Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe that is why you love me so little
Maybe when I answered, yes
Maybe I became a bore
Maybe if I loved you less
Maybe you would love me more
Maybe it's because I've kissed you too much
Maybe that is why my kiss means so little
Maybe I'll be left with no love at all
The lyrics to Irving Berlin's Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much convey a sense of desperation and confusion in a relationship where one partner feels they are giving too much love and not receiving enough in return. The singer suggests that perhaps their excessive love and attention is the reason why their partner has become distant, and wonders if loving them less might actually lead to a stronger connection.
The lines "Maybe when I answered, yes / Maybe I became a bore" suggest that the singer may have acquiesced too easily to their partner's desires and lost some of the spark that attracted their love in the first place. The repetition of "Maybe" throughout the song indicates uncertainty and doubt, as the singer tries to make sense of a relationship that is slipping away despite their best efforts.
The final lines, "Maybe with a love so great and a love so small / Maybe I'll be left with no love at all," suggest a fear of being alone and unloved, despite the intensity of their current emotions. Ultimately, the song seems to grapple with the idea that too much love can be just as damaging as too little, and that finding a balance is key to a healthy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe it's because I love you too much
Perhaps my overwhelming love for you is the reason for our romantic dilemma
Maybe that is why you love me so little
It's possible that your lack of affection towards me is in response to my intense adoration
Maybe when I answered, yes
It's conceivable that my affirmation caused a shift in our relationship
Maybe I became a bore
Perhaps my predictable behavior has made me uninteresting
Maybe if I loved you less
It's possible that reducing the intensity of my love would strengthen our bond
Maybe you would love me more
Perhaps decreasing my love would increase your feelings for me
Maybe it's because I've kissed you too much
Perhaps my excessive kissing has caused my affections to lose significance
Maybe that is why my kiss means so little
It's possible that the abundance of kisses have resulted in a decrease in their value
Maybe with a love so great and a love so small
It's possible that my intense love and your limited love will result in no love at all
Maybe I'll be left with no love at all
Perhaps the dichotomy of our love will ultimately result in me having no love at all
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mabel8179
This is the definitive version of this song by far! Nobody else has sung it with the plaintive deep feeling that Al did and Ray Noble's arrangement is the best too. It's one of my fave Al Bowlly recordings.
@freagle71
Perfect arrangement, perfect playing, deep meaningful lyrics and the great Al Bowlly. A beautiful cameo squeezed into 3.5 minutes.
Whats not to like?
@feekie
Even if it is mislabeled, it's a beautiful song still by the great Al Bowlly. :)
@35GEmonitorT
Makes me cry, each time I hear it. We live in a world, void of romance.
@janettewalker3991
Wonderful version of this great romantic song, fantastic singer.
@tarquin4592
Lovely song also done by Nat King Cole, but surprisingly not many other singers seemed to be aware of its loveliness.
@cosycorp
As featured in Matthew Bourne's amazing new dance production "the Midnight Bell"
@barsommanashian975
10K views on this video only128 likes you tell me what the percentage of that is and I'll tell you that these algorithms are bullshit..