You Don't Know What Love Is
Keith Jarrett Lyrics


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You don't know what love is
'Til you've learned the meaning of the blues
Until you've loved a love you've had to lose,
You don't know what love is.

You don't know how lips hurt
Until you've kissed and had to pay the cost,
Until you've flipped your heart and you have lost,
You don't know what love is.

Do you know how a lost heart fears
At the thought of reminiscing,
And how lips that taste of tears
Lose their taste for kissing?
You don't know how hearts burn
For love that can, not live yet never dies.




Until you've faced each dawn with sleepless eyes,
You don't know what love is.

Overall Meaning

The song "You Don't Know What Love Is" is a classic jazz standard that has been performed by many artists. The lyrics of the song speak to the idea that until you have experienced the pain and heartbreak that can come with love, you don't truly understand what love is.


The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the vocalist singing "You don't know what love is / 'Til you've learned the meaning of the blues." This suggests that love and the blues are intricately linked, as both can bring feelings of sadness and despair. The second verse expands on this idea, with the vocalist singing about the hurt that can come with loving someone and then losing them. The lines "Until you've flipped your heart and you have lost / You don't know what love is" speak to the idea that true love involves taking risks and experiencing pain.


The chorus of the song focuses on the physical and emotional pain that can come with love. The lines "You don't know how lips hurt / Until you've kissed and had to pay the cost" emphasize the idea that love can come at a high price, both emotionally and physically. The chorus also touches on the idea that memories of lost love can be just as painful as the experience itself.


Overall, the lyrics of "You Don't Know What Love Is" convey a sense of melancholy and loss, but also an understanding that true love involves both joy and pain.


Line by Line Meaning

You don't know what love is
You cannot truly grasp the essence of love unless you've experienced the pain, sorrow, and sacrifice it requires.


'Til you've learned the meaning of the blues
You must feel and understand the melancholy emotions expressed in blues music to comprehend love's true depth.


Until you've loved a love you've had to lose,
The heartache of losing someone you truly loved is necessary to appreciate the true feeling of love.


You don't know how lips hurt
The pain associated with love is sometimes unbearable, and cannot be fully understood unless you've experienced it yourself.


Until you've kissed and had to pay the cost,
The price of loving someone and not having it reciprocated can be incredibly high, leaving you with a broken heart.


Until you've flipped your heart and you have lost,
When you take a risk on love and it ends in failure, the loss can be devastating and life-altering.


Do you know how a lost heart fears
The fear of never finding true love again can be overwhelming and paralyzing for someone who has lost it before.


At the thought of reminiscing,
Recalling past relationships and the memories they hold can sometimes be a painful and daunting task.


And how lips that taste of tears
Tears resulting from a broken heart can leave a lasting impression, affecting even the way someone kisses.


Lose their taste for kissing?
The negative emotions associated with heartbreak can make it difficult for someone to want to engage in romantic activities, such as kissing.


You don't know how hearts burn
The intense passion and desire that love can instill can be incredibly powerful and overwhelming.


For love that can, not live yet never dies.
The idea of a love that persists despite the absence of a relationship can be both painful and comforting.


Until you've faced each dawn with sleepless eyes,
When in love, the excitement and anticipation can often leave someone restless and unable to sleep.


You don't know what love is.
Without experiencing the mixed range of emotions that love can bring, you cannot fully understand its true meaning.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@SantAgusti16

Thanks for sharing this monumental work. I love it. I have the CDs but to have the music here is also really convenient.

@jiyujizai

😮💚🤚

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