Labor Of Love
The Robert Cray Band & The Memphis Horns Lyrics


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I'm spending too much time
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Labor of Love" by The Robert Cray Band & The Memphis Horns speaks about the challenges of being in a relationship that may be causing more pain than pleasure. The singer confesses that they spend too much time worrying about their partner's problems and what their partner might think, which is affecting their mental and emotional wellbeing. The singer believes that their partner has a hold on their heart, which drives them crazy and makes them feel desperate. They admit that being in love feels like a labor that requires too much work and effort.


The lyrics further reveal the singer's vulnerability and emotional turmoil. They confess to being an emotional fool who cannot keep the vows they make to themselves. They cry themselves to sleep, feeling like a lonesome man of the world who is experiencing heartache again. The singer admits that they are addicted to love, just like cocaine or cheap whiskey. Being a prisoner of love, they cannot think of anything else, feeling confused and clueless.


Overall, the song centers around the theme of unhealthy love, where the singer is stuck in a relationship that is causing them pain rather than happiness. The song is a reflection of a reality that many people may face in their lives, where love can feel like a labor that takes more than it gives.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm spending too much time
I'm dedicating so much time to her and her issues.


With her problems
I'm too worried about her various problems.


Worrying about
I'm anxious about


What she might think
I'm concerned about how she might perceive things.


Her hold on my heart
Her grasp on my heart and emotions


You know it drives me crazy
It's causing me to feel insane.


And buddy, I'm on the brink
I'm at the edge of it all.


Thought I'd worked my way
I believed I had moved on from


Through all of the heartaches
all the emotional pain and suffering


Jealously, anger and pain
the negative emotions of jealousy, anger, and pain.


But this feeling I've got
However, this emotion I'm experiencing


It's so doggone desperate, man
It's incredibly intense and despairing


I'll have to do it all over again
I have to go through it all again


I'm awake late at night
I am disturbed and awake in the night


An emotional fool
I'm being foolish with my emotions


Making vows to myself
I'm making promises to myself


That I can't keep
Promises that I'm unable to keep.


Another know it all
I feel like I know everything


Lonesome man of the world
I'm a melancholy person


Who can't stop crying
I am not able to hold back tears


Himself to sleep
I cry myself to sleep.


If push comes to shove
If things get radical


Seems like this labor of love
It appears that this emotional turmoil


Is just too much work for me
Is requiring too much of my effort and time.


I can't stop thinking about her
I can't stop having thoughts about her.


It's a sad but natural fact
It's unfortunate but a common occurrence.


She's a devil and a saint
She has a complex personality.


And a whole lot more that I ain't
There's much more to her than I realize


I want this monkey
I want to get rid of this burden


Off of my back
Stop being weighed down by it


Now, people bad
People can be evil


Love's an addiction
Being in love can be an addiction


Same as cocaine
It's equivalent to using cocaine.


And cheap whiskey, too
And not a worthy companion like whiskey.


When you're a prisoner of love
When you're trapped in love


That's all that you think of
It's the only thing on your mind.


You act confused
You find it hard to understand.


And you ain't got a clue
You're entirely clueless




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIM KAIHATSU

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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