You Need Love
Eric Clapton / Jeff Beck Lyrics
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And a dream, that's torn at the seams
Here's a promise you made to me
Of the tomorrow I'll never see
And then you're free to go
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
No matter what I do
Take these arms that held you close
I thought I was the one you needed the most
Take these hands, they're no good to me
That used to touch you so tenderly
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
Here's a ring
That didn't mean a thing
And the letters you wrote
That gave my young heart hope
Take the pillow where my dreams were made
And the mind, where the thought of you stayed
But baby, you should know
That I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Take these eyes that once could see
Now reflections of a misery
The happiness I thought would last
Now a becoming just a thing of the past
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
No, I can't give back
No, I feel for you
Oh, I'm gonna be stuck
No matter what I do
'cause it'll grow 'till the world
Don't go 'round no more
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
In "You Need Love," Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck sing about the pain of a broken relationship. The song starts off with the singer reminiscing about all the promises their partner made to them, which they will never see come true. The tear and the dream represent the painful memories that the singer is left with after the relationship has ended. They offer their love and their heart, but their partner is free to leave. The chorus reveals that the singer can't give back the love they feel, no matter how much they try, and they'll be stuck with it forever.
The lyrics continue to depict the singer's desperation to let go of their feelings. They want to give away everything that reminds them of their partner, from their ring to the pillow that once held their dreams. The singer acknowledges that they can't erase the love that is a part of them. They can't just give bits of it away; their partner must take all of it or none of it. The song ends with the singer admitting that they will be stuck with the love they feel forever, even if the world were to stop turning.
"You Need Love" was originally written by Willie Dixon and was recorded by Muddy Waters. It was later covered by Led Zeppelin in their song "Whole Lotta Love" and by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in their own recording. The song is a blues classic and speaks to the universal theme of heartbreak and loss. Clapton and Beck's version is an emotional ballad, showcasing their iconic guitar skills and soulful vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a tear, for a souvenir
I'm crying over the memories of our love that are now just souvenirs
And a dream, that's torn at the seams
The dream of a future together has been destroyed
Here's a promise you made to me, of the tomorrow I'll never see
You promised me a future we'll never have
And then you're free to go
You have the freedom to move on without me
But I can't give back the love, I feel for you
I still love you and I cannot change that
I'm gonna be stuck with it, no matter what I do
My love for you will never go away, no matter what I try
Take these arms that held you close, I thought I was the one you needed the most
I am offering my arms, which once gave you comfort, and expressing my hurt for thinking I was the most important person in your life
Take these hands, they're no good to me, that used to touch you so tenderly
My hands are now useless without you, even though they used to tenderly touch and hold you
That's a part of me
My love for you is an integral part of who I am
If you want just a little bit, you have to take all of me
You cannot just have a small part of me, my love is all or nothing
Here's a ring, that didn't mean a thing
The ring I gave you no longer holds any significance
And the letters you wrote, that gave my young heart hope
The letters you wrote to me, that once filled me with hope, are now meaningless
Take the pillow where my dreams were made, and the mind, where the thought of you stayed
Take away the pillow where I dreamt about our future, and my mind that is consumed with thoughts of you
That's a part of me
My love for you is an integral part of who I am
No, I can't give back
I cannot take back my love for you
Oh, I'm gonna be stuck no matter what I do
No matter how hard I try, my love for you will always be there
'cause it'll grow 'till the world don't go 'round no more
My love for you will continue to grow until the end of time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind