Anna McGarrigle and Kate McGarrigle were born in Montreal of mixed Irish- and French-Canadian background, but lived their childhood in the Laurentian Mountains village of Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, northwest of Montreal, where they learned piano from village nuns. In the 1960s, in Montreal, while Kate was studying engineering at McGill University and Anna art at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, they began performing in public and then began writing their own songs. From 1963 to 1967 they teamed up with Jack Nissenson and Peter Weldon to form the folk group Mountain City Four. Into the twenty-first century, Kate and Anna McGarrigle continued to write, and recorded and performed music, with assorted accompanying musicians including Gerry Conway, Pat Donaldson, Ken Pearson, Michel Pépin, Chaim Tannenbaum and Joel Zifkin.
Their songs have been covered by a variety of artists including Maria Muldaur, Nana Mouskouri, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Billy Bragg, Chloé Sainte-Marie, Judy Collins, Anne Sofie von Otter and others. The covers of their songs by well known artists led to the McGarrigles getting their first recording contract in 1974. They created ten albums from 1975 through 2008.
Although associated with Quebec's anglophone community, the McGarrigles also recorded and performed many songs in French. Two of their albums, Entre la jeunesse et la sagesse (also known as French Record) and La vache qui pleure, are entirely in French, but many of their other records include one or two French songs as well. Most of their French songs were co-written by Philippe Tatartcheff, with occasional input from Kate McGarrigle's son, Canadian-American solo artist Rufus Wainwright. Rufus and his sister Martha Wainwright, also a singer, are the children of Kate and her former husband (married 1971, separated 1976, divorced 1978), singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III.
They have performed or recorded with the Irish group The Chieftains, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their No More Shall We Part album, Emmylou Harris on her albums Bluebird, Wrecking Ball, Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions, Light of the Stable, Stumble into Grace, and All I Intended to Be, Lou Reed on his concept album The Raven, Joan Baez on her live recording Ring Them Bells, Gilles Vigneault on “Charlie-Jos” on his album C’est ainsi que j’arrive à toi, and Robin Holcomb on her 2002 album The Big Time.
Their version of Wade Hemsworth's song, "The Log Driver's Waltz" grew famous as the soundtrack for a 1979 animated film by Canada's National Film Board. They provided backing vocals on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds's 2001 album No More Shall We Part. They appeared on the children's TV show Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show in Season 4, episode 50 entitled "Sibling Rivalry".
They were appointed Members of the Order of Canada in 1993 and received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2004.
Another sister, Jane McGarrigle, is a film and television composer who wrote and performed several songs with the duo, but was not a regular collaborator.
Kate died January 18, 2010 at the age of 63 after fighting a rare form of cancer.
Love Is
Kate & Anna McGarrigle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It usually feels very hard and strange
Sometimes you just, have to take a chance
And plow forward without a backward glance
But this is not a love song
Even though we've known each other for so long
We've both been hurt before
We've watched someone walk right out the door
Because that would just feel so wrong
I'd have to admit it's true
That maybe, I love you.
It's scary to give someone else your trust
All those feelings are very hard to adjust to
It's almost like jumping off a cliff
Just have to put your trust into "what if?"
But this is not a love song
Even though we've known each other for so long
We've both been hurt before
We've watched someone walk right out the door
No, this not a love song
Because that would just feel so wrong
I'd have to admit it's true
That maybe, I love you
No, this is not a love song
Even though we've known each other for so long
We've both been hurt before
We've watched someone walk right out the door
No, this not a love song
Because I don't know what to do
Why is it so hard
To say those three words
I love you
The song "Love Is" by Kate & Anna McGarrigle is a beautiful ode to the power of love. The lyrics convey a sense of comfort, security and happiness that arise from a conscious, real and deep connection between two people. The opening lines "It feels so good when love is a conscious thing / Less pretentious and real baby" suggest that love is not something that happens by chance, but is something that can be consciously chosen and developed. The use of the word 'pretentious' implies that love cannot be superficial or fake, but must be genuine and honest. The song asks if the listener feels the same way and declares that at the moment, nothing else matters.
The chorus of the song ("Love is alive...") conveys a sense of joy and playfulness that is associated with being in love. The repetition of the phrase "and we look alike" suggests that the two people in the relationship are deeply connected and share a common sense of identity. The lyrics also paint a picture of a carefree and indulgent lifestyle ("Sleep all day and we'll eat in bed / We'll make love until this mood is spent") that is often associated with being in love and having no responsibilities.
