Rhapsodie
Over the Rhine Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And I couldn't love you
Any more
Than I do right now

And The Furies that I feared were
Eumenides to lead me here
Here I linger
And the cadences we hear
May grow different in coming years
Still I'll tell you

That I couldn't love you
Any more
Than I do right now

And if you should ever leave
Then I would love you for what you need
I could still tell you

That I couldn't love you




Any more
Than I do right now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Over the Rhine's song "Rhapsodie" can be interpreted as a declaration of unconditional love. The opening lines "And I couldn't love you any more than I do right now" express a sense of completeness and a deep sense of love that is already at its peak. This is followed by a reference to the Greek mythological figures, the Furies, who are often associated with rage and vengeance. In this context, however, they are portrayed as the Eumenides, or benevolent ones, leading the singer to their present moment with the beloved.


The lyrics also acknowledge the possibility of change in the future - "the cadences we hear may grow different in coming years" - but the singer's love remains constant, undiminished by time. If the beloved were to leave, the singer would still love them for who they are and their needs. The repetition of the line "I couldn't love you any more than I do right now" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the love being expressed is already at its fullest extent.


Overall, "Rhapsodie" is a beautiful tribute to love that transcends time and is not dependent on circumstances or the passage of time.


Line by Line Meaning

And I couldn't love you
I have reached the pinnacle of my love for you


Any more
My love for you cannot be any greater


Than I do right now
At this moment, my love is complete and unwavering


And The Furies that I feared were
The fears and doubts that haunted me in the past


Eumenides to lead me here
have actually guided me to this moment and this love


Here I linger
I am content to stay in this love


And the cadences we hear
The rhythms and patterns of our lives


May grow different in coming years
May change as we move into the future


Still I'll tell you
Nevertheless, I declare to you


And if you should ever leave
Even if you were to depart


Then I would love you for what you need
I would continue to love you based on what you require


I could still tell you
I can affirm to you


That I couldn't love you
My feelings towards you will always remain the same


Any more
No amount of absence or change can alter my love


Than I do right now
It is complete and perfect in this moment




Contributed by Wyatt P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Melody W.

Oh my goodness! This is so beautiful! Thank you for posting it. God bless you...

Seth Cragan

It's been 25 years since I first fell in love with this song, this band and it still holds power over me today. Simply stunning.

Shandy's Garden

My all time fave. It took me MANY plays to not cry while listening. 
This is what love sounds like. 
It is selfless.

Sarah Ratliff

This is the prettiest love song ever written! One of my favorites of OTR! Thank you for posting!

Sarah Ratliff

This is hands down the most beautiful love song ever written.

Marc Brooks

My wife and I danced this at our wedding reception as our "first dance". I was true then, it's true now... more than 17 years later

67flowerpowerful

It is very hard for me to think of almost ANY other song/singer than this!! So utterly Passionate, Moving, Unforgettable,

marlenejojo1

Thank you , been looking for this song on here a long time, beautiful :)

EvelynOBrien

A most beautiful song. My daughter walked down the aisle to this 13 years ago. I had never the song; it held everyone spellbound as did my beautiful daughter as she held her future husbands gaze as she slowly walked towards him to the strains of this beautiful live song.

janknuckey

I remember hearing this song drifting across a crowded summer festival in England back in '92... it was like a lightning bolt, a "where-were-you-when-Kennedy-got-shot" moment...I stumbled into the tent and there was Karin, like a grounded angel, with this song pouring out of her... After the set I bought their 2 albums, which she and Linford signed, and they disappeared from my life...and have been with me ever since! With each new album my love for them only increases.... Thank you, guys x

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