The band was formed almost five years ago by Mike Eli who grew up just outside of Houston and James Young who hails from Irving, TX. After playing together as a duo they were later joined by drummer Chris Thompson of Colleyville, TX and bassist Jon Jones of Omaha, NE who all met while students at the University of North Texas at Denton, about 50 miles north of Dallas/Forth Worth. After graduating the group decided to stay in Denton and to this day make their home in the town.
Late in 2003 producer Frank Liddell (Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Chris Knight) attended a show at the Gypsy Tea Room where EYB was playing on the bill with Miranda Lambert. He was blown away by the show and wound up signing them to Carnival Recording Company soon after. In April 2005, the Eli Young Band released Level, marking their debut on Carnival.
Level has drawn comparisons to The Jayhawks in the plaintive "When It Rains". The band members, all in their early 20s, have proven to be adept at blending their musical influences into a cohesive sound on this effort. You can hear the heartland rock of John Mellencamp in the autobiographical "Small Town Kid" and the crying-in-your-beer band on the road saga "Highways and Broken Hearts." There's the grinding blues of the Black Crowes in "Bring It on Home," and the romantic lament of "That's the Way" and "Everything Is You."
Love Ain't
Eli Young Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Checkin' in and out
Meetin' strangers in the lobby
Wakin' up and leavin' town
The next day
But love ain't
And whiskey's poured for when you're bored
When you want a lose yourself
And need a place to hide
From all the pain
But love ain't
Love ain't you on a sidewalk in your new dress all alone
Love ain't you callin' me 'cause he ain't pickin' up his phone
The way you're talkin' sounds like he's somebody you should hate
I may not know what love is girl, but I know what love ain't
Come over, let me show you what he can't
'Cause he can only show you what love ain't
Sad movies are for cryin' on the couch
There in the dark
That sad song it was written
Just to try and get your heart to break
But love ain't
Love ain't you on a sidewalk in your new dress all alone
Love ain't you callin' me 'cause he ain't pickin' up his phone
The way you're talkin' sounds like he's somebody you should hate
I may not know what love is girl, but I know what love ain't
Come over, let me show you what he can't
'Cause he can only show you what love ain't, uh
Yeah yeah
Oh oh oh
(Love ain't) I wonder what he's doing
(Love ain't) feelin' like a fool and
(You can't)
Keep lettin' him do it to you, uh
'Cause love ain't you on a sidewalk in your new dress all alone
Love ain't you callin' me 'cause he ain't pickin' up his phone
The way you're talkin' sounds like he's somebody you should hate
I may not know what love is girl, but I know what love ain't
I may not know what love is girl, but I know what love ain't
Come over, let me show you what he can't
'Cause he can only show you what love ain't
Love ain't (love ain't) yeah yeah
(Love ain't) love ain't
The lyrics of "Love Ain't" suggest that love is not what we expect it to be from popular culture's portrayal of it. The song's perspective is that love is not about temporary stays in hotels, alcohol, or sadness. Love is not waiting around for someone who doesn't answer their phone, nor is it hating them because of it. Instead, love is about being there for someone, caring for them, and showing affection when they need it. The singer knows what love is not but may not know what it is, yet he wants to show the woman he's singing to what her current partner cannot.
The hotel, the alcohol, and the sadness represent temporary solutions to a deeper problem that love can solve. Whiskey and sad songs provide a fleeting escape, while hotels provide a superficial sense of freedom from home. These solutions do not address the underlying issues that can only be healed by true love. The lyrics encourage listeners to focus on love and its real meaning, rather than temporary distractions that can only mask the problems.
The song shows that the Eli Young Band is not singing a traditional love song. "Love Ain't" has an insightfully honest perspective of love and shows the maturity of the band's songwriting. It's a message that can help listeners understand that there is more to love than what society has taught us about it.
Line by Line Meaning
Hotels are made for two night stays
Hotels are temporary places made for short stays and are not built for a long-term commitment like love.
Checkin'in and out
Checking in and out of a hotel signifies a temporary, fleeting stay that is not equivalent to the long-lasting experience of love.
Meetin' strangers in the lobby
Hotels are places where strangers come and go, emphasizing the impersonal nature of hotel stays compared to the close, intimate relationships found in love.
