"Chains of Love" is an uptempo dance-oriented synthpop track with Clarke's signature analogue sound and Bell's lyrics about breaking through any restrictions or stereotypes of what love should be. The lyrics allude subtly to Bell's desire for wider acceptance of gay couples, his pain evident from the opening lines "How can I explain when there are few words I can choose/How can I explain when words get broken".
"Chains of Love" became Erasure's sixth consecutive top 20 hit on the UK singles chart, just missing the top 10 by peaking at number 11. In the United States, it became Erasure's mainstream breakthrough by climbing to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the group's first entry on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also hit number four on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. "Chains of Love" remains Erasure's highest-charting single in the United States.
Chains of Love
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I explain when words get broken
Do you remember there was a time, ahaha
When people on the street
We're walking hand in hand in hand
They used to talk about the weather
Making plans together
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Do you remember once upon a time, ahaha
When there were open doors
An invitation to the world
We were falling in and out with lovers
Looking out for others
Our sisters and our brothers
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
How can I explain when there are few words I can choose
How can I explain when words get broken
They used to talk about the weather
Making plans together
Days would last forever
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Erasure's song "Chains of Love" was released in 1988 and became a huge hit in the United States, the UK, and other countries. It's a song about nostalgia for a time when people were more connected and had a sense of community. The first verse asks how the singer can explain his feelings when the words he has are insufficient or broken. It's a poetic way of expressing that sometimes language can't fully capture emotions or experiences.
The song then launches into a chorus that encourages breaking free from the metaphorical chains of love that hold people down. The singer asks his partner to come to him, cover him, and hold him so they can break free from these chains together. The bridge emphasizes the fact that there was a time when people were more connected and felt a sense of community with their fellow humans. The lyrics describe how people used to talk about the weather and make plans together, and the days would feel like they lasted forever. The song's message is simple but powerful: Together, we can break free from the chains of love that hold us down, and we can rediscover the sense of connection and community that we've lost.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I explain when there are few words I can choose
I find it difficult to express myself when I have limited vocabulary
How can I explain when words get broken
I struggle to convey my feelings when my language skills are inadequate
Do you remember there was a time, ahaha
Let's take a trip down memory lane
When people on the street
Back in the days
We're walking hand in hand in hand
Showing affection in a public domain
They used to talk about the weather
Casual conversations about the environment
Making plans together
Collaborating and co-planning for future events
Days would last forever
Time flew by much slower in the past
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Come close to me, shield me, embrace me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Together we'll overcome these emotional barriers
Don't give up, don't give up
Stay strong and persistent
Together with me and my baby
Accompanied by my loved one
Break the chains of love
Overcome the emotional obstacles
Do you remember once upon a time, ahaha
Join me as I reminisce
When there were open doors
When opportunities were abundant
An invitation to the world
A welcome to engage in the world around us
We were falling in and out with lovers
Engaging in various romantic relationships
Looking out for others
Being mindful of others' well-being
Our sisters and our brothers
Our familial and social circles
Don't give up, don't give up now
Continue to persevere
Together with me and my baby
Supported by my cherished loved one
Together we'll break these chains of love
Together we'll overcome the emotional barriers
Don't give up, don't give up now
Stay resolute and persistent
Together with me and my baby
Joined by my partner in love
Break the chains of love
Overcome the emotional obstacles
Don't give up, don't give up now
Remain steadfast and unyielding
Together with me and my baby
Together with my cherished loved one
Break the chains of love
Emotionally free ourselves
Together we'll break these chains of love
Together we'll overcome these emotional obstacles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY BELL, VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarielaQ
How can I explain when there are few words I can choose
How can I explain when words get broken
Do you remember there was a time, ahaha
When people on the street
We're walking hand in hand in hand
They used to talk about the weather
Making plans together
Days would last forever
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Do you remember once upon a time, ahaha
When there were open doors
An invitation to the world
We were falling in and out with lovers
Looking out for others
Our sisters and our brothers
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
How can I explain when there are few words I can choose
How can I explain when words get broken
They used to talk about the weather
Making plans together
Days would last forever
Come to me, cover me, hold me
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
Together we'll break these chains of love
Don't give up, don't give up now
Together with me and my baby
Break the chains of love
@michaelp2776
It's 2024. If you're still listening to this you're a legend.👍💯
@RodCornholio
For those who didn't live in the 80's, let me tell you...this song was "NORMAL" for the time. Yes, I know, it blows away any #1 song today. Back then, songs of this quality were completely expected. The soundtrack of our lives. It was a Golden Age.
@kevinwalsh4652
I'm 64, totally agree, the garbage passing for music today is pure crap, I had cable the day MTV began, it made some musical groups larger than life, what I learned since taking vocal lessons is the amazing quality of the singers who could sing live just like the record, I'll give you two examples: Vixen live Cologne, Germany 1991 "how much love", then Survivor "is this love" after watching the music video find Jimi Jamison singing live, exactly the same as records, finally, Scandal, type: Patty Smyth "whole lotta love" David Letterman, in fact you can type in: The Midnight Special Heart "crazy on you" Ann Wilson's voice is incredible.👋👍
@bighands69
Erasure in that era were not even the best band/group but were considered a quality pop act with great songwriting and great electronic music arrangements. Erasure by today's standards are amazing.
@darrenhirst9900
When you write from the heart people relate.
@CatManDoom84
Such a jam! and im 38 haha. the 80s were such a special time!
@alibrown5917
Erasure ruled the late 80s
@ZamsadaZombie
I would pay a lot of money to hear this song in a roller skating rink right now
@alankogut3243
I tried roller skating once damn it was hard
@Revelation6_7-8
I bet they would play it for free.