Loveless
Lloyd Cole - Lyrics
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And turn it into a winter's tale
You pull down the blinds and shut out the sky
And do what you can to turn the whole thing grey
You're crying and pleading and you're hell just to be with
And you're everything that I'll ever need
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
You fall back into the english way
You sit and you stare at the empty page
And then you fill it with verse, make the whole thing worse
You lie and you cheat your own mind to believing
That you don't need anything or anyone
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
And why should I feel blue when I do?
Why?
You lie in the heat of a summer haze
And turn it into a winter's tale
You fall back into the english way
Of feeling only guilt 'cause you feel no pain
You're crying and pleading and you're hell just to be with
And you're everything that I'll ever need
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
Why should I feel...
And who's gonna love the loveless if not you?
Why?
Why?
Lloyd Cole's song Loveless is a melancholic portrayal of a relationship that seems one-sided, unrequited, and somewhat empty. The song's narrator talks about his significant other, who oscillates between being warm and loving to cold and distant. The opening lines, "You lie in the heat of a summer haze and turn it into a winter's tale," suggests how the singer's partner can change the atmosphere and mood of their relationship as quickly as turning seasons. The next few lines mention how the partner's actions and behavior can be confusing and unsettling for the singer. They pull down blinds, shut out the sky and turn everything grey, which signifies suppression of emotions and love.
The lyrics reference how the partner is crying and pleading at one moment but being a hellish person to be with in the next. The singer struggles with understanding why someone who could be so difficult to be with at times says they love him when they don't mean it. The lines "You sit and you stare at the empty page, and then you fill it with verse, make the whole thing worse," suggest how his partner's character traits, such as being a creative writer or an artist, could add to the confusion of their relationship, and how they could easily delve into their own worlds and shut the outside world out.
The overall impression that Loveless gives to the listener is that the singer is in a loveless relationship with someone who probably tells him what he wants to hear but simultaneously keeps him dangling from an emotional precipice. Their unreliability and coldness make it impossible for him to feel secure or loved. The song's final lines, "Who's gonna love the loveless if not you? Why? Why?" is a question for the partner, but it also reveals the singer's hopelessness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
You lie in the heat of a summer haze
You deceive yourself and others by distorting reality to fit your narrative.
And turn it into a winter's tale
You transform pleasant events into melancholic ones, possibly to garner sympathy from others.
You pull down the blinds and shut out the sky
You isolate yourself from the world, possibly to avoid confronting your inner demons.
And do what you can to turn the whole thing grey
You intentionally make everything gloomy and depressing, perhaps to elicit a reaction from others.
You're crying and pleading and you're hell just to be with
You are difficult to be around, often causing distress to those close to you
And you're everything that I'll ever need
Despite your flaws, I cannot help but love you.
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
Your actions and behavior do not align with your words, making me doubt your sentiment.
You fall back into the English way
You revert to your culture's traditions and patterns of behavior.
Of feeling only guilt 'cause you feel no pain
You experience guilt without justification, perhaps due to an inability to connect with your innermost emotions.
You sit and you stare at the empty page
You struggle with creative expression or finding purpose in your life.
And then you fill it with verse, make the whole thing worse
Your attempts at artistic expression actually worsen your situation or mental state.
You lie and you cheat your own mind to believing
You deceive yourself into believing things that are not true or denying aspects of yourself.
That you don't need anything or anyone
You convince yourself that you can function independently, oblivious to the impact of relationships and social support.
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
Your words do not align with your actions or reality.
And why should I feel blue when I do?
Despite my lover's flaws, I cannot help but feel sad and confused.
And who's gonna love the loveless if not you?
No one else will be able to love my imperfect partner as I do.
Why?
Questions about expression of love and human nature continue to plague the artist.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Olivier van der Heijden
Definitely one of, if not the most, beautiful songs Lloyd Cole has ever written and performed. I love it and keep on listening to it now for the past 29 years!
Gary Houtz
The percussion sounds like something falling over. A perfect song
António Carreira
One of his best songs, in my humble opinion.
Only 2.644 views, it's like a well kept secret!
Ricardo Dinis
Sem dúvida
Promoted Firebird
One of his best lyrical works.
Carolina Lys
Esta canción es preciosa , siempre me ha tocado el corazón. La voz de Lloyd Cole es maravillosa.
Jean Vúvú
One of my favourite Lloyd Cole Songs
rmle23
Great song like only Lloyde Cole can do!
Phil Brown
You pull down the blinds and shut out the sky
And do what you can to turn the whole thing grey
You're crying and pleading and you're hell just to be with
And you're everything that I'll ever need
So why do you say you love me when you don't?
edgar olivos
Vaya! Música solo para conocedores!! Wuaw!!!