P.J. Proby, born James Marcus Smith on 6 November 1938, is a singer, songwr… Read Full Bio ↴P.J. Proby, born James Marcus Smith on 6 November 1938, is a singer, songwriter, and actor noted for his voice and his theatrical portrayals of Elvis Presley, plus interpretations of modern standards in the vein of Tom Jones. Until 1961, he used the name Jett Powers.

The stage name P.J. Proby was suggested to him by a friend named Sharon Sheeley (Eddie Cochran's girlfriend) who remembered the name of an old high school boyfriend.
P.J. Proby did demos for Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and other artists. His greatest hits are "Somewhere", "Maria", "Hold Me", "Niki Hoeky" and "I Apologise". In 1996, Marc Almond produced the album Legend which included the duet single "Yesterday Has Gone".

Love Will Tear Us Apart
P.J. Proby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the routine bites hard
And ambitions are low
And the 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 will tear us apart again
Love will tear us apart again
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 there's still this appeal
That we've kept through
Our lives

Love, love will tear us apart again
Love will tear us apart again
Love will tear us apart again
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 can't function no more?

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

Love will tear us apart again
Love will tear us apart again

Overall Meaning

The song Love Will Tear Us Apart by P.J. Proby is a reflection on the difficulties of maintaining a relationship in the face of changing circumstances and dwindling emotions. The first verse speaks to the monotony of daily life and the frustration that can accompany unfulfilled ambition. Despite trying to make changes and taking different paths, the strain of the situation causes the couple to drift apart. The repetition of the chorus that "love will tear us apart again" emphasizes the cyclical nature of relationships, where even the promise of love can ultimately lead to heartbreak.

The second verse delves further into the breakdown of communication between the couple, as evidenced by the coldness in the bedroom and the feeling of flawed timing. Despite this, there is an appeal or attraction that still exists, perhaps a lingering hope that the relationship can be saved. The mention of crying out in sleep and exposing failings speaks to the vulnerability and insecurity that comes with the breakdown of a relationship. The final lines pose a question: is something so good (the love they once shared) now causing them to function poorly?

Overall, the lyrics of Love Will Tear Us Apart paint a picture of love as both the cause and casualty of the complexities of life. The inevitability of heartbreak and the pain of loss are woven throughout the song, making it a timeless anthem of love's bitter sweetness.

Line by Line Meaning

When the routine bites hard
When everyday life becomes monotonous and uninspiring

And ambitions are low
When we lack motivation and goals

And the resentment rides high
When we hold onto anger and bitterness

But emotions won't grow
When we struggle to connect emotionally with each other

And we're changing our ways, Taking different roads
When we're growing apart and taking separate paths in life

Then love, love will tear us apart again
In the face of these struggles, love will cause us to separate

Why is the bedroom so cold
Why has the intimacy in the relationship faded

Turned away on your side?
Why are we physically and emotionally distant in bed

Is my timing that flawed, Our respect run so dry?
Are our problems due to bad timing or a loss of respect for each other

Yet there's still this appeal That we've kept through Our lives
Despite these issues, there's still something that draws us together

Do you cry out in your sleep, All my failings expose?
Do my mistakes and shortcomings haunt you even in your dreams?

Get a taste in my mouth As desperation takes hold
As things continue to deteriorate, desperation sets in and I feel hopeless

Is it something so good Just can't function no more?
Is our love so strong that it's causing us to break under its weight?

When love, love will tear us apart again
Despite our attempts to hold on, our love will ultimately lead us to separate

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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