Love And Affection
Joan Armatrading Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am not in love
But I'm open to persuasion
East or West
Where's the best
For romancing

With a friend
I can smile
But with a lover
I could hold my head back
I could really laugh
Really laugh

Thank you
You took me dancing
'Cross the floor
Cheek to cheek
But with a lover
I could really move
Really move
I could really dance
Really dance
Really dance
Really dance
I could really move
Really move
Really move
Really move

Now if I can feel the sun
In my eyes
And the rain on my face
Why can't I
Feel love

I can really love
Really love
Really love
Really love
Really love
Love love love love
Love love love love

Now I got all
The friends that I want
I may need more
But I shall just stick to those
That I have got
With friends I still feel
So insecure

Little darling I believe you could
Help me a lot
Just take my hand
And lead me where you will
No conversation
No wave goodnight
Just make love
With affection

Sing me another love song
But this time
With a little dedication
Sing it, sing it
You know that's what I like
Once more with feeling
Give me love
Give me love
Give me love
Love

Make love
With affection

Sing me another love song
But this time
With a little dedication
Sing it, sing it
You know that's what I like
Once more with feeling

Sing me another love song
But this time
With a little dedication
Sing it, sing it
You know that's what I like

With affection

With a little dedication

Once more with feeling





You know that's what I like

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joan Armatrading's "Love and Affection" depicts a person who is open to being convinced to be in love. The first stanza highlights the indecision about where to find love - East or West - but the openness to persuasion. The second stanza emphasizes the difference in how the singer feels with a friend and a lover. While the singer can smile with friends, only a lover can make her truly laugh and let her guard down.


The third stanza mentions a dance with a companion, which was enjoyable, but intimates that it could have been better with a lover. The fourth stanza evokes the feeling of the sun and rain on the face, and the question arises: if these sensations can be felt, then why can't love be felt similarly. The fifth stanza reiterates the sentiment that the singer is capable of loving deeply and seeks affection from a partner. The final stanzas reiterate the call for a love song with dedication, suggesting that love and affection are necessary for a more meaningful and complete life.


Line by Line Meaning

I am not in love
I'm not in love yet


But I'm open to persuasion
But I'm open to falling in love


East or West
Which direction


Where's the best
Is the best place to find love


For romancing
To find and experience love


With a friend
I can be happy


I can smile
I'm happy


But with a lover
But with someone I love


I could hold my head back
I can be completely myself


I could really laugh
I'll laugh without a care


Thank you
Thank you for what you did


You took me dancing
You took me out to dance


'Cross the floor
Across the dance floor


Cheek to cheek
Close together


But with a lover
But with someone I love


I could really move
I can dance freely


I could really dance
I can really enjoy dancing


Now if I can feel the sun
If I can feel the warmth of the sun


In my eyes
In my eyesight


And the rain on my face
Feel the drops of rain on my skin


Why can't I feel love
Why can't I experience love


I can really love
I can truly love


Love love love love
Love, oh how I crave it


Now I got all the friends that I want
I have all the friends I need


I may need more
Maybe I need more


But I shall just stick to those
But I'll stick with what I have


That I have got
That I have with me now


With friends I still feel so insecure
But I still don't feel complete


Little darling I believe you could
Dear, I believe you can


Help me a lot
You can help me deeply


Just take my hand
Take my hand, come with me


And lead me where you will
Take me wherever you want to go


No conversation
No words necessary


No wave goodnight
No need to say goodbye


Just make love
Let's make love


With affection
With tenderness and care


Sing me another love song
Sing me another song of love


But this time
This time, do it differently


With a little dedication
With heart and soul put into it


Sing it, sing it
Sing it with joy


You know that's what I like
Because that's what I enjoy


Once more with feeling
Do it again but this time with more passion


Give me love
Give me all your love


With a little dedication
Put some effort and sentiment into it


Once more with feeling
One more time but make it special


With affection
With feelings of love


With a little dedication
With heartfelt commitment


Once more with feeling
One last time with passion


You know that's what I like
That's what I want and need




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@frankfog5372

Goddesses for sure but have you ever checked out this Righteous Babe; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=111KaJeRhNY ?
There's a truth that goes way beyond just the words they sing. It's a spiritual truth I think, a truth that is becoming harder and harder to find in music these days as artistic integrity is more often than not overruled by commercial interests. We just have to wait



& sometimes there's some poetry
if you turn your back long enough
and let it happen naturally



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3-rzL5cgVQ



All comments from YouTube:

@johnmccann1960

This song blew me away in '76, I was 16 years old . . . I'm 63 now and this song is still incredibly important to my soul. Classic song from an vastly underrated artist.

@paulastanding5077

FANTASTIC SONG NICE TO LISTEN TO GREAT FAVOURITE FOR YOUR FAMILY DRIVE AWESOME TO YOU 😃😃😃😃❤❤❤❤👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

@sketchquest

me too!

@akimus34

Fun fact, Daniel Craig picked this as the one song he’d listen to for the rest of his life

@welshlassie1421

That's interesting to know. ❤

@kerryroe-ely4416

Me too

@aliensatemybuickakajim5345

I could do the same, but would be a shame to miss Aretha Franklin...

@penelopepitstop1437

He isn't wrong

@davidhart8149

I agree...this song is amazing

9 More Replies...

@jackiewizelman4653

Her voice and style is unmatched. One of a kind !!! And you'll never hear anything like her again.

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