The Love I Lost
Harold Melvin Lyrics
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Was a sweet love
The love I lost
Was complete love
The love I lost
I will never, no, no, never
Love again, ooh
Building my whole world around you
I can remember hoping
That you and I could make it on through
But something went wrong
We loved each other
We just couldn't get along
Take a good look at me
I'm in misery, can't you see?
The love I lost (the love, the love I lost)
Was a sweet love (yes it was)
The love I lost
Was complete love
The love I lost
I will never, no, no, never (never, no never)
Love again, ooh
I can't remember nothing, no no no
But the good times we used to share, my love
I'm so sad and lonely
Without you, my life is so dead
I'm sorry to say
You go your way and I'll go my way
It hurts deep inside
The day we said goodbye, but
The love I lost (the love, the love I lost)
Was a sweet love (yes it was)
The love I lost
Was complete love
The love I lost,
I will never, no, no, never (never, no never)
Love again (I will never love again)
I will never, no, no, never (never, no never)
Love again, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I will never, no, no, never (never, never)
Love again, oh
Never, no, no, never
Love again (never, never, never)
"The Love I Lost" is a soulful ballad by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, released in 1973. The lyrics tell the story of a lost love that was once sweet, complete and perfect, but something went wrong, leaving the singer in misery and unable to love again. The opening lines, "The love I lost, was a sweet love," provide a sense of irony, as they set up the expectation that the singer will mourn the loss of a pleasant memory, while in fact, the song is intended to express deep sadness.
The verses of the song are a mixture of flashback and self-expression. The singer remembers the planning and hope that he had invested in the relationship, only to realize that despite their love, he and his partner were unable to find a way to make it work. The pain of the split is palpable in the lines "Take a good look at me, I'm in misery, can't you see?" The chorus returns, providing a strong emotional anchor to the song, reminding the listener that the love that was lost was sweet and complete, and that it will never be recaptured by the singer.
The bridge provides a glimpse into the singer's current state of mind, which is one of sadness and loneliness. He admits that he can only remember the good times, and that his life is now "so dead" without his partner. He expresses regret for the way things ended, but seems to accept that they have both gone their separate ways. The song ends with a series of repeated "never" statements, underscoring the finality of the lost love.
Overall, "The Love I Lost" is a powerful and moving song that captures the deep sense of loss that comes with the end of a relationship. It is characterized by soaring vocals, soulful instrumentation and deeply felt emotions, making it a true classic of the soul genre.
Line by Line Meaning
The love I lost
Referring to a past love which is no longer present
Was a sweet love
The lost love was a positive, enjoyable experience
Was complete love
The lost love was a fulfilling and satisfying relationship
I will never, no, no, never
The artist has no intention of repeating the same mistake of loving again
Love again, ooh
Expressing disappointment, regret and sorrow towards losing love
I can remember planning
The singer recalls the level of investment and commitment to make the relationship work
Building my whole world around you
The singer was dedicating a major part of their world to the other person in the relationship
I can remember hoping
The artist's attention was directed towards possibilities and a positive outcome in the relationship
That you and I could make it on through
The artist acknowledges a shared desire and effort to make the relationship work
But something went wrong
Describing the existence of a significant issue that broke the relationship
We loved each other
Both parties in the previous relationship shared love
We just couldn't get along
The incompatibility issues caused difficulties which could not be resolved
Take a good look at me
Asking for sympathy, conveys the singer's present state
I'm in misery, can't you see?
The loss of the love has caused hurt, unhappiness and further pain for the singer
I can't remember nothing, no no no
The painful experience has created memory loss for the singer
But the good times we used to share, my love
The artist recalls only the positive experiences or moments they shared with their past love
I'm so sad and lonely
The artist expresses their current emotional state, deeply missing and longing for their lost love
Without you, my life is so dead
The singer sees no good or purpose in life without their lost love
I'm sorry to say
The singer conveys regret, sorrow or disappointment
You go your way and I'll go my way
The choice to move on and allow both individuals to live their lives independently
It hurts deep inside
The end of the relationship has caused pain and suffering
The day we said goodbye, but
The day it all ended, but accepting the outcome
Never, no, no, never
Strong affirmation of the commitment to not fall in love again
never, never, never
Reinforcing the emphasis on never loving again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind