The Modern Lovers were an American rock band led by Jonathan Richman in the… Read Full Bio ↴The Modern Lovers were an American rock band led by Jonathan Richman in the 1970s and 1980s.

The original band, billed simply as "The Modern Lovers", existed from 1970–74 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Jonathan Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of The Velvet Underground, and is now considered one of the leading bands of the "proto-punk" scene. It pointed the way towards much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie rock music of later decades. Their only album, the eponymous The Modern Lovers, contained stylistically unprecedented[citation needed] songs about dating awkwardness, growing up in Massachusetts, and love of life and the USA.

After recording several tracks in 1972 and '73, including "I'm Straight" (referring here to abstaining from drug use), and "Government Center", Richman wanted to scrap the tracks that were recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted at the time that they record as they already sounded. They continued and eventually, the first album was released in 1976. Long before its release, however, creative differences split the band apart.

Later, Richman used the name Modern Lovers for a variety of backing bands, always billed as "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers." These bands were quieter and featured more low-key, often near-childlike, songs, as Richman drew on folk-rock and other genres. Out of Richman's original bandmates, only Robinson was part of any of the other Modern Lovers incarnations.

A plea for tenderness
The Modern Lovers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey girls, do you hate men?
Do you hate the earth?
Well I still see tenderness in your face
And innocence straight from infant days
And there must be tenderness deep inside
You're so cold, but it shows

You told me about school

I only want to know about you
And it hurts me now
And it scares me now
And now you know

But if you care about me
(Tell me now)
If I'm better than the wall
(Tell me now)
And if it's important when I touch your hand
Then you'd better
Tell me now

Well

Now, i've just read some writers
From the old days
Because I knew, I knew that they'd understand
Because dignity, dignity and tenderness should apply
To modern romance
So i don't wanna know, I'm just not interested in you're school
So i don't wanna know, I don't wanna hear about you're stupid cats
(Or you're homework)
Just talk about love, or sex, or starving hearts, or just shut up
And I'll go

But

If you care about me
(Tell me now)
If I'm better than the wall
(Tell me now)
And if it's important when I touch you're hand
(Tell me now)
And if it's important when I come to you're kitchen
When it's late at night
And when it's cold at night
When it's dark outside
When it's cold outside
I wanna know if it's important when I touch your hand
When you're all alone
(Tell me now)
If you really want to talk to me
(Tell me now)
And if you're lookin for a lover
(Tell me now)
I mean, if you need a lover
(Tell me now)
If you're ready to be honest with a lover
(Tell me now)
If it's important when you're alone at night
And when it's cold at night and when it's dark at night
When it's cold outside when it's sad outside
And when I'm sad outside, by the streetlight
By your house and near your kitchen door
I'm stumped because I'm scared
Because I'm sad
Because it's cold at night
Because it's dark at night
And I'm alone at night
I'm so sad and I'm so scared
And I want to know, if you'll tell me
If you care about me
Then if you care about yourself
And if you'll stop taking drugs
And if you'll stop bein so hard
And if you'll stop being hard to talk to
And if you'll let me come inside
And I can talk to you
When it's dark at night
And when it's sad at night
And alone at night
I don't want to be alone at night
(Tell me now)
I don't want to be sad at night
(Tell me now)
I want to help you
When it's cold outside
When you're all around
When it's sad outside
I want you to tell me now
I can't wait another day
You gotta hurry
I can't wait another minute
It's now or never
It's now or never
You gotta tell
You gotta tell
You can't hide
Or take drugs
Or cigarettes
Or dark outside
Or cats
Or these other things that you use
So I can't see you clear
I want to see you clear
I want to talk to you now
You've got to be honest now
You've got to tell me now
If you care about me
Tell me now

Wait a minute
Wait a minute
I want to say, I want to say somethin else now
Wait a minute
I want to show you that I understand you now
(This is the guy talkin to the girlfriend)
He's gonna show you, he's gonna show you that he understands the deepest darkest parts
When he says ...

He says I know how beautiful death is
And I know why you hate life
But I'm just a tender soul
So be glad you know

I want to tell ya

That all men are just tender souls
And be glad that you know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Modern Lovers' song A Plea for Tenderness reflect the singer's desire to connect more deeply with a woman he is attracted to. Although the song begins with asking if women hate men and the earth, he tries to convince her that there is tenderness in her face and a certain innocence that he is attracted to. He urges her to be honest with him if she really cares, if she needs a lover, and if she can let him in when she's scared, sad, and alone. He wants to know if he is important to her when it's cold outside or dark and if she can stop taking drugs or being so detached.

Throughout the song, the singer is begging for real connection and ultimately wants to show the woman that he understands her the way nobody ever has before. He tells her that he knows how beautiful death is and why she might hate life, but reminds her that all men are just "tender souls." The song communicates a universal yearning for intimacy, honesty, and vulnerability in a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey girls, do you hate men?
Do you have a negative view of men?

Do you hate the earth?
Do you have a dislike for the world?

