Where Is The Love
Elvis Costello Lyrics


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There's a part of this feeling
That I just cannot kill
But the name of this thing is not love
And I can't take a potion
And I won't take a pill
So it tortures me still
But the name of this thing is not love
Then you start entertaining
Such a terrible thought
Life is so very short
And the name of this thing is not love

There's a bruise on her arm
And some blood on the floor
But the name of this thing is not love
And they're taunting some girl
That they claim to adore
She can't take anymore
But the name of this thing is not love

Who in the world do you think you are?
That you pushed me this far
But the name of this thing is not love

He thinks of her still
Although you'd never guess
He's trying so to forget her
The occasional moments that he'll always bless
Watching her dress
For worse of better

He watched her pick over her broken playthings
What played on his mind is not love
The cast aside tokens and discarded rings
Over on of his flings
But the name of this things is not love

Then he threw something down in the wild rushing river
And won't ever recover
But the name of this thing is not love

Then you start out pretending that you're so very tough




Life is not short enough
But the name of this thing is not love

Overall Meaning

The song begins with the singer acknowledging the presence of an emotion that seems to linger within them, a feeling that they cannot get rid of. This sentiment is a source of torture for them, and although it feels like love, they assert that it is not love. The singer resists the idea of taking a potion or pill to escape the unrequited love, which suggests a more organic kind of love, one not susceptible to artificial inducement. The thought of life being limited and fleeting adds insult to injury emphasizing the futility of pursuing this feeling that's not even love.


The second part of the song introduces us to a scene of violence, possibly domestic abuse, where a girl is being taunted and a bruise on her arm hints at an even more significant injury. Despite all that's happening, the singer insists that the situation is not love. The repeated phrase 'the name of this thing is not love' takes on a cynical tone, suggesting the trivialization of a life-altering feeling. The third part of the song deals with a man in a relationship that has ended but still thinks of his ex-lover. He strains to forget her but cherishes the mundane moments they shared. Finally, he throws an object down the river, attempting to move on, but this act accomplishes nothing as the emotion still lingers.


The song's overall theme is the struggle and futility of chasing after love that one can't have as the results are typically devastating. The concept of love is examined in various instances, and the conclusion is that most of the feelings people label as love fall short of the idealized version of love.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a part of this feeling
There is a component of this emotion


That I just cannot kill
That I cannot eradicate or eliminate


But the name of this thing is not love
However, this is not actually love


And I can't take a potion
And I am unable to consume a magical remedy


And I won't take a pill
And I refuse to ingest medication


So it tortures me still
This continues to torment me


Then you start entertaining
Then you begin to consider


Such a terrible thought
An awful idea


Life is so very short
Life is incredibly brief


And the name of this thing is not love
But this is not love


There's a bruise on her arm
She has a visible injury on her arm


And some blood on the floor
And there is some blood on the ground


But the name of this thing is not love
However, this does not qualify as love


And they're taunting some girl
They are harassing a female person


That they claim to adore
Whom they profess to love


She can't take anymore
She has reached her limit


But the name of this thing is not love
But this is not actually love


Who in the world do you think you are?
What is your identity?


That you pushed me this far
That you have provoked me to this extent


But the name of this thing is not love
However, this is not love


He thinks of her still
He still remembers her


Although you'd never guess
Though you would never surmise


He's trying so to forget her
He is attempting to erase her from his mind


The occasional moments that he'll always bless
The rare instances that he will always cherish


Watching her dress
Observing her getting dressed


For worse of better
For the better or the worse


He watched her pick over her broken playthings
He saw her rummage through her broken toys


What played on his mind is not love
What occupied his thoughts was not love


The cast aside tokens and discarded rings
The abandoned trinkets and thrown-away rings


Over on of his flings
From one of his affairs


But the name of this things is not love
However, this is not actually love


Then he threw something down in the wild rushing river
Then, he threw something into the tumultuous waterway


And won't ever recover
And it will never be retrieved


But the name of this thing is not love
However, this is not love


Then you start out pretending that you're so very tough
Then you begin to feign toughness


Life is not short enough
Life is not brief to a sufficient extent


But the name of this thing is not love
However, this is not love




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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