You Are Love
Kern/Hammerstein Lyrics
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That ol' man river
He don't say nothing
But he must know something
Cause he just keeps rolling
He keeps rolling along
Rollin' along
He don't plant tators
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rolling along
You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And wracked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail
I gets weary
Sick of trying
I'm tired of living
Feared of dying
But ol' man river
He's rolling along
The song "You Are Love" was featured in the musical "Show Boat" which was first staged in 1927. The song was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein. In the musical, the song was performed by two of the principal characters, Magnolia and Gaylord.
The lyrics of the song are a contrast to the previous song "Ol' Man River" where the river is personified as an unrelenting force that keeps moving forward no matter the obstacles in its way. The lyrics of "You Are Love" are a response to the struggles of life that are depicted in "Ol' Man River". The song expresses that even though life may be filled with hardships, the love between two people can overcome them. The lyrics use vivid imagery that compares the beauty of nature, such as the stars and the sea, to the love that exists between two people. The repetition of the line "you are love" emphasizes the message of the song and creates a romantic and hopeful atmosphere.
Overall, "You Are Love" is a beautiful love song that contrasts the harshness of life with the beauty of true love. The lyrics use vivid imagery to express the depth of love and its ability to conquer all hardships. The song has been appreciated by audiences for many years and has become a classic of musical theater.
Line by Line Meaning
Ol' man river
The river has been here a long time
That ol' man river
It's always been rolling, never stopping
He don't say nothing
The river doesn't talk, but it seems to have its own way of communicating
But he must know something
Despite not speaking, the river seems to be aware of something we're not
Cause he just keeps rolling
The river remains constant, always advancing, always present
He keeps rolling along
The river just continues to flow, for what appears to be eternity.
Rollin' along
Continuing on its journey.
He don't plant tators
The river is indifferent to our agriculture
He don't plant cotton
The river doesn't care about what we grow
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
Humanity's legacy, in contrast to the river's, erodes over time.
But ol' man river
The river perseveres despite our impact on it.
He keeps rolling along
The river's motion doesn't stop, as if impervious to any obstacle.
You and me
We're struggling as humans.
We sweat and strain
Working hard.
Body all aching
Our bodies hurt from exertion.
And wracked with pain
Our pain is all-consuming.
Tote that barge
Carrying large objects.
Lift that bale
Moving huge weights around.
Get a little drunk
To cope with stress, we drink.
And you land in jail
We suffer for indulging in such a coping mechanism.
I gets weary
I get tired
Sick of trying
I'm tired of trying.
I'm tired of living
Life is too exhausting to feel purposeful.
Feared of dying
I'm scared of death.
But ol' man river
Despite human struggles, the river persists.
He's rolling along
The river moves continuously, reminding us of an unstoppable, infinite force.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind