Love Will Tear Us Apart
Nouvelle Vague Lyrics


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When routine bites hard
And ambitions are low.
And resentment rides high
But emotions won't grow.
And we're changing our ways
Taking different roads.

Then love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.

Why is the bedroom so cold
Turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed
Every feeling run so dry?
Yet there's still this appeal
That we've kept through our lives.

And love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.

Do you cry out in your sleep,
All my failings expose?
Gets a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold.
Why is it something so good
Just can't function no more?

And Love, love will tear us apart again.




Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nouvelle Vague's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" speak to the difficulties and complexities of relationships. The first stanza describes the struggles of daily life, of feeling stuck in a rut and lacking direction. The emotions may be high, but there is a sense that they are not progressing in a positive way, leading the couple to take different paths. Despite this, the chorus of the song tells us that "love will tear us apart again".


The second stanza shifts focus, zooming in on the small, intimate moments between the couple. The bedroom is cold and one partner is turned away, highlighting the emotional distance between them. The singer questions their own timing and abilities, recognizing a lack of emotional connection. Yet, there is still an "appeal" between them that has spanned their entire lives. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the inevitability of love tearing them apart again.


The final stanza seems to reflect on the inevitable breakdown of the relationship. The partner may be crying out in their sleep, exposing all of the singer's failings. The reference to the taste of desperation in the singer's mouth suggests that they are aware of the impending end but feel helpless to stop it. The final line, "love will tear us apart again," repeats, suggesting that this is not the first time the relationship has fallen apart, and it may not be the last.


Overall, the lyrics of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" describe the cyclical nature of relationships, the push and pull of love and distance, and the inevitability of a relationship's end.


Line by Line Meaning

When routine bites hard
When the same old, mundane things become exhausting and draining.


And ambitions are low.
And we lack the motivation and drive to pursue our goals.


And resentment rides high
And we hold onto bitterness and anger towards one another.


But emotions won't grow.
But we are unable to build deeper connections or develop our feelings.


And we're changing our ways
And we are trying to break free from our routine and establish new paths.


Taking different roads.
Going in different directions than we've gone before, separating from each other and our old lives.


Then love, love will tear us apart again.
Despite our efforts to change and grow, our relationship will break apart due to the power of love.


Why is the bedroom so cold
Why is the intimacy and warmth between us gone?


Turned away on your side?
Why are we cold and distant from each other even when lying in bed next to one another?


Is my timing that flawed
Is my approach or the timing of my actions not aligned with what our relationship needs?


Every feeling run so dry?
Why have our emotions for each other faded away and evaporated?


Yet there's still this appeal
Despite all that, there's still an attraction and pull between us.


That we've kept through our lives.
That we've maintained throughout our relationship, through all the heartache and hardships.


And love, love will tear us apart again.
This love that we have for each other will keep breaking us apart.


Do you cry out in your sleep,
Do you express your pain and struggles even when you're unconscious?


All my failings expose?
Does my inadequacy and mistakes come to light, even in your dreams?


Gets a taste in my mouth
I can sense the failure and defeat that our relationship is heading towards.


As desperation takes hold.
As the fear of being alone and losing each other becomes more real and overwhelming.


Why is it something so good
Why is this love that we share, that we once thought was beautiful and wonderful, causing so much pain?


Just can't function no more?
Why can't we make it work, no matter how much we try?


And Love, love will tear us apart again.
Our love is so powerful that it will keep breaking us apart, despite all our attempts to keep it alive.


Love, love will tear us apart again.
Our love will keep pushing us away from each other, no matter how much we desperately cling to it.


Love, love will tear us apart again.
Our love is a force that is destined to break us apart, over and over again.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernard Sumner, Ian Kevin Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Paul David Morris

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bluepink6277

When the routine bites hard
And ambitions are low
And the resentment rides high
But emotions wont grow
And were changing our ways,
Taking different roads
Then love, love will tear us apart again
Why is the bedroom so cold
Turned away on your side?
Is my timing that flawed,
Our respect run so dry?
Yet theres still this appeal
That weve kept through our lives
Love, love will tear us apart again
Do you cry out in your sleep
All my failings expose?
Get a taste in my mouth
As desperation takes hold
Is it something so good
Just cant function no more?
When love, love will tear us apart again



All comments from YouTube:

@patrickjmt

It is moving to hear this song sung like this. It is so soothing with the waves and people in the background. Such a stark difference from the pained original version from Ian. I think I'm gonna listen to that one next though, cause it is fucking amazing.

@nutkanr1

yes, the waves in the background make this song perfect for summertime 🙂

@dylangroves6527

I feel the same way, although I do hear pain in her voice, just a different flavor...

@x87-64

Wow you have good taste in music.

@ronnetgrazer362

@@nutkanr1 A superior variation on the original, fully submerged mix.

@kakonis

The original is for when you're in your late teens/early twenties and experiencing especially intense romantic angst. This version is for twenty years later when you see the same person, after many years, by accident at an otherwise-boring cocktail party.

@Krissk696

nailed it

@KatyGroves

Perfectly said

@563421094

Thanx for the heads up on how to think and live...

@robinbehan7374

No, this version is when you're in the lift. Nerina Pallot is the only one to have given justice to these lyrics created so by a maturity far exceeding their years.

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