Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature anthem "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
LOVE REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
Living Colour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You played the role of having sense
I always played the fool
Now something's different
I don't know the reason why
Whenever we separate
I almost want to cry
Love rears up its ugly head
And when I come home late you don't complain or call
So as a consequence I don't go out at all
My friends are frightened
They don't know what's going on
They think you put a spell on me
And now my mind is gone
Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up its ugly head
Love's not so bad they say
But you never know where love is gonna go
Does anybody really know?
I'm standing at the altar
As they play the wedding march
I'm in a black tuxedo with my collar full of starch
She looks as lovely as she's ever gonna get
I wake up from this nightmare in a pool of sweat
Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up its ugly head
What you gonna do
What you gonna do when it comes and gets you?
The lyrics to Living Colour's song Love Rears Its Ugly Head explores the ambiguity and uncertainty that comes with love. The singer expresses his confusion and frustration with a previously stable relationship that has suddenly changed. He had always thought that their relationship was 'cool,' with him being the fool and his partner having sense. However, things are different now, and he's not sure why. Whenever they separate, he almost wants to cry. Love has come back into their lives, and he's afraid of what might happen.
The singer recounts how now they can go out, and his partner won't raise any complaints or calls to ask where he is. As a result, he rarely goes out anymore. His friends are worried and don't know what's happening. They believe that his partner may have put a spell on him, and now his mind is gone. This fear culminates in the repeated plea, "Oh no, please not that again." The singer is afraid of what could happen if love rears up its ugly head.
Ultimately, the singer is left confused and uncertain about love and its power. He compares love to a nightmare, with him standing at the altar in a tuxedo but waking up in a pool of sweat. He's afraid of what love could do to him and what happens when it 'gets you.' The song highlights the varying emotions that come with love; it can bring joy and excitement, but it can also bring fear and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I always thought our relationship was cool
I believed that our romantic relationship was fine and comfortable
You played the role of having sense
You acted like the rational and sensible one in our relationship
I always played the fool
I always acted foolishly and naively in our relationship
Now something's different
Now there is a change or shift in our relationship that I cannot explain
I don't know the reason why
I am unaware of the cause or explanation behind the current state of our relationship
Whenever we separate
Whenever we are apart or not together
I almost want to cry
I feel emotional and close to tears
Oh no, please not that again
I do not want to experience those negative feelings or situations again
Love rears up its ugly head
Love causes unexpected problems or drama in our relationship
And when I come home late you don't complain or call
When I return home after being out late, you do not express annoyance or attempt to contact me
So as a consequence I don't go out at all
As a result, I choose to stay at home instead of going out with friends
My friends are frightened
My friends are scared or concerned about the sudden change in my behavior or actions
They don't know what's going on
They are unaware of the reason or explanation for my behavior or actions
They think you put a spell on me
They believe that you have some sort of control or influence over me
And now my mind is gone
As a result, I have become mentally or emotionally unstable
Love's not so bad they say
People generally believe that love is not negative or harmful
But you never know where love is gonna go
Nevertheless, it is impossible to predict the outcome or direction of love
Does anybody really know?
It is a rhetorical question asking if anyone can truly comprehend love and its effects
I'm standing at the altar
I am in a chapel or church, ready to get married
As they play the wedding march
The traditional bridal song is being performed
I'm in a black tuxedo with my collar full of starch
I am dressed for the formal occasion, wearing a tuxedo with a stiffly starched collar
She looks as lovely as she's ever gonna get
The bride appears as beautiful as she possibly can on her wedding day
I wake up from this nightmare in a pool of sweat
This whole experience is like waking up from a bad dream, leaving me stressed and uncomfortable
What you gonna do
What is your plan or reaction?
What you gonna do when it comes and gets you?
What will you do when love overwhelms or takes over you?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VERNON REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tamaramoreira7790
I always thought our relationship was cool
You played the role of having sense
I always played the fool
Now something's different
I don't know the reason why
Whenever we separate
I almost want to cry
Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up its ugly head
And when I come home late you don't complain or call
So as a consequence I don't go out at all
My friends are frightened
They don't know what's going on
They think you put a spell on me
And now my mind is gone
Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up its ugly head
Love's not so bad they say
But you never know where love is gonna go
Does anybody really know?
I'm standing at the altar
As they play the wedding march
I'm in a black tuxedo with my collar full of starch
She looks as lovely as she's ever gonna get
I wake up from this nightmare in a pool of sweat
Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up its ugly head
What you gonna do
What you gonna do when it comes and gets you?
@leokimvideo
Sadly one of the most underrated bands in history. Not sure how this happened. Music industry is a cruel beast
@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes
They were pretty big for about 2 years when I was about 19 years old and then nothing! That's modern music
@Clareypie
Damn right, listened to them in the 90s, still listening to them now, so bloody good!
@shawnstarks1743
Hmm, I don’t know about that. They had a pretty good run on MTV for about 3 years. They had a good push in the grand scheme of things. Hell, I’m black I can say that. Meaning, I don’t think they were treated unfairly. I get what your saying and life isn’t fair in most cases. However, at least they got their chance and they did good. They’re still out there.
@djbabybludotcom
They suck
@jbmillard
Underated? They have four Grammy awards.
@Donscottmusic
Probably the most underrated band of all-time!
@peterjones7410
+Don Scott Spot on mate, got it in one :)
@mrsedition1
+Don Scott I don't underate them I saw them in manchester and I think they're the best
@castroprod.8874
so true