Among his best known songs: 'Country Life', 'Roots', 'Cousin Jack'. Has recently produced a solo album 'Cruel River' notable for songs 'Poppy Day' and 'Crooked Man '97' - the latter an outspoken attack on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Iraq policy.
Knightley regularly intersperses his Show of Hands live work with his own tours, usually accompanied by young Devon singer-songwriter Jenna Witts.
Hook of Love
Steve Knightley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listens to him sleeping, reaches for the light
Dawn approaching, it's almost day
She could be waking a thousand miles away
But there's a hook of love just beneath the skin
The harder that she pulls away oh the deeper it goes in
There's an island out there somewhere, she's too tired to swim
On the Hook of love
She hates the cold, he hates the heat
She loves the country, he needs the street
He's quick to borrow, she's swift to lend
He's always breaking and she wants to mend
But on a hook of love they turn and they twist
Wounding one another with every lie and every kiss
Like gypsies with daggers, they're tied at the wrist
Now they're getting much too close to miss
On the Hook of love
In all the stories when she was young
Here was a partner for everyone
You had to keep searching to find the other half
Staring out the window she wants to laugh
We stumble in the darkness stretching out our hands
Hoping that we'll find someone else who understands
We're looking out for shelter, longing for romance
But how we leave it up to luck and chance
He sits down at the table and they share a look
It only lasts a second but she could write a book
For a thousand things were said in the moment that it took
To tie another line on the hook
On the Hook of love
On the Hook of love
The song "Hook of Love" by Steve Knightley is a poignant exploration of the complicated nature of love and relationships. The song describes a couple who have a deep connection to each other, but are also struggling with their fundamental differences. In verses one and two, Knightley describes the woman's conflict as she lies awake at night, listening to her partner's sleeping breath. She can feel the metaphorical "hook of love" beneath her skin, pulling her back to him even as she struggles against it. The chorus emphasizes this sense of inevitability, as the tide of the relationship pulls her inexorably back to him.
Verses three and four delve deeper into the complexities of the couple's dynamic. They are opposites in almost every way, from their preferred temperature to their worldviews. Despite this, they are bound together on the "hook of love". The lyric "Like gypsies with daggers, they're tied at the wrist" paints a vivid picture of the intensity and passion of their relationship, but also the potential for harm.
The final verse reflects on the universal search for love and companionship. The repetition of the line "We're looking out for shelter, longing for romance" underscores the basic human desire for connection. However, the song delivers a sobering reminder that love is not always easy or ideal. In Knightley's words "how we leave it up to luck and chance". Ultimately, the couple in "Hook of Love" are both victims and beneficiaries of this unpredictability, caught on the hook of their own passion.
Line by Line Meaning
She turns over deep in the night
She is restless and can't sleep
Listens to him sleeping, reaches for the light
She is checking on her partner who is sleeping and might turn on the light
Dawn approaching, it's almost day
The night is ending and it's soon to be morning
She could be waking a thousand miles away
She might be physically distant from her partner
But there's a hook of love just beneath the skin
She is attached to her partner even though they may have issues
The harder that she pulls away oh the deeper it goes in
The more she tries to distance herself from her partner, the more emotionally attached she becomes
There's an island out there somewhere, she's too tired to swim
There might be other options, but she is too exhausted to pursue them
So the tide drifts her back to him
She goes back to her partner even though they might have problems
She hates the cold, he hates the heat
They have different preferences and views
She loves the country, he needs the street
They have different lifestyles
He's quick to borrow, she's swift to lend
They have different attitudes towards money
He's always breaking and she wants to mend
Their problems are difficult to solve
But on a hook of love they turn and they twist
They are emotionally entangled with each other
Wounding one another with every lie and every kiss
Their relationship brings both pain and pleasure
Like gypsies with daggers, they're tied at the wrist
They are bound together even though they might hurt each other
Now they're getting much too close to miss
They are getting more emotionally involved
In all the stories when she was young
As a child, she had romantic ideas about love
Here was a partner for everyone
There was a perfect match for everyone
You had to keep searching to find the other half
Finding a partner was a difficult and long process
Staring out the window she wants to laugh
She realizes that finding a perfect partner is unrealistic
We stumble in the darkness stretching out our hands
We seek love blindly
Hoping that we'll find someone else who understands
We hope to find someone who truly knows us
We're looking out for shelter, longing for romance
We want love to provide comfort and happiness
But how we leave it up to luck and chance
Finding love is a matter of fate
He sits down at the table and they share a look
They have a moment of nonverbal communication
It only lasts a second but she could write a book
That moment was filled with meaning and emotion
For a thousand things were said in the moment that it took
They communicated more than words could express
To tie another line on the hook
To strengthen their emotional attachment
On the Hook of love
Their relationship is both loving and challenging
Contributed by Jayden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.