Wakin' up and leavin' town the next day
Hotel stays are transitory, requiring guests to leave and move on quickly, whereas love is a long-term commitment where people stay and build lasting relationships.
But love ain't
Love is not synonymous with temporary places or fleeting experiences, but rather a deep, long-lasting connection between two people.
And whiskey's poured for when you're bored
Alcohol serves as a way to pass time, but it does not provide an authentic and meaningful experience like love.
And alone on Friday night
Being alone on a Friday night with only whiskey for comfort represents a lonely, shallow existence compared to the depth and warmth of being in love.
When you want a lose yourself
Whiskey provides an escape from reality, but it does not compare to the deep sense of belonging and fulfillment found in love.
And need a place to hide
Alcohol serves as a hiding place from the harsh realities of the world, but love is a safe haven where people can be themselves and feel accepted.
From all the pain
Alcohol cannot fully alleviate pain, unlike love which brings comfort and healing during tough times.
Love ain't you on a sidewalk in your new dress all alone
Being left alone on a sidewalk after getting dressed up signifies the heartbreak and loneliness that can arise from short-term or shallow relationships.
Love ain't you callin' me'cause he ain't pickin' up his phone
Being ignored by someone you love is painful, and calling someone else out of desperation is not true love.
The way you're talkin' sounds like he's somebody you should hate
Hating someone is not the same as loving someone, and it shows the negative side of relationships instead of the positive.
I may not know what love is girl, but I know what love ain't
The singer may not know exactly what love is, but he knows what it is not - a temporary, shallow, or painful experience.
Come over, let me show you what he can't
The singer is offering the woman the chance to experience authentic love, something that the other person was unable to provide.
'Cause he can only show you what love ain't
The other person can only provide a superficial or negative experience of love, not one that is true or meaningful.
Sad movies are for cryin' on the couch
Watching sad movies and crying alone on the couch represents the emptiness and isolation that comes with superficial relationships.
There in the dark
Being alone in the dark while watching sad movies shows the cold and lonely experience of shallow, unfulfilling relationships.
That sad song it was written just to try and get your heart to break
Sad songs appeal to people's emotions and try to bring forth tears and heartbreak, but this manufactured experience is not equivalent to the genuine emotions that come with love.
I wonder what he's doin'
Caring about what someone else is doing represents the shallow, obsessive nature of many short-term or superficial relationships.
'Cause love ain't you on a sidewalk in your new dress all alone
Being left alone in a state of vulnerability does not represent love, but rather the loneliness and pain that can come with it.
(Love ain't) feelin' like a fool and
Feeling foolish or regretful for being with someone does not represent true love or genuine connection.
(You can't) keep lettin' him do it to you, uh
Allowing someone to repeatedly hurt or disappoint you does not demonstrate true love, but rather a lack of self-respect.
Love ain't (love ain't) yeah yeah
Love is not equivalent to fleeting emotions or superficial connections, but is characterized by deep, meaningful relationships.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATION, Anthem Entertainment, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ashley Glenn Gorley, Ross Copperman, Shane L McAnally
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SunFlower
ON REPEAT🎵. LOVE THIS SONG. SAYS a BLACK GIRL WHO LOVES COUNTRY MUSIC , AND WHO LOVES HER COUNTRY!!! ♥️🇺🇸
OshunB
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Torpedo 58
❤❤❤
Brittney Briggs
You go girl!
Wallace Dunn
What a tribute to this young man AND the woman standing beside him. Ain't gonna lie, I cried like a baby.
Vickie Chingo
Ya think ya got it bad...this man and the strong women at hiz side....AMAZING.....Love of life and each other...VERY HARD TO FIND NOWADAYS!!!!...Thatz " unconditional love" for each other and their Country!!!!!
j batt
Such an inspirational family. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Makes me proud to be American knowing I share this country with heros like yall
Shannel Taylor
Crying over people I’ve never met, incredible story of love and sacrifice. God bless them both and thank you sir for your service. ❤️🤍💙
Chris cole
Stand up woman 1 in a million thank you both for your service!!
Rosalie Sullivan
My son Sean was diagnosed with MS at 26 years old. His gf now fiance stayed by his side throughout it all!❤ Her family tried talking her into leaving him. They're getting married August 2020! I'm so excited & happy for the both of them!