Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known … Read Full Bio ↴Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He currently resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.

Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.

Learning the Game
Leo Kottke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hearts that are broken and love that's untrue
These go with learning the game
When you love her but she doesn't love you
You're only learning the game

When she says that you're the only one she'll ever love
Then you find that you are not the one she's thinking of

Feeling so sad cause you're always alone
That's when you're learning the game
Feeling so sad cause you're all alone and blue
you're only learning the game

When she says that you're the only one she'll ever love
Then you find that you are not the one she's dreaming of

Hearts that are broken and love that's untrue
You're only learning the game
When you love her but she doesn't love you
That's when you're learning the game

When she says that you're the only one she'll ever love
Then you find that you are not the one she's dreaming of

Feeling so sad cause you're all alone and blue
You're only learning the game

When you love her but she doesn't love you
That's when you're learning the game

Overall Meaning

Leo Kottke's song "Learning the Game" is a melancholic ballad about the pain of unrequited love. The first two lines of the song set the tone for the whole piece, stating that hearts that are broken and love that is untrue, are synonymous with "learning the game." Kottke suggests that the experience of falling in love, and being let down by the object of one's affection, is an essential part of growing up and understanding the nature of romantic relationships.

The chorus of the song centers around a repeating thought, that when a person loves someone who does not love them back, they are "learning the game." This suggests that unrequited love is a necessary part of the journey to finding a reciprocal and healthy love in the future. The lyrics also focus on the idea of being the only one that a person loves, only to find out that they are not the one being thought of or dreamed of by that person. The emotions described are ones of sadness, loneliness, and heartache.

Kottke's song is a testament to the fact that love is not always easy, and that heartbreak is often an inevitable part of that journey. However, the subtle determination in the lyrics suggests that this pain can be turned into a positive learning experience, one that will eventually lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful love in the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Hearts that are broken and love that's untrue
Experiencing heartbreak and being deceived in love are part of the process of learning how to navigate the game of love.

When you love her but she doesn't love you
Unrequited love is a common occurrence in the game of love and is a lesson to be learned.

You're only learning the game
Each experience, positive or negative, is a lesson in the game of love.

When she says that you're the only one she'll ever love
Hearing false promises of forever love can be a painful aspect of the game.

Then you find that you are not the one she's thinking of
Realizing that someone you love thinks of another is another hard lesson to be learned.

Feeling so sad cause you're always alone
Loneliness is often a result of the game of love.

Feeling so sad cause you're all alone and blue
Painful emotions, such as sadness, are a common experience in the game of love.

Then you find that you are not the one she's dreaming of
Discovering that the one you love dreams of another is a harsh realization in the game of love.

You're only learning the game
Every experience helps to develop a better understanding of the intricacies of the game of love.

When you love her but she doesn't love you
Experiencing unrequited love can be a difficult and painful lesson in the game of love.

Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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