning

I just wanna speak from the heart right now
I want to express my true feelings in this moment


To a friend in need
I'm speaking to someone who needs help


I hope you get this
I hope you understand what I'm saying


Love ain't pain love ain't fear
Real love doesn't involve hurting or fearing someone


Love ain't bruises love ain't tears
Love doesn't cause physical harm or make you cry


Love ain't two in the morning phone call, phone call to 911
Love doesn't involve emergency calls for help in the middle of the night


Love ain't fear for your life day and night
Love shouldn't make you feel scared for your safety all the time


Isolated from your loved ones
Not being able to be around family and friends


And I know it ain't make up to cover your scars
It's not okay to hide your injuries with makeup


Compromising who you are
Changing yourself to please someone else


So tell me (tell me)
Asking for clarification


What type of love is that to you (to love you)
Is that what you consider love?


That's something I would never do (no)
I would never harm you physically


I'd never put my hands on you
I would never use violence towards you


Love ain't ? love ain't shame
Real love doesn't make you feel guilty or ashamed


Love ain't callin' you out your name
Love doesn't involve name-calling


Love ain't leavin' you blue and black
Love doesn't involve physical abuse


Love is a man who has your back
Love means having someone who supports you and protects you


Love won't knock you to the ground
Love doesn't involve physical violence


Love ain't designed to bring you down
Love doesn't make you feel bad about yourself


Love don't beat you or mistreat you
Love means treating someone with respect and kindness


Or only loves you when he needs to
Real love means caring for someone all the time, not just when it's convenient


So tell me (tell me yeah yeah)
Asking again for clarification


What type of love is that to you (what type of love is that)
Is that really what you want from love?


To love you till you're black and blue (black and blue)
To physically harm you till you're bruised and beaten up


Love is courage love is hope
Real love means having the courage to do what's right and always holding onto hope


Love is facing all your fears
Love gives you the strength to face your fears


Love is strength in seeking help
Love supports you when you need to seek help


Love is the joy inside your tears
Love means being there for someone through their ups and downs


Love is help to lend a hand
Love means being there to support someone when they need you


Being loved by a real man
Being truly loved by a man who treats you with respect and kindness


Love is this, from me to you
This is what real love is


'Cause I would never put my hands on you
I would never harm you physically


To love you till you're black and blue
To physically harm you till you're bruised and beaten up


That's something I would never do
I would never harm you physically


Tell me
Asking again for clarification


What type of love is that to you (yeah what type of love)
Is that really what you want from love?


That's something I would never do
I would never harm you physically


I would never put my hands on you
I would never use violence towards you


(Only) only love you, only kiss you only hug you, only love you
True love means treating someone with care and tenderness all the time




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONNIE JACKSON, PATRICK HAYES, RAHEEM S. DEVAUGHN, PHILLIP CORNISH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@DaniReddz

This is his BEST CD to date....Luv All The Songs.....

@TantraGal

I am madly in love with this song! REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT!

@q17prelude

Our young women these days really need to listen to this CD. Some of the things I see these ladies dealing with astonishes me...... and I'm 26 saying this.

@laveetaalexander6337

This still sounds good, I remember playing this and it made me cry thinking about my ex I'm so glad I left...

@tonettewilks780

How cute! A nice piece by him, again...so smooth. He got me with this one!

@nicoleperry1157

Still here in 2023 Raheem is jamming!❤❤❤❤❤😊

@monifah1981

Only to love you only to kiss you only to hug you ..... Only to loveyou. I love this joint so true so true so true. Raheem is an amazing Artist.

@bigtymer331

this is a good song. no guy should ever hit a woman.

@Leniese92

I always cry when I hear this song....it always makes me think back to my first boyfriend.

@alusetche80

My sister was in a physically , emotionally abusive relationship for years this man broke her in every way possible she even contemplated suicide but their was a good God watching and holding her hand all the time gave her the stregnth to leave.Any woman in abusive relationship has to find the power within herself to leave for their sake and their loved ones.

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