The One I Love
Matt Monro Lyrics
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She means her tender songs for somebody else
And even when I have my arms around her
I know her thoughts are strong for somebody else
The hands I hold belong to somebody else
It's tough to be alone on the shelf
It's worse to fall in love by yourself
The one I love belongs to somebody else
And even when I have my arms around her
I know her thoughts are strong for somebody else
The hands I hold belong to somebody else
I'll bet they're not so cold to somebody else
It's tough to be alone on the shelf
It's worse to fall in love by yourself
The one I love belongs to somebody else
Matt Monro's song "The One I Love" delves into the emotional turmoil of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman who belongs to someone else. He sings about her dedicating her tender songs to someone else and even when he has his arms around her, he knows that her thoughts are with somebody else. The singer is painfully aware that the hands he holds belong to someone else and that they are not as cold to that person. Despite wanting to be with her, he is alone on the shelf struggling with the pain of being in love with someone who belongs to somebody else.
The lyrics of the song are extremely relatable and provide deep insight into the predicament of unrequited love. The singer knows that he can never have the woman he loves and is resigned to his fate. He emphasizes the fact that it is worse to fall in love by oneself and embodies the idea that loving someone who does not return those feelings can be emotionally devastating. The song is a poignant reminder of the toll that unrequited love can take on individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
The one I love belongs to somebody else
The person I have affection for is already in a committed relationship with someone else
She means her tender songs for somebody else
Her affectionate lyrics are directed towards her significant other, not me
And even when I have my arms around her
Despite being physically close to her, her emotions and affections are directed towards another person
I know her thoughts are strong for somebody else
I am aware that her thoughts and feelings are focused on someone other than me
The hands I hold belong to somebody else
I am aware that the person I am holding hands with is someone else's significant other
I'll bet they're not so cold to somebody else
I imagine that the hands of the person I am holding are warmer and more affectionate towards their significant other
It's tough to be alone on the shelf
It's difficult to feel isolated and unloved
It's worse to fall in love by yourself
It's even more painful to be in love with someone who does not share the same feelings
Writer(s): E. Montgomery
Contributed by Ian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jim Hunter
on Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
looked for this one for a long time, he's the best.