By 1982, choruses were established in many major cities across the US and the LGBT choral movement began to formalize. The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (or GALA Choruses) was created, with SFGMC as one of its founders.
Needing relevant music to perform, SFGMC commissioned many important new works, developing new repertoire for men’s choruses as well as for the gay and allied choral communities. In 1986, SFGMC commissioned Invocation and Dance by David Conte, one of the world's first compositions in response to AIDS. NakedMan, a song suite by Philip Littell and Robert Seeley, was commissioned by SFGMC in 1996. It became one of the most important works in gay choral literature and is still widely performed today.
AIDS hit the chorus hard – SFGMC lost over 250 members – yet the organization survived and thrived with sustained passion for its mission. Since 1978, more than 1000 SFGMC members have served proudly as goodwill ambassadors, promoting awareness and understanding of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (or LGBT) community through music and the camaraderie of performance.
Love of My Life
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Lyrics
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You've broken my heart and now you leave me
Love of my life can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
What it means to me
Love of my life don't leave me
Love of my life can't you see
(Please bring it back) bring it back, bring it back (back)
Don't take it away from me (take it away from me)
Because you don't know (ooh ooh ooh know means to me)
What it means to me
Who will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way - (ooh yeah)
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you
How I still love you - (i still love you)
Ooh, back - hurry back
Please bring it back home to me
Because you don't know what it means to me
Love of my life
Love of my life
Ooh, ooh
The song Love Of My Life by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus reflects the pain of a romantic relationship that has come to an end, leaving the singer with a broken heart. The lyrics express the depth of the connection the singer had with the person that has left them, pleading for them to come back and bring back the love that was taken away. The chorus repeats the powerful phrase, "because you don't know what it means to me," emphasizing the magnitude of the loss and the singer's yearning for the love that once existed.
The song's bridge explores the idea that eventually, time will pass and the pain will fade away, becoming a distant memory. However, the singer also adds that they will always be there to remind the person they love of their eternal feelings, even as they grow older. The final plea for the love of their life to come back home highlights the singer's desperate hope that their connection can be rekindled, despite the heartache that has taken place.
Overall, Love Of My Life is a raw and emotional reflection of the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the longing to reconnect with a past love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love of my life - you've hurt me
Addressing the subject, who has caused immense emotional distress to the singer, by stating that they are indeed the love of their life, but simultaneously expressing the pain they have caused the singer.
You've broken my heart and now you leave me
The subject has severely damaged the deep emotional connection the singer shared with them and is now abandoning the singer.
Love of my life can't you see
Hoping that the subject realizes the gravity of their actions and begs them to consider what they are doing.
Bring it back, bring it back
Asking the subject to bring back the love and affection they had shared in the past.
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
The subject has no idea of the value of this relationship, and the singer is pleading them not to take it away without realizing its worth.
What it means to me
Expressing the significance of the relationship to the singer and how heavily it weighs on their emotions.
Love of my life don't leave me
Again, urging the subject to stay and not to abandon the love that they share.
You've taken my love, (all of my love) and now desert me
The subject has taken away the love between them, leaving the singer feeling deserted and separated.
Please bring it back
Imploring the subject one last time to bring back what they once shared together.
Because you don't know (ooh ooh ooh know means to me)
Reiterating the subject's inability to understand the emotional weight of what they had together.
Who will remember
Questioning who will be left to remember the love they once shared together.
When this is blown over
Referring to the current situation, questioning who will be there once the situation has settled down.
And everything's all by the way - (ooh yeah)
Alluding to the time when everything is forgotten and over, emphasizing how significant the love they shared was.
When I grow older
Considering a future where the singer has grown older and experienced the love they once had.
I will be there at your side to remind you
Assuming the role of reminding the subject of the love they shared and its enduring impact on the singer.
How I still love you - (i still love you)
Still expressing affection towards the subject, even after all they've done.
Ooh, back - hurry back
Following up on the previous line, begging the subject to come back quickly.
Please bring it back home to me
The subject is asked to get back to the place where their love was shared.
Because you don't know what it means to me
Concluding the song with a reminder that the subject had no idea how much their relationship meant to the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind