Not The Lovin' Kind
Lee Hazlewood Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
So you better get it off your mind
Give you money I don't care take you with me anywhere
Oh tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind

Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
It's somebody else for you to find
Cast your tears into the sea don't waste your good tears on me
Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
[ strings - horns ]
Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
So you better move on down the line
Told you so never lied love's a train I'll never ride
Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
I told you so never lied love's a train I'll never ride




Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
Not the lovin' kind not the lovin' kind

Overall Meaning

The song "Not the Lovin' Kind" by Lee Hazlewood is a clear message to someone who is pursuing him romantically that he is not interested in love. He tells the person to give up on him and find someone else who is willing to love them. Hazlewood is firm in his assertion that he is not capable of love and tells the person to take their tears and cast them into the sea, not waste them on him. He also offers the person money and to take them "anywhere," but it's clear that his offers of material possessions are not enough to compensate for the absence of love.


The song's lyrics are supported by a string and horn section that adds to the melancholic tone. Hazlewood sings the song with a weariness in his voice that indicates his disillusionment with love. The repetition of the phrase "tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind" reinforces his brokenness and his commitment to his decision.


Overall, the song "Not the Lovin' Kind" by Lee Hazlewood is a sad but honest acknowledgement of one's inability to love. The song's simplicity and honesty make it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell you babe I'm not the lovin' kind
I want to make it clear to you, my dear, that I am not someone who is capable of giving love.


So you better get it off your mind
It would be better for you to forget about me and look for someone else.


Give you money I don't care take you with me anywhere
Even if I give you money and take you with me on fancy trips, I still won't be able to give you the love you seek.


It's somebody else for you to find
You should try to find someone else who is capable of loving you.


Cast your tears into the sea don't waste your good tears on me
Don't waste your tears on me because I am not worth it. Instead, let the sea take them away.


So you better move on down the line
You should move on and find someone else who can give you the love you need, because I am not that person.


Told you so never lied love's a train I'll never ride
I have always been honest with you, and I am telling you now that I am not capable of loving you. Love is like a train that I will never be able to ride.


Not the lovin' kind not the lovin' kind
I am not someone who is capable of giving love. That's just the kind of person I am.




Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions