Labor Of Love
The Memphis Horns & The Robert Cray Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her problems
Worrying about
What she might think
Her hold on my heart
You know it drives me crazy
And buddy, I'm on the brink
Thought I'd worked my way
Through all of the heartaches
Jealously, anger and pain
But this feeling I've got
It's so doggone desperate, man
I'll have to do it all over again
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I'm awake late at night
An emotional fool
Making vows to myself
That I can't keep
Another know it all
Lonesome man of the world
Who can't stop crying
Himself to sleep
If push comes to shove
Seems like this labor of love
Is just too much work for me
I can't stop thinking about her
It's a sad but natural fact
She's a devil and a saint
And a whole lot more that I ain't
I want this monkey
Off of my back
Now, people bad
Love's an addiction
Same as cocaine
And cheap whiskey, too
When you're a prisoner of love
That's all that you think of
You act confused
And you ain't got a clue
The song "Labor of Love" by The Memphis Horns and The Robert Cray Band is about a man who is struggling with his intense love for a woman. He spends too much time thinking about her problems and worrying about what she might think. The hold she has on his heart drives him crazy and he feels like he is on the brink of losing control. He thought he had worked through all of the heartaches of love, but this new feeling is desperate and overwhelming. He is a lonesome man of the world who can't stop crying himself to sleep, making vows he can't keep.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "labor of love" and it seems to suggest that love is hard work, maybe even too much work. The singer feels like he is a prisoner of love and it's all he can think about. He compares love to an addiction like cocaine and cheap whiskey. He is confused and doesn't know what to do.
The lyrics of "Labor of Love" capture the complexity of love and the emotional rollercoaster that often comes with it. The melody is soulful and bluesy, matching the rawness of the emotions expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm spending too much time
I find myself dedicating more time than I would like to dealing with her issues.
With her problems
I am spending too much time worrying about and being involved in her difficulties.
Worrying about
I am scared that she might be thinking something negative surrounding our relationship.
What she might think
I am not sure what she is thinking or if she will react to me in a negative way.
Her hold on my heart
I find myself deeply invested and emotionally tied to her.
You know it drives me crazy
It's causing me mental anguish and affecting me detrimentally.
And buddy, I'm on the brink
I'm at the end of my emotional rope.
Thought I'd worked my way
I believed I had overcome previous emotional hardships.
Through all of the heartaches
Through numerous emotional trials.
Jealously, anger and pain
Previous negative emotions from a failed relationship.
But this feeling I've got
This sensation that I'm experiencing right now.
It's so doggone desperate, man
It's so intense and arduous that I'm almost unable to bear it.
I'll have to do it all over again
I'll have to put myself through this whole emotional ordeal again.
I'm awake late at night
I am unable to sleep and am up late into the night.
An emotional fool
I am letting my emotions drive my behavior.
Making vows to myself
I am creating promises for myself.
That I can't keep
I know I won't be able to follow through with these promises to myself.
Another know it all
I'm another basic, all-knowing type of guy.
Lonesome man of the world
I am alone and isolated from the rest of the world.
Who can't stop crying
I am unable to stop myself from weeping and getting emotional.
Himself to sleep
I eventually tire myself and fall asleep after such emotional distress.
If push comes to shove
In desperate circumstances or if I'm forced into a corner.
Seems like this labor of love
This deep emotional connection and love that I feel for her.
Is just too much work for me
It feels like it is too much emotional effort or work to keep it going.
I can't stop thinking about her
She is on my mind incessantly.
It's a sad but natural fact
It is unfortunate but it is human nature to feel like this.
She's a devil and a saint
She has characteristics that are both negative and positive.
And a whole lot more that I ain't
She has complex and unknown characteristics.
I want this monkey
I want to get rid of this burden or problem.
Off of my back
I want to remove this burden from my life.
Now, people bad
People are flawed and imperfect.
Love's an addiction
Love can be addicting and sometimes unhealthy.
Same as cocaine
Love can have similar affects as drug addiction.
And cheap whiskey, too
Love can have similar affects as substance abuse.
When you're a prisoner of love
When you are hopelessly in love.
That's all that you think of
It is all-consuming to the point where it is the only thing occupying your thoughts.
You act confused
Your emotional state is completely disorienting.
And you ain't got a clue
You don't know what to do about these overwhelming feelings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIM KAIHATSU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind