Romance
Rustin Man Beth Gibbons Lyrics

The opening lines of Rustin Man Beth Gibbons’s song, “You know what they say about romance,” alludes to the idea that romance is fickle, constantly changing, and difficult to pin down. The line "ever changing love that you can't keep on side a parking keel" suggests that the singer should not try to anchor or contain their feelings, but rather let it flow freely. The next line, "Better the thought than the feeling," implies that the idea of love is often more attractive than the experience of it, as the latter can be fraught with complications, disappointments and pain. The following lines, "All the things we suffer/from the hands of humanity," sweeten the idea of romance by suggesting that it is a respite from the harshness and sufferings of the world.

However, the singer distances themselves from this romantic notion with the repeated line, "But that ain't me." While the idea of love is attractive and alluring, the singer acknowledges that they are not the type to be swept up in romantic illusions. The lines, "And I know there's a god inside it/Should I love your key/Adorn you/And get inside," suggest that the singer is not immune to the desire for romance, but they are reluctant to give in to it. The repetition of "But that ain't me" reinforces the singer's continued resistance to romantic entanglement.

As the song progresses, the singer begins to express a desire for belief in a world where love is possible, declaring "And I know I may come to doubt it/But if I ever wish/I wish we could all believe." The final lines, "That in this daylight world/Is a world/Where love can be/And I won't ever forget it/'Cause that ain't me" suggest that the singer may still be skeptical about romance, but they are willing to hope for a world where love is possible and worth remembering.