Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.
Dutton, still in high school at Germantown Friends School, began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After a year of college, he relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The name G. Love doesn't really have that much of a story to it. The 'G' stands for Good as said in many radio interviews. He said in an interview that the 'Love' was just there because it sounded right.
G. Love featured Jack Johnson on his 1999 LP Philadelphonic playing an early version of Jack Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" when Jack was an unknown artist. Jack later featured the song on his 2003 LP On and On.
Known nowadays for his excellent live shows, he is often seen touring with Jack Johnson, who signed G. Love to his record label Brushfire Records. He has made appearances on the records of artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Donavon Frankenreiter.
Love Yourself
G. Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A heart gooder was back in the day
It was good alright, pretty damn good but not that good in the way
It's gone gone gone gone gone
And now I spend too much time thinking 'bout people do the things they do
Why take it personally? No way
I said where they at don't got too much to do with you at all
Models will be the first ones to walk away
After all you is, is another dog barking in the yard
After all you is, is another empty glass sitting on the bar
After all you is, is a spinning tire on the car
You rode today, you rode tomorrow
So make a little love, take a little love
Give a little more than you get
Got to love love love yourself before you love love love somebody else
You got to love yourself, you got to love yourself, yeah
They say don't cry 'bout spilled milk
Today's just about good enough, better than nothing
But not at all what I thought it be, I ain't meant to live this way
Take down the G's telling me what to do and what to say
After all you is, is another dog barking in the yard
After all you is, is a fallen down house of cards
After all you is, is a thumping in my racing heart
Beat today, and beat tomorrow
So make a little love, take a little love
Give a little more than you get
Take a little love, make a little love, give a little more than you get
Make a little love, take a little love, give a little more than you get
Got to love love love yourself
Before you love love love somebody else
You got to love yourself
You got to love yourself
Just sitting on corner, tryna go down in history
Taking it slow 'cause don't know better
You could travel 10 thousand miles all around the world
Tryna figure it out and end up back where you started from
And everybody always wanna know what life is all about
But you gotta live to figure it out, come on
Make a little love, take a little love, give a little more than you get
Take a little love, make a little love, give a little more than you get
Make a little love, take a little love, give a little more than you get
You got to love love love yourself, love yourself
The lyrics to G. Love's song "Love Yourself" convey a message of self-love and empowerment. The opening lines suggest that there's no use in dwelling on lost love and that the past may have had its good moments, but ultimately it's gone. The singer expresses frustration in spending too much time trying to understand why people act the way they do, realizing that it's not personal and that others' actions don't define them. The reference to models being the first to walk away implies the transient nature of relationships.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of loving oneself before loving others. It suggests that despite any setbacks or disappointments, one should continue to make love (show kindness) and give more than they receive. The repetition of the phrase "after all you is" indicates that the singer is acknowledging the insignificance of external factors and focusing on their own self-worth. The desire to love oneself is reinforced as a fundamental step towards nurturing healthy relationships with others.
In the second verse, the singer dismisses the notion of crying over spilled milk, suggesting that the present moment is good enough, even if it may not align with their initial expectations. They reject societal expectations and influences ("take down the G's") and assert their own autonomy and ability to determine their actions and words.
The bridge further emphasizes the importance of personal growth and exploration. The singer suggests that trying to find meaning and purpose in life by traveling the world often leads one back to where they started, implying that true understanding comes from living and experiencing. The line about everyone wanting to know what life is all about suggests a universal desire for understanding, but the singer reminds listeners that they have to live and discover it for themselves.
Overall, "Love Yourself" encourages listeners to prioritize self-love, acceptance, and personal growth, recognizing that these qualities are essential before seeking love from others.
Line by Line Meaning
No use crying 'bout lost love
There's no point in dwelling on lost love
A heart gooder was back in the day
Love used to be better in the past
It was good alright, pretty damn good but not that good in the way
It was enjoyable, but not fulfilling in a deeper sense
It's gone gone gone gone gone
It's completely gone and over
And now I spend too much time thinking 'bout people do the things they do
I obsess over why people behave the way they do
Why take it personally? No way
There's no need to take it as a personal attack
I said where they at don't got too much to do with you at all
Their actions are independent of your worth
Models will be the first ones to walk away
Superficial relationships are quick to end
After all you is, is another dog barking in the yard
You're just another insignificant noise in the grand scheme
After all you is, is another empty glass sitting on the bar
You're just another unfulfilled desire
After all you is, is a spinning tire on the car
You're just a repetitive and unproductive action
You rode today, you rode tomorrow
You continue to engage in meaningless actions
So make a little love, take a little love
Engage in meaningful and reciprocal relationships
Give a little more than you get
Be generous and selfless in your interactions
Got to love love love yourself before you love love love somebody else
You need to have self-love before you can truly love others
You got to love yourself, you got to love yourself, yeah
It's important to prioritize self-care and self-acceptance
They say don't cry 'bout spilled milk
There's no use in crying over past mistakes
Today's just about good enough, better than nothing
The present is satisfactory, although not ideal
But not at all what I thought it be, I ain't meant to live this way
This isn't the life I envisioned for myself
Take down the G's telling me what to do and what to say
Ignore external expectations and judgments
After all you is, is a fallen down house of cards
You're just a fragile and unstable structure
After all you is, is a thumping in my racing heart
You're just a temporary excitement or infatuation
Beat today, and beat tomorrow
You continue to provide momentary excitement
Just sitting on corner, tryna go down in history
I'm here, hoping to leave a lasting legacy
Taking it slow 'cause don't know better
Proceeding cautiously because of uncertainty
You could travel 10 thousand miles all around the world
You could explore extensively without finding answers
Tryna figure it out and end up back where you started from
Attempting to find meaning and ending up with no progress
And everybody always wanna know what life is all about
Everyone constantly seeks the meaning of life
But you gotta live to figure it out, come on
You have to experience life to understand it
Take a little love, make a little love, give a little more than you get
Engage in meaningful and selfless actions
You got to love love love yourself, love yourself
You need to have genuine self-love and self-acceptance
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cisco Adler, Cody Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind