Love Is The Drug
Roxy Music (Bryan Ferry) Lyrics
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To wait for the bell to ring
T'ain't no big thing
The toll of the bell
Aggravated, spare for days
I troll downtown the red light place
Jump up bubble up, what's in store
Showing out, showing out, hit and run
Boy meets girl where the beat goes on
Stitched up tight, can't shake free
Love is the drug, got a hook on me
Oh oh catch that buzz
Love is the drug I'm thinking of
Oh oh can't you see
Love is the drug for me
Late that night I park my car
Stake my place in the singles bar
Face to face, toe to toe
Heart to heart as we hit the floor
Lumber up, limbo down
The locked embrace, the stumble round
I say go, she say yes
Dim the lights, you can guess the rest
Oh oh catch that buzz
Love is the drug I'm thinking of
Oh oh can't you see
Love is the drug, got a hook in me
Oh oh catch that buzz
Love is the drug I'm thinking of
Oh oh can't you see
Love is the drug for me
The lyrics of Roxy Music's "Love Is The Drug" tackle the theme of addiction, using the metaphor of love as a powerful and compelling substance. The song starts with the lines "T'ain't no big thing / To wait for the bell to ring", which suggest that the singer is waiting for something - maybe a drug dealer or a lover - and that waiting is an inconsequential part of their pursuit. The second verse portrays the singer as someone who frequents the "red light place" and who's searching for a fix, displaying a sense of urgency and restlessness. The chorus repeats the phrase "Love is the drug" several times, emphasizing how this person can't resist the allure of love, which is compared to a drug that they are hooked on. The third verse describes how the singer manages to find a partner at a singles bar and begins to dance, eventually ending up in a locked embrace that leads to a physical connection. The final chorus reiterates how love is an addiction for this person, and they need it to function.
The song's lyrics are characterized by a poetic quality that conveys complex emotions and struggles through the use of metaphors and evocative language. Bryan Ferry's distinctive voice, backed by the band's synth-pop and rock instrumentation, creates a hypnotic and infectious sound that mirrors the song's subject matter. Overall, "Love Is The Drug" is a commentary on how love, like any addiction, can be both pleasurable and destructive, and how it can consume someone entirely.
Line by Line Meaning
T'ain't no big thing
Waiting for something is not a big deal.
To wait for the bell to ring
To wait for a signal to take action.
T'ain't no big thing
Waiting for something is not a big deal.
The toll of the bell
The signal to take action.
Aggravated, spare for days
Feeling restless and waiting for too long.
I troll downtown the red light place
I wander around the seedy part of the city.
Jump up bubble up, what's in store
Excitedly anticipating what might happen next.
Love is the drug and I need to score
The feeling of love is addictive and I crave it.
Showing out, showing out, hit and run
Flirting briefly and then moving on.
Boy meets girl where the beat goes on
Two people connect and the chemistry is palpable.
Stitched up tight, can't shake free
The feeling of being trapped and unable to escape the allure of love.
Love is the drug, got a hook on me
Addicted to the feeling of love that has taken hold of me.
Oh oh catch that buzz
Feeling the thrill of love.
Love is the drug I'm thinking of
Being consumed with thoughts of love.
Oh oh can't you see
A plea to others to recognize the power of love.
Love is the drug for me
Love is the only thing that satisfies me.
Late that night I park my car
Arriving at a destination at nighttime.
Stake my place in the singles bar
Reserving a spot at a bar where single people go to meet others.
Face to face, toe to toe
Standing in close proximity to someone.
Heart to heart as we hit the floor
Sharing a connection as we dance together.
Lumber up, limbo down
Changing the pace and rhythm of the dance.
The locked embrace, the stumble round
Holding each other closely and moving together despite feeling unsteady on our feet.
I say go, she say yes
Taking a chance on each other and moving forward.
Dim the lights, you can guess the rest
Imagining the intimate moments that follow the dance.
Love is the drug, got a hook in me
Addicted to the feeling of love that has taken hold of me.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MC KAY, BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Gunners_Mate_Guns
John Gustafson's bass on this is simply iconic.
@taffyterrier
I think he may have influenced Bernard Edwards.
@michaeljames998
AGREED! I know this one fat guy that can fart 4 notes of this in a row!
@suzannji
When I was having my daily radiation treatments for throat cancer, I hummed this to my self while I was strapped into the mask. Ten years later, I'm alive and well, thanks to my great doctors. But I do believe love was the drug and it will always be my mantra.
@stockmanager7417
+Suzanne Delaney that's a nice sentiment :)
@vincebevis2277
love and luck to you.You have come through a remarkable battle.
@suzannji
+Vince Bevis Thanks, Vince! As battles go, it wasn't so bad, and because of a month on morphine, I can't remember the really hard part! So many others have had far more dreadful difficulties to deal with. I consider myself fortunate and happy.
@vincebevis2277
+Suzanne Delaney You are far too humble Suzanne, my family has been decimated by cancer,so understand your fight.
@kestrel571
Suzanne Delaney wow live life xxxx
@cowboysfan782008
Life's a trip. Always old for my age my mom used to drop me off by myself at the Plano skating rink outside of Dallas when I was 7/8 1975/76. They'd play this song, Thin Lizzy Jailbreak, ZZ Top Tush, Dream Weaver, and some funky stuff from Parliament and Hot Chocolate. Disco, the best rocknroll, and the beginning of punk all in the same era. Damn glad to have been a kid in the 70's!