Romance
Rustin Man & Beth Gibbons Lyrics

The lyrics of "Romance" by Rustin Man and Beth Gibbons are open to interpretation, but on a surface level, the song seems to be commenting on the nature of romance and the human condition in general. The refrain "you know what they say about romance" seems to suggest that everyone has some preconceived notion or experience with romance, but the lyrics that follow seem to undermine that notion. The line "ever changing love that you can't keep on side a parking keel" might imply that love is inherently fickle and difficult to maintain, and that it's as easy to lose it as it is to park a car. The next lines of the verse suggest that thought (i.e. idealizing romance) is better than the feeling (i.e. the reality of romance), and that humanity as a whole tends to suffer due to a lack of love or compassion.

The second verse takes a different tack, suggesting that there is a "God" inside romance (perhaps referring to the transcendent or transformative nature of love), but that the singer is not "that". There is a sense of unease or uncertainty here, as if the singer doesn't quite understand what love is or how to access it. The final verse is more hopeful, suggesting that there is a world in which love can exist and that the singer hopes everyone can believe in it. The final line, "well, that ain't me" seems to suggest that the singer is not yet able to fully embrace this vision of love, but perhaps they have hope for the future.

Overall, the lyrics of "Romance" seem to explore the contradictions and difficulties of human connection, acknowledging the pain and suffering that can come from the lack of love while also suggesting that there is hope for something better.