LOVE LOVE LOVE
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

King Saul fell on his sword when it all went wrong
And Joseph's brothers sold him down the river for a song
And Sonny Liston rubbed some Tiger Balm into his glove
Some things you do for money
And some you do for love, love, love

Raskolnikov felt sick, but he couldn't say why
When he saw his face reflected in his victim's twinkling eye
Some things you'll do for money and some you'll do for fun
But the things you do for love
Are gonna to come back to you one by one

Love, love is going to lead you by the hand
Into a white and soundless place
Now we see things as in a mirror dimly
Then we shall see each other face to face

And way out in Seattle, young Kurt Cobain
Snuck out to the greenhouse, put a bullet in his brain
Snakes in the grass beneath our feet, rain in the clouds above




Some moments last forever
But some flare out with love, love, love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Love Love Love by The Mountain Goats deal with the theme of the different motivations behind our actions. It is an introspective reflection on what drives people to do things, and how some choices we make for love can have a lasting impact on our lives.


The first stanza references King Saul and Joseph's brothers from the Bible, and Sonny Liston from the world of boxing. These three examples illustrate how some people can succumb to their circumstances and make fatal decisions when things go wrong. The line "some things you do for money and some you do for love" suggests that even in the darkest moments, people may have different motivations behind their actions.


The second stanza is a reference to the character of Raskolnikov from the novel Crime and Punishment. The line "some things you'll do for money and some you'll do for fun" demonstrates the different levels of motivation behind our actions. However, the line "the things you do for love are gonna to come back to you one by one" emphasizes that one's choices based on love can have lasting consequences.


The chorus of the song "Love, love is going to lead you by the hand, into a white and soundless place. Now we see things as in a mirror dimly, then we shall see each other face to face" shows the value of love as leading us through life, how it provides a sense of direction in this ambiguous and uncertain world. The last stanza refers to the late musician Kurt Cobain, perhaps the ultimate example of how the things one does for love can end in tragedy. The line "some moments last forever, but some flare out with love" suggests that the passion that fuels these actions cannot be sustained indefinitely.


Line by Line Meaning

King Saul fell on his sword when it all went wrong
King Saul took his own life when he realized things had gone wrong


And Joseph's brothers sold him down the river for a song
Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers and sold as a slave for a small price


And Sonny Liston rubbed some Tiger Balm into his glove
Sonny Liston used an illegal substance to gain an advantage during a boxing match


Some things you do for money
Sometimes people do things solely for financial gain


And some you do for love, love, love
Other times people do things out of love and affection for others


Raskolnikov felt sick, but he couldn't say why
Raskolnikov was disturbed by his own actions, but he didn't understand why


When he saw his face reflected in his victim's twinkling eye
Raskolnikov saw his own guilt and remorse reflected in his victim's eyes


Some things you'll do for money and some you'll do for fun
People may engage in certain activities for either monetary gain or personal enjoyment


But the things you do for love
However, the actions taken out of genuine love and compassion for others are the most fulfilling


Are gonna to come back to you one by one
Good deeds and kind acts towards others will be rewarded in return


Love, love is going to lead you by the hand
Love is a powerful force that can guide and direct one's life


Into a white and soundless place
Love can lead to a peaceful and serene state of mind


Now we see things as in a mirror dimly
Our understanding of life and reality is imperfect and limited


Then we shall see each other face to face
Eventually, we will gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others


And way out in Seattle, young Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain, a musician, lived in Seattle when he was young


Snuck out to the greenhouse, put a bullet in his brain
Kurt Cobain committed suicide by shooting himself in the head


Snakes in the grass beneath our feet, rain in the clouds above
Life is full of dangers and uncertainties that are both hidden and obvious


Some moments last forever
Some events or experiences have a lasting impact on our lives


But some flare out with love, love, love
Yet, there are moments that end quickly but hold significance because of the love involved




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE FOUNTAIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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