Joe Goddard told The NME: "Alexis Taylor had a dream where I'd written a ne… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Goddard told The NME: "Alexis Taylor had a dream where I'd written a new song called 'Hand Me Down Your Love.' When he woke up he wrote it. That's happened for a couple of songs. It's great, 'cos you don't have to do any work, your unconscious brain just gives it to you." (Source Hand Me Down Your Love Songfacts).

Hand Me Down Your Love
Hot Chip Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hand me down your love
Hand me down your love
Hand me down your love
Hand me down your love
Hand me down your love (When I'm feeling sick)
Hand me down your love
Hand me down your love (When I'm losing it)
Hand me down your love

Open up my love
Open up my love
Open up my love
Open up my love
Open up my love (When I'm feeling sick)
Open up my love
Open up my love (When I'm losing it)
Open up my love

I've known for a long time
You are my love life
Why can't I be bright like my lover's light?

Write me down my love
Write me down my love
Write me down my love
Write me down my love
Write me down your love (When I'm feeling sick)
Write me down your love
Write me down your love (When I'm losing it)
Write me down your love

I've known for a long time
You are my love life
So why can't I be bright like my lover's light?
I've known for a long time
You are my love life
So why can't I be bright like my lover's light?
I've known for a long time

You are my love life
So why can't I be bright like my lover's light?

Overall Meaning

In Hot Chip's song "Hand Me Down Your Love," the lyrics convey a message of a person reaching out for emotional support from a loved one. The repetition of the phrase "Hand me down your love" suggests a yearning for emotional sustenance during difficult times. The "hand me down" imagery conjures an image of passing on something valuable from one person to another. By doing so, the song is suggesting that love can be shared and that we can draw strength from those who care about us.

The song also addresses the theme of self-worth and insecurity. The lyrics "So why can't I be bright like my lover's light?" depict a sense of envy and self-doubt. The singer is struggling to feel confident in themselves and look towards their partner for guidance. The phrase "Write me down my love" can be interpreted as a request to record the feeling of being loved, especially in moments when they are not present.

Overall, "Hand Me Down Your Love" is a song about seeking emotional support from a loved one and coming to terms with one's own inadequacies.

Line by Line Meaning

Hand me down your love
I need the love you have, please give it to me

Hand me down your love (When I'm feeling sick)
I need your love especially when I'm feeling down

Hand me down your love (When I'm losing it)
When I'm struggling, I need your love to help me through

Open up my love
Please be open with me and share your love

Open up my love (When I'm feeling sick)
Open up and show me your love, especially when I'm feeling low

Open up my love (When I'm losing it)
When I'm struggling, show me your love and support by being open with me

I've known for a long time You are my love life Why can't I be bright like my lover's light?
I've been with you for a while and know you are the one for me, but I don't feel as bright or happy as you do

Write me down my love
Express your love for me in writing

Write me down your love (When I'm feeling sick)
Show me your love through writing, especially when I'm feeling low

Write me down your love (When I'm losing it)
I need your love expressed in writing to help me through my struggles

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXIS BENJAMIN TAYLOR, JOSEPH GODDARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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