Labor Of Love
Robert Cray & The Memphis Horns Lyrics
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With her problems
Worrying about
What she might think
Her hold on my heart
You know it drives me crazy
And buddy, I'm on the brink
Thought I'd worked my way
Through all of the heartaches
Jealously, anger and pain
But this feeling I've got
It's so doggone desperate, man
I'll have to do it all over again
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I can't stop thinking about her
It's a sad but natural fact
She's a devil and a saint
And a whole lot more that I ain't
I want this monkey
Off of my back
Now, people bad
Love's an addiction
Same as cocaine
And cheap whiskey, too
When you're a prisoner of love
That's all that you think of
You act confused
And you ain't got a clue
The lyrics of Robert Cray & The Memphis Horns's song "Labor of Love" describe the feeling of being stuck in a toxic relationship. The singer of the song spends all of his time worrying about his partner's problems and what she might think of him. He knows that she has a hold on his heart, which is driving him crazy and pushing him to the brink. He thought he had worked through all of the heartaches and pain of previous relationships, but this feeling of desperation is too much for him to handle.
The singer acknowledges that he is an emotional fool, making vows to himself that he knows he can't keep. He feels like he is a lonesome man of the world who can't stop crying himself to sleep. He knows that this labor of love is just too much work for him and he can't continue living in this toxic relationship. Love can be addictive, just like cocaine or cheap whiskey, and being a prisoner of love can lead to confusion and feeling lost.
Overall, the song "Labor of Love" is a powerful depiction of the struggles of toxic relationships and the difficulty of breaking free from them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm spending too much time
With her problems
Worrying about
What she might think
I am dedicating a lot of my time handling her issues and overthinking about what she perceives and desires.
Her hold on my heart
You know it drives me crazy
And buddy, I'm on the brink
Her control over my emotions is making me crazy and I am on the verge of losing my sanity.
Thought I'd worked my way
Through all of the heartaches
Jealously, anger and pain
I had believed that I had overcome all of the struggles of love - jealousy, anger, and pain.
But this feeling I've got
It's so doggone desperate, man
I'll have to do it all over again
This new emotion that I possess is so intense that I will have to start over again with confronting the obstacles of love.
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
I am up at night, burdened by my emotions, making empty promises to myself that I know I cannot fulfill.
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
I am just another lonely man who thinks he knows it all but in reality, cannot control his feelings and often cries himself to sleep.
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
If things become strenuous, it seems like maintaining this relationship is more hassle than it's worth.
I can't stop thinking about her
It's a sad but natural fact
It's a sorrowful but fundamental truth that I cannot stop my thoughts from wandering towards her.
She's a devil and a saint
And a whole lot more that I ain't
I want this monkey
Off of my back
She is both a source of great pleasure and intense pain, and there are many other sides to her that I cannot understand, and I want to free myself from this emotional burden.
Now, people bad
Love's an addiction
Same as cocaine
And cheap whiskey, too
People often act irrationally for love, which can be compared to a severe addiction or reliance on drugs such as cocaine or cheap whiskey.
When you're a prisoner of love
That's all that you think of
You act confused
And you ain't got a clue
When you are in love but confined by it, it is all that you can reflect on, and this can lead to being lost and unclear about what to do next.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Timothy Kaihatsu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind