The Ways Of Love
Neil Young feat. Linda Ronstadt Lyrics


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You are my special one
Made my heart come all undone
We've been havin' too much fun
Now someone else
Will sleep with tears
When he hears
What we've done
Oh, the ways of love
Oh, the ways of love

Hear my song and hear my heart
We'll be gone when the music starts
Then we'll never be apart
Just you and I
Go flyin' by
No one to cry
That we're gone

Oh, the ways of love
Oh, the ways of love

You are my special one
Made my heart come all undone
We've been havin' too much fun
Now someone else
Will sleep with tears
When he hears
What we've done

Oh, the ways of love
Oh, the ways of love




Oh, the ways of love
Oh, the ways of love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Neil Young's "The Ways of Love" describe a love affair that is both intense and fleeting. The singer addresses his lover as his "special one," emphasizing the unique bond they share. He confesses to being completely undone by the relationship, saying that they have been having too much fun, suggesting a passion that is almost dangerous. The chorus speaks to the power and unpredictability of love, as if to suggest that there is no controlling the forces that bring people together or tear them apart. The final stanza of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer acknowledges that somebody else will be hurt by the end of the affair, but there is nothing to be done; the ways of love cannot be controlled or predicted.


One interpretation of these lyrics is that they represent the struggles of a man caught between his overwhelming desire for a lover and his guilt about the pain he knows their actions will cause. Another reading is that it is a reflection on the fleeting and unpredictable nature of romantic love, and how the intense passion we feel for another person can be both beautiful and destructive.


Line by Line Meaning

You are my special one
You are the one person that means everything to me


Made my heart come all undone
You have caused me to feel emotions that have overwhelmed my heart, leaving it in pieces


We've been havin' too much fun
We have been enjoying each other's company a lot and indulging in sinful pleasures


Now someone else
Another person who is not us


Will sleep with tears
The person will cry themselves to sleep


When he hears
When they find out


What we've done
What we have done with each other


Oh, the ways of love
Love is a complex emotion that manifests itself in many unpredictable ways


Hear my song and hear my heart
Listen to what I am singing and try to understand how I truly feel


We'll be gone when the music starts
We will not be here anymore when the music begins


Then we'll never be apart
Once we leave this place, we will stay together forever


Just you and I
Only me and you


Go flyin' by
We will speed past everything and everyone else


No one to cry
No one will cry for us or over us when we are gone


That we're gone
Once we leave, we will never come back


Oh, the ways of love
Love is a powerful force that can do things we never thought possible


Oh, the ways of love
Love can lead us down unpredictable paths, for better or for worse


Oh, the ways of love
Love can be both beautiful and painful at the same time


Oh, the ways of love
Love will always be a mystery that we try to understand




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: NEIL YOUNG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jennifer Lehner

So fun to hear the full band version of this with the banjo!

Chick Shrimpkin

I saw this live. It was awesome then, and it is awesome now. Looking forward to seeing Beth again at the scene of the crime next week! 😊❤👍

Kent Beery

This is Excellent !

OFF The Grid

First time hearing this version... Lovely..!

Beth Bombara

Thank you!

Annie Keating

Thanks for posting! If you have a minute, I recorded some original tunes. As a fellow music fan, I'd love if you'd take a listen. It's on my channel. I appreciate it!

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