Well I still see tenderness in your face
Despite everything, I can still see gentleness in your expression

And innocence straight from infant days
And purity that originates from your earliest years

And there must be tenderness deep inside
There surely exists gentleness within you, buried deep

You're so cold, but it shows
You may appear cold, but it is evident

You told me about school
You shared details about your schooling

I only want to know about you
I am solely interested in learning about you

And it hurts me now
And it pains me now

And it scares me now
And it frightens me now

And now you know
And now you are aware

But if you care about me
But if you have feelings for me

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

If I'm better than the wall
If I am of greater importance than an inanimate barrier

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

And if it's important when I touch your hand
And if it matters when I make physical contact with your hand

Then you'd better
Then you must

Tell me now
Inform me at this moment

Now, I've just read some writers
Recently, I have been reading some authors

From the old days
From the past era

Because I knew, I knew that they'd understand
Because I was certain that they would comprehend

Because dignity, dignity and tenderness should apply
Because dignity and gentleness should be relevant

To modern romance
To contemporary love

So I don't wanna know, I'm just not interested in your school
Therefore, I do not desire to learn about your education

So I don't wanna know, I don't wanna hear about your stupid cats
So I do not wish to know, I do not want to hear about your foolish feline companions

(Or your homework)
(Or your academic assignments)

Just talk about love, or sex, or starving hearts, or just shut up
Instead, discuss topics like love, or intimacy, or longing souls, or else remain silent

And I'll go
And I will depart

But if you care about me
But if you have feelings for me

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

If I'm better than the wall
If I am of greater importance than an inanimate barrier

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

And if it's important when I touch your hand
And if it matters when I make physical contact with your hand

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

And if it's important when I come to your kitchen
And if it holds significance when I visit your kitchen

When it's late at night
During the late hours of the night

And when it's cold at night
And when the night is chilly

When it's dark outside
When the surroundings are devoid of light

When it's cold outside
When the atmosphere is cold

I wanna know if it's important when I touch your hand
I desire to know if it holds significance when I make physical contact with your hand

When you're all alone
When you are by yourself

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

If you really want to talk to me
If you genuinely wish to engage in conversation with me

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

And if you're looking for a lover
And if you are seeking a romantic partner

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

I mean, if you need a lover
I mean, if you require a romantic partner

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

If you're ready to be honest with a lover
If you are prepared to be sincere with a romantic partner

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

If it's important when you're alone at night
If it matters when you are alone during the night

And when it's cold at night and when it's dark at night
And when the night is both cold and dark

When it's cold outside when it's sad outside
When the external environment is cold and mournful

And when I'm sad outside, by the streetlight
And when I am sorrowful outside, illuminated by the streetlight

By your house and near your kitchen door
Near your residence and close to your kitchen entrance

I'm stumped because I'm scared
I am perplexed because I am afraid

Because I'm sad
Because I am sorrowful

Because it's cold at night
Because it is cold during the night

Because it's dark at night
Because it is dark during the night

And I'm alone at night
And I am lonely during the night

I'm so sad and I'm so scared
I am incredibly sorrowful and I am extremely fearful

And I want to know, if you'll tell me
And I want to know, if you will inform me

If you care about me
If you have feelings for me

Then if you care about yourself
Then if you have concern for your own well-being

And if you'll stop taking drugs
And if you will cease consuming illicit substances

And if you'll stop being so hard
And if you will no longer be so resistant

And if you'll stop being hard to talk to
And if you will no longer be difficult to converse with

And if you'll let me come inside
And if you will allow me to enter

And I can talk to you
And I can communicate with you

When it's dark at night
When it is dark during the night

And when it's sad at night
And when it is sad during the night

And alone at night
And lonely during the night

I don't want to be alone at night
I do not desire to be lonely during the night

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

I don't want to be sad at night
I do not want to feel sorrowful during the night

(Tell me now)
(Inform me at this moment)

I want to help you
I want to assist you

When it's cold outside
When the weather is chilly

When you're all around
When you are present

When it's sad outside
When the external environment is mournful

I want you to tell me now
I want you to inform me at this moment

I can't wait another day
I am unable to wait another day

You gotta hurry
You must act quickly

I can't wait another minute
I am unable to wait another minute

It's now or never
It is an immediate decision

You gotta tell
You must inform

You can't hide
You cannot conceal

Or take drugs
Or consume substances

Or cigarettes
Or tobacco products

Or dark outside
Or darkness in the surroundings

Or cats
Or feline animals

Or these other things that you use
Or these other objects that you employ

So I can't see you clear
So I am unable to see you clearly

I want to see you clear
I want to have a clear view of you

I want to talk to you now
I want to have a conversation with you at this moment

You've got to be honest now
You must be sincere now

You've got to tell me now
You must inform me at this moment

If you care about me
If you have feelings for me

Tell me now
Inform me at this moment

Wait a minute
Pause for a moment

I want to say, I want to say something else now
I wish to speak, I wish to express something different now

Wait a minute
Pause for a moment

I want to show you that I understand you now
I desire to demonstrate that I comprehend you now

(This is the guy talking to the girlfriend)
(This is the male speaking to his girlfriend)

He's gonna show you, he's gonna show you that he understands the deepest darkest parts
He is going to illustrate, he is going to demonstrate that he comprehends the most profound and shadowed aspects

When he says ...
When he expresses ...

He says I know how beautiful death is
He says he comprehends the beauty of death

And I know why you hate life
And he understands the reason behind your aversion to life

But I'm just a tender soul
But he is merely a gentle and sensitive being

So be glad you know
Therefore, be grateful that you are aware

I want to tell you
I want to inform you

That all men are just tender souls
That all men are simply gentle and sensitive beings

And be glad that you know
And be grateful that you are aware

Writer(s): Johnathan Richman

Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS