After graduating from UCLA in 2002, Bareilles performed at local bars and clubs. She issued two demos of mostly live tracks in 2003: The First One in April and The Summer Sessions in October.
In January 2004, Bareilles released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She signed a contract with Epic Records' A&R executive Pete Giberga on April 15, 2005. The remainder of the year and early 2006 was spent writing and reworking songs for her upcoming album.
Her debut major-label album Little Voice came out on July 17, 2007.
Love on the Rocks
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't think I need to tell you more
I needed a raise, I worked so hard for this love of mine
Love of mine
Still I got nothing to show for it
Here's a simplification of everything I'm going through
Ooh, you plus me is bad news
But you're a lovely creation, I like to think that I am, too, ooh
My friends said I look better without you, yeah
Tongue-tied and twisted
Go on, baby, and go to my head
Babe, baby, believe me
If I stay, it ain't gonna be easy
Okay, we'll do it your way
But this is the last time
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love comin' down
Love on the rocks
You love the chase, but hate me for the runaround
We're both just tired of the whole thing (tired of the whole thing)
Oh, and you tell me what you want, you need
You know you have to have
And I just pretend I'm listening (listening)
Too tired this time (ah)
To deal with old suits you wear, your ties that won't bind
Baby, baby, believe me
If I stay, it ain't gonna be easy
Okay, we'll do it your way
But this is the last time
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love comin' down
Hot as hell, cold as ice, sip it slow 'cause it's so nice
Dulls my senses, drives my pain, but I do it again
Burns a bit to the touch, dangerous if it's too much
If this bottle could talk
Love on the rocks
Babe, baby believe me
If I stay, it ain't gonna be easy
Okay
Baby, baby, baby, baby, believe me
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love comin' down
The opening verse of "Love on the Rocks" by Sara Bareilles sets the scene for a tumultuous relationship. The song's narrator meets her lover on a rainy evening during the summer, which could be seen as a metaphor for the relationship being unsteady from the outset. The singer says she needed a raise but got nothing to show for it, and the chorus mentions how her love life is not working out despite her hard work. The following verses touch on communication difficulties, with the singer feeling tongue-tied and twisted in her conversations with her partner. Her friends advised her to leave the relationship, but she finds it hard to let go. She knows that being with her partner is bad news and that they are both tired of the ups and downs.
The bridge of the song introduces the metaphor of drinking "Love on the Rocks," which is described as hot as hell and cold as ice. It is a dangerous and painful experience, but the singer is willing to undergo it again. In the final chorus, the singer recognizes that staying in this relationship won't be easy and acknowledges that this will be the last time she experiences the beautiful sound of love coming down.
Line by Line Meaning
We met on a rainy evening in the summertime
Our first encounter was damp and drizzly, albeit during the warm months
Don't think I need to tell you more
No further explanation necessary, the story is quite clear
I needed a raise, I worked so hard for this love of mine
I put in so much effort and labored tirelessly for this relationship
Love of mine
A term of endearment for my significant other
Still I got nothing to show for it
Despite my exertions, I have no tangible evidence of success in this romance
Here's a simplification of everything I'm going through
Allow me to summarize the complexities of my emotional state
Ooh, you plus me is bad news
Our pairing is hazardous and fraught with danger
But you're a lovely creation, I like to think that I am, too, ooh
Although we're ill-suited for each other, we're both attractive in our own ways
My friends said I look better without you, yeah
My pals critique our relationship and suggest that I appear happier when you're not around
Tongue-tied and twisted
My speech is muddled and perplexed
Go on, baby, and go to my head
You intoxicate me, and I'm under your influence
Babe, baby, believe me
An earnest plea to trust what I'm saying
If I stay, it ain't gonna be easy
I anticipate difficulties if we continue this romance
Okay, we'll do it your way
Fine, I'll agree to acquiesce to your desires
But this is the last time
I'm declaring that this is the final opportunity for our love to work
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love comin' down
The end of our relationship will be heartbreaking
You love the chase, but hate me for the runaround
You enjoy pursuing someone, but you resent when I avoid or elude you
We're both just tired of the whole thing (tired of the whole thing)
We're both fatigued and weary from the relationship
Oh, and you tell me what you want, you need
You inform me of your desires and necessities
You know you have to have
You're certain that what you crave is essential
And I just pretend I'm listening (listening)
I feign attentiveness, but in reality, I'm not really comprehending what you're saying
Too tired this time (ah)
I'm too fatigued to continue with this cycle of on-and-off again romance
To deal with old suits you wear, your ties that won't bind
I can't contend with the same outdated behaviors and patterns in our relationship
Hot as hell, cold as ice, sip it slow 'cause it's so nice
Our love is a volatile and unpredictable substance, enjoyable but requiring careful handling
Dulls my senses, drives my pain, but I do it again
Our love causes me to feel numb and distressed, yet I'm willing to repeat the experience
Burns a bit to the touch, dangerous if it's too much
If I get too close to our love, I risk being hurt and feeling pain
If this bottle could talk
A personification of an object, representing the potential confidant of our relationship woes
Love on the rocks
Our romance in shambles and heading for disaster
Baby, baby believe me
Reiteration of a plea for trust
If I stay, it ain't gonna be easy
A reminder that continuing this relationship is expected to be arduous
Okay
Agreement to a course of action
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love comin' down
A sorrowful outcome to our conflict
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Javier Dunn, Sara Beth Bareilles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Molecular Voltage Transmuter
No surprises? How interesting this choice must be.
As a Singer, you must change up the vocals and live music is
always a new way for us to not totally burn out doing a song
precisely the same, with no surprises.
In Music and Art change is absolutely essential for the creator/ performer.
Something to think about the next time you go to a concert, expecting to hear the CD you have played verbatim.
Just a thought.
Peace and Love.
And alohas🌺
Clarke Horton
I love how she sounds the exact same on a record as she does live. No disappointments and no surprises. If anything, she sounds even better live! I absolutely LOVE Sara!
Molecular Voltage Transmuter
No surprises? How interesting this choice must be.
As a Singer, you must change up the vocals and live music is
always a new way for us to not totally burn out doing a song
precisely the same, with no surprises.
In Music and Art change is absolutely essential for the creator/ performer.
Something to think about the next time you go to a concert, expecting to hear the CD you have played verbatim.
Just a thought.
Peace and Love.
And alohas🌺
Brian Lord
Ya
Will
I stopped watching the music videos after I found live versions of everything. They are wayyyy better.
CourtneyAlexC
She is severely underrated. She seems to b the best at creating songs that matches exactly what I am feeling.
pete lowe
Sara is my go to "I'm drunk put some music on" artist and then I just sit there smiling
Dan Mergens
pete bear YES! I thought it was just me! Love to listen to this whole live album with the lights turned low and a nice drink in my hand.....like right now.
Chan Janie
yessssss
Shi Breedlove
@Dan Mergens it’s like wrapping yourself in bliss.
James Cressey
Laura Nyro is just as seductive