The final verse ("And it gets so creepy trying to justify...") subtly alludes to the downside of casual relationships and one night stands. The lyrics suggest that these fleeting encounters are unfulfilling and leave people feeling guilty and alone. The song, therefore, celebrates the depth and intimacy of a long-term committed relationship that is built on love, trust and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels so good when love is a conscious thing
Love is most fulfilling when both partners are fully aware and present in the relationship.
Less pretentious and real baby
Intimacy and authenticity are more important than superficiality.
Do you feel like I do?
Are we on the same wavelength emotionally and physically?
I know its vague by definition, but whether real or just imagined
Love can be difficult to define, but its existence can be both tangible and intangible.
Honey right now I don't care
The current moment is all that matters, and love is more important than anything else.
So if I change I'll give you a warning
I will communicate changes in myself or our relationship and not leave you in the dark.
Until that time then just be adoring
In the meantime, let's enjoy our relationship without worries or insecurities.
Love is alive, and we look alike
Our love is thriving and apparent in our similarities.
Are we dressed alright, well go out tonight
Let's not worry about appearances and just enjoy the night out together.
Sleep all day and well eat in bed
Our love is so comforting and enjoyable that we want to spend all our time together.
Well make love until this mood is spent
Our physical intimacy is aligned with our emotional connection.
So kick your boots off and leave them by the door
Let's relax and make ourselves at home without worry or formality.
You wont be needing them anymore
Our love is so warm and intimate that we don't need any barriers or distance.
I know you feel like I feel
I understand that our emotions are mutual and equal.
Cause I can fake it or lose it completely
Either we have genuine, deep love, or we don't have it at all.
Whenever your lying beside me
Being next to you is the epitome of love and happiness.
The world outside can go to hell
Our love is so perfect and wonderful that external problems and concerns are insignificant.
And it gets so creepy trying to justify
Attempting to rationalize or explain away superficial relationships feels uncomfortable or unnatural.
One night stands are just too freaky, too bizarre
Casual hookups don't provide enough emotional intimacy or connection for us.
Scattered clothes and a telephone number tattooed to your palm
Reminder of a shallow, meaningless encounter with someone else.
And in the morning you wake up too alone, feeling guilty
The aftermath of a one night stand leaves a sense of loneliness and shame, highlighting the importance of genuine love and connection.
Love is alive
Our love is vibrant and thriving, bringing us great joy and fulfillment.
Dressed alright, well go out tonight
Our appearance isn't as important as our love and relationship.
Sleep all day, and well eat in bed
Being together in the comforts of our own space is the essence of our loving relationship.
Well make love until this mood is spent
Our physical intimacy is emotional and reflects the love and connection we share.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Katherin Ivanov
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Harvey Jones
Love Is Lyrics
Love is a shiny car
Love is a steel guitar
Love is a battle scar
Love is a morning song
Love is a twelve-bar blues
Love is your blue suede shoes
Love is a heart abused
Love is a mind confused
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
Love is a mine of gold
Love is a man to hold
Love is a drowning soul
Love is it's own reward
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
Oh, my love cross the double line
Oh, my love cross the double line
Kauan R. M. Klein
Hauntingly beautiful lyrics. Sometimes people just nail it. This is one of those times. "Love is a mental ward, love is a drawn sword, love is its own reward". Apostle Paul himself couldn't have said it better.
Cristiano Santana
Quem veio aqui por conta do Renato Russo dá um joinha.
Valdirene Lima
Linda canção
Jericho50
Brilliant writing, as usual from the national treasures.
Harvey Jones
Love Is Lyrics
Love is a shiny car
Love is a steel guitar
Love is a battle scar
Love is a morning song
Love is a twelve-bar blues
Love is your blue suede shoes
Love is a heart abused
Love is a mind confused
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
Love is a mine of gold
Love is a man to hold
Love is a drowning soul
Love is it's own reward
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
And love is the pleasures I'm told
And for some love is still a band of gold
My love has no reason, has no rhyme
My love cross the double line
Oh, my love cross the double line
Oh, my love cross the double line
Martin Unwin
You've got most of the lyrics about right, with the notable exception of the third verse. The correct lyrics are several shades darker than your rendition of them:
Love is a minor chord
Love is a mental ward
Love is a drawn sword
Love is its own reward
Tracy Weed
So lovely, simple yet a cautionary tale!
The Count Fo Ertwenty%
Loved it so much still do blown away by how great they are
The Count Fo Ertwenty%
Exactly what you would want from the McGarrigle sisters, something so haunting and poignant and haunting
The Count Fo Ertwenty%
Love is my brother Brendan