What Chance Do I Have With Love
Michael Feinstein Lyrics
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Love is as sweet as a nut
Love is grander than tongue can tell
Love is remarkable, but
Look at what it did to Antony
It made a fool out of Antony
If love could do that to Antony
Look at what it did to Romeo
It dealt poor Romey an awful blow
If love could do that to Romeo
What chance have I with love?
Look at what it did to Samson
'Til he lost his hair he was brave
If a haircut could weaken Samson
They could murder me with a shave
Look at what it did to Bonaparte
He lost his head when he lost his heart
If he kicked over the apple cart
What chance have I
An ordinary guy
What chance have I with love
In Michael Feinstein's song "What Chance Do I Have With Love?", the singer muses about his chances with love. He describes love as beautiful, sweet, grand, and remarkable, but also acknowledges the negative effects it has had on some well-known historical figures. He mentions Antony, who was made a fool by love, Romeo, who suffered greatly because of his love for Juliet, Samson, who lost his strength when his hair was cut (a consequence of his love for Delilah), and Bonaparte, who lost his head when he fell in love. The singer wonders what chance he has as an ordinary person with a heart capable of being broken just like theirs. He seems to be expressing a sense of pessimism and vulnerability regarding love.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in different ways depending on who is listening to it. Some might hear a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the dangers of love, while others may hear a more serious cautionary tale of love's potential impact. It could be seen as a song about the human condition as we all have the potential to be affected by love, whether for better or for worse. Ultimately, the song's message is open to interpretation but it encourages listeners to be cautious about love and its possible consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is beautiful, love is swell
Love is a beautiful and wonderful feeling
Love is as sweet as a nut
Love is as sweet and satisfying as eating a nut
Love is grander than tongue can tell
Words cannot fully describe the greatness of love
Love is remarkable, but
Despite the wonderful qualities of love,
Look at what it did to Antony
Consider what love did to Antony in Shakespeare's play, making him behave foolishly
It made a fool out of Antony
Love caused Antony to lose his rational way of thinking and become foolish
If love could do that to Antony
If love had such a negative effect on someone like Antony,
What chance have I with love?
What chances do I have when love could have such negative consequences?
Look at what it did to Romeo
Consider what love did to Romeo in Shakespeare's play, resulting in a tragic ending
It dealt poor Romey an awful blow
Love caused great harm to Romeo, resulting in a terrible outcome
If love could do that to Romeo
If love could harm someone as deeply as Romeo,
What chance have I with love?
How can I have any hope for love with such negative consequences?
Look at what it did to Samson
Consider what love did to Samson in the Bible, resulting in his downfall
'Til he lost his hair he was brave
Samson was brave and strong until he lost his hair, a result of the woman he loved betraying him
If a haircut could weaken Samson
If something as simple as a haircut could weaken someone as strong as Samson,
They could murder me with a shave
Then something as simple as a shave could bring me down as well
Look at what it did to Bonaparte
Consider what love did to Napoleon Bonaparte, causing him to make poor decisions
He lost his head when he lost his heart
Napoleon lost his thinking ability when he allowed love to cloud his judgement
If he kicked over the apple cart
If Napoleon, a powerful leader, could be brought down by love,
What chance have I
What hope do I have
An ordinary guy
As an average person,
What chance have I with love?
How can I have hope for love when such powerful individuals have been brought down by it?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind