Haddaway's biggest hit, "What Is Love," became very popular across Europe (reaching #2 in the UK), North America and Australia after its 1993 release. Follow-up single "Life" was a big U.S. and European dance hit. His debut album spawned two more European hit singles: "I Miss You" and "Rock My Heart." His 1995 album included two minor hits, but his later releases went by largely unnoticed.
"What Is Love" has been re-mixed and re-released dozens of times. The track had a resurrection in popularity following a prominent role in a Saturday Night Live skit, which later became the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury.
Haddaway appeared on the Comeback reality television show in Germany in 2003. He appeared on a similar UK show, Hit Me Baby One More Time, in 2005 and subsequently appeared on the U.S. version of the show.
In July 2005, he released a new single called "Spaceman" and album called Pop Splits in Germany where he has a very strong following of fans.
What Is Love
Haddaway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
No, I don't know why you're not there
I give you my love, but you don't care
So what is right and what is wrong?
Gimme a sign
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Whoa, whoa, oh
Whoa, whoa, oh
Oh, I don't know, what can I do?
What else can I say? It's up to you
I know we're one, just me and you
I can't go on
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Whoa, whoa, oh
Whoa, whoa, oh
What is love?
What is love?
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
I want no other, no other lover
This is our life, our time
If we are together, I need you forever
Is it love?
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Yeah, yeah
Whoa, whoa, oh
Whoa, whoa, oh
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more (whoa, whoa)
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more (whoa, whoa)
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
The lyrics of Haddaway's song "What Is Love" express the confusion and pain of being in love with someone who doesn't seem to love you back. The repeated question "What is love?" suggests that both the singer and the listener are searching for answers about what love really means and whether they're truly experiencing it. The plea "Oh baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more" emphasizes the fear of rejection and the desire to protect oneself from further emotional pain.
The verses describe the singer's attempts to understand why the person they love is not treating them fairly. Despite giving their love, they don't feel it being reciprocated, leading them to question what is right and what is wrong in their situation. The bridge of the song acknowledges that the singer and their loved one have a connection, but they are unsure if it is truly love or if they can continue on in their current state of emotional limbo.
Overall, the message of the song is one of emotional vulnerability and the struggle to understand the complexities of love, particularly when it is unrequited or not reciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
What is love?
The singer is questioning what love really means.
Oh baby, don't hurt me
The singer is expressing vulnerability and asking their partner not to cause them emotional pain.
Don't hurt me
The singer repeats their plea for their partner to not hurt them.
No more
The singer wants their partner to stop causing them emotional pain.
No, I don't know why you're not fair
The singer is confused as to why their partner is not treating them with fairness and kindness.
I give you my love, but you don't care
The singer feels that they are not receiving love back from their partner who is indifferent.
So what is right and what is wrong?
The singer is questioning what they should do in this situation.
Gimme a sign
The singer is asking for a clear signal or message from their partner.
Yeah
An affirmative and somewhat frustrated interjection.
Whoa, whoa, oh
A vocalization of strong emotion, possibly pain or sadness.
Oh, I don't know, what can I do?
The singer is expressing their powerlessness and confusion in this situation.
What else can I say? It's up to you
The singer has done all they can and it is now up to their partner to act.
I know we're one, just me and you
The singer believes they and their partner share a strong connection.
I can't go on
The singer implies that they cannot continue with the relationship if their needs are not met.
I want no other, no other lover
The singer is expressing their loyalty and commitment to their partner.
This is our life, our time
The singer sees their relationship as a shared experience, a part of their life journey.
If we are together, I need you forever
The singer is expressing their desire for a long-term relationship with their partner.
Is it love?
The singer is unsure whether their partner's feelings are genuine love.
Yeah, yeah
An interjection expressing frustration or determination.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dee Dee Halligan, Junior Torello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ramonnoodles7497
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Yeah
I don't know why you're not fair
I give you my love, but you don't care
So what is right and what is wrong?
Gimme a sign
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Oh, I don't know, what can I do?
What else can I say, it's up to you
I know we're one, just me and you
I can't go on
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
What is love?
What is love?
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
Don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
I want no other, no other lover
This is our life, our time
We are together I need you forever
Is it…
........thats love baby slides out
@hatex4803
Actually, I can never SAY "What is the love" without the way he says it. Also "Baby don't hurt me"
Baby?
Yeah?
Whaaaaaat is love?
What???
Baaaabyyy?
Yeah?
Dooooooooont huuuuuuuurrrrrrttt meeeeeeeeee
@anilgohil3346
Let's make a world record for this song.
❤
All the music lovers of this planet sing, listen, dance, perform ❤ What is Love❤ on a specific day of a year on specific time together February 14 ?
On that day on that time all birds, animals, insects would fall in Love by listening only ❤ What is Love ❤
#whatisLove
#singers
#dancers
#perform
#musiclover
#radio
#tvchannel
#coconutmusicGermany
@kailahog7132
1993: What is love?
2003: what is love?
2020: what is love?
3020: what is love?
@kailahog7132
@Jeremy Hoffman I first listened this song in 1999
@chancepaladin
in the year 9595
WHAT IS LOOOVE?!
@I3ATTLE05
2069
@I3ATTLE05
Love is a chemical reaction in your brain
@kick45
2029 2039 2049 2059 2069 2079 2089 2099 3009....What is love??
@booziethelawyer2102
93: “this song is legendary”
23: “this song is legendary”
@luluthames
Yeeessss
@amanat2854
1923 was a different vibe fr 😍
@D_LGND
@@amanat2854 No it’s 23 and 93 AD obviously