Without Love
Nelson Riddle Orchestra;Rosemary Clooney Lyrics
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Without love, I'm more machine
Without love, there's nothing doin'
I will die without love
Without love I am an island
All by myself in a heartbreak sea
Without love there's no denying
Oh there is nowhere I can run
And there is no hiding place
Sticking out like a sore thumb
By the gloomy look upon my face
Without love I'm incomplete
Without love, I am not whole
Without love, I'm barely on my feet
I am dying without love
Oh there is nowhere I can run
And there is no hiding place
Sticking out like a sore thumb
By the gloomy look upon my face
Without love I'm incomplete
Without love, I am not whole
Without love, I'm barely on my feet
I am dying without love
I am dying without love
Oh yes I'm dying without love
The Rosemary Clooney song "Without Love" is a poignant commentary on the emptiness and isolation one can feel without the love and connection of another person. The lyrics express the idea that love is a fundamental aspect of human existence, and without it, one can feel incomplete and mechanical. The repetition of the phrase "I am dying without love" emphasizes the importance of love in filling the void and giving meaning to life.
The imagery of the song is striking, as it presents the singer as an "island" in a "heartbreak sea." This metaphor underscores the loneliness and desperation of the singer, as she struggles to find meaning and purpose in her isolated existence. The lines "sticking out like a sore thumb / by the gloomy look upon my face" suggest that the singer is keenly aware of her own isolation, and that it is a painful and visible burden.
Overall, the lyrics of "Without Love" offer a powerful meditation on the human need for connection and intimacy, and the ways in which love can transform our lives and give us a sense of purpose and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Without love, I am half human
My existence is pointless if devoid of love, and without that, I cannot fully embody humankind.
Without love, I'm more machine
Love is what humanizes me, and without it, I am merely a machine or robot, cold and unfeeling.
Without love, there's nothing doin'
There is no activity or purpose without love; my life is barren and meaningless without that emotion.
I will die without love
Without love, I will physically and metaphorically perish, as it is the sustenance that keeps me alive and thriving.
Without love I am an island
In the absence of love, I am alone, isolated, and cut off from the rest of humanity and its interactions.
All by myself in a heartbreak sea
Isolated amidst pain and heartache, feeling lost and overwhelmed in a sea of emotions that without love cannot be navigated.
Without love there's no denying
I cannot deny or avoid the fact that my existence is empty and meaningless without the emotion of love.
I am dying without love
Without love, my life is ending, and I am slowly withering away, as my soul and essence cannot be sustained without this crucial emotion.
Oh there is nowhere I can run
There is no escape, no refuge, and no sanctuary from the impact of not having love in my life.
And there is no hiding place
There is no shelter or concealment from the emptiness and despair caused by the lack of love in my life.
Sticking out like a sore thumb
My lack of love is apparent to others, even if I try to hide it, and it makes me stand out unpleasantly from the rest of society.
By the gloomy look upon my face
My face undoubtedly displays my lack of love, and it is apparent in my expression and demeanor to others.
Without love I'm incomplete
Lacking love, I am deficient and flawed; there is a crucial part of me that is missing as love makes me whole.
Without love, I am not whole
Love is the missing piece of my existence that makes me complete and whole; without that, I am a fragmented and broken person.
Without love, I'm barely on my feet
Love is what supports me emotionally and keeps me steady; without it, I am unsteady and weak, faltering without that crucial support.
Oh yes, I'm dying without love
The final admission that my life is ending slowly without that crucial emotion, and its absence is killing me inside and out.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHUCK BUTLER, KERRIE ROBERTS, NATE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Melecio Ramos
I love her voice in this song
Betty Hein
'WITHOUT LOVE" is NOT a bonus cut from Rosie's RCA LP " Rosie Solves The Swinging Riddle". 'Swinging Riddle' was recorded May 25, 1960, May 27, 1960, and June 2, 1960, respectively. 'Without Love' was recorded almost one year later, on April 18, 1961, as a 'single' and was never intended to have been on any LP. The only things in common between 'Rosie Solves The Swinging Riddle' and the single "Without Love" were as follows: Both were recorded and released on RCA; both were produced by Dick Peirce, and both were arranged/conducted by Rose's paramour at the time, Nelson Riddle.