b. 26th March 1948, Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, U… Read Full Bio ↴b. 26th March 1948, Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Ned Doheny is a singer and songwriter born and raised in Los Angeles.

His grandfather was the same member of the Doheny family that the famous Doheny Drive is named after in that neighbourhood. Ned was born there.

Ned grew up in America where he released one album for Asylum Records entitled 'Ned Doheny' in 1973.

He then relocated to Columbia Records for the album 'Hard Candy' in 1976.

In 1979, he recorded the album 'Prone', again for Columbia, which was imported, originally, as a high priced Japanese import album into the U.K.

The single release, from the album, 'To Prove My Love' was very popular on the U.K. dance scene.

Ned Doheny also wrote songs which were recorded by various artists including Average White Band / Leslie Smith and the Kasu Matsui Project ('Love's A Heartache'), Tata Vega ('Get It Up For Love', made famous by the artist Johnny Rivers) Chaka Khan and Millie Scott ('A Love Of Your Own').

Love's A Heartache
Ned Doheny Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I never made it my business
I guess I knew you were running scared
You never told me you loved me
Yet I know that you care

Love's a heartache
Makes you wonder why
It's a heartache

Give it one more try

An empty seat at the table
The part of loving that makes you cry
You never made me a witness
Yet I see in your eyes

Love's a heartache
Once you come alive
It's a heartache
Let your love survive

All we lack is a bridge of words
Call me back
There's so much at stake
I can't bear to love alone

Shine on me, don't wait
I don't seem to know myself of late
Part of me is you
I can't seem to separate the two

Love's a heartache
Makes you wonder why

It's a heartache
Give it one more try

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Love's A Heartache" by Ned Doheny expresses the complicated emotions that arise in relationships. The singer acknowledges their knowledge of their partner's fear of commitment and reluctance in expressing love, yet recognizes that there is still care involved. The emotions are further heightened by the separation between the two individuals - with an empty seat at the table, one cannot help but feel the sadness that comes with loving.

However, despite the difficulties, the singer encourages the continuation of love through recognition of its beauty and importance in one's life. The repeated assertion that "Love's a heartache" acknowledges the pain and difficulties that love can bring. Yet, the encouragement to "give it one more try" highlights the hope that comes with continued effort.

The final lines of the song express the singer's strong connection to their partner. The inability to separate themselves from their partner highlights their emotional investment and the gravity of the situation. The emphasis on "shine on me, don't wait" expresses an urgency in resolving the difficulties in their relationship because they cannot bear to continue alone.

Line by Line Meaning

I never made it my business
I didn't pry into your personal life

I guess I knew you were running scared
I could sense that you were afraid of getting close

You never told me you loved me
You never actually said the words 'I love you'

Yet I know that you care
But I can tell that you have feelings for me

Love's a heartache
Being in love can be painful

Makes you wonder why
It can make you question why you ever fell in love

It's a heartache
But despite the pain, you're still in love

Give it one more try
You're willing to take another chance on love

An empty seat at the table
There's a sense of loneliness when you're not around

The part of loving that makes you cry
Being in love can also cause you to shed tears

You never made me a witness
You never let me see your vulnerable side