Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
So Goes Love
The Turtles Lyrics
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I'm afraid there's no two ways about it
Now you say you need my love
But you'll just have to learn to live without it
So goes love
Don't try to understand it
Oh, so goes love
It never works the way you planned it
That's the time you said you didn't want me
You played around in front of me
Yeah, you did everything you could to taunt me
So goes love
Don't try to analyze it
Oh, so goes love
And, when it dies, you can't disguise it
It's been said you've made your bed
And now you have to lie in it
There's no denying it's a shame
But there's really no one else that you can blame
Oh, so goes love
Don't try to understand it
Oh, so goes love
It never goes the way you planned it
The Turtles' song "So Goes Love" is a bittersweet goodbye from a heartbroken lover to their ex-partner. The singer tells their former lover that they must learn to live without their love, despite the ex-partner's claim that they need it. The lyrics reflect the painful and confusing nature of love, with phrases like "don't try to understand it" and "it never works the way you planned it" conveying a sense of helplessness in the face of romantic relationships. The singer reminisces about a time when their ex-partner meant everything to them, but the ex-partner did not reciprocate those feelings and instead taunted them. The song ends with a resignation to the fact that the ex-partner must face the consequences of their actions and that, ultimately, love can be a complicated and unpredictable force.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer recognizes the destructive power of their love for their ex-partner and is trying to break away for their own well-being. The ex-partner's claim that they need the singer's love may be seen as selfish or manipulative, and the singer's refusal to comply suggests a desire for independence and self-preservation. This interpretation is supported by the lyrics "It's been said you've made your bed / And now you have to lie in it," which implies that the consequences of the ex-partner's actions have caught up with them and they must face them alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, this is goodbye for us
The singer is facing the end of the relationship with their partner
I'm afraid there's no two ways about it
There is no other possible outcome for the relationship other than a separation
Now you say you need my love
The partner expresses that they still need the singer's love despite the impending separation
But you'll just have to learn to live without it
The artist acknowledges that the partner needs to find a way to live without their love as the relationship is ending
So goes love
This is how love goes or how love ends
Don't try to understand it
It is difficult if not impossible to understand why love ends
Oh, so goes love
This is the way love is, it's how it works
It never works the way you planned it
Love never ends the way anyone plans it to end
When you meant the world to me
When the partner was everything to the artist
That's the time you said you didn't want me
During the time the artist loved the partner the most, the partner said they didn't want them
You played around in front of me
The partner was flirting with or seeing other people in front of the singer
Yeah, you did everything you could to taunt me
The partner purposely did things to make the artist jealous or upset
Don't try to analyze it
There is no point in trying to understand why the partner behaved that way
And, when it dies, you can't disguise it
When a relationship ends, the emotions cannot be hidden or disguised
It's been said you've made your bed
The partner has made decisions that led to the end of the relationship
And now you have to lie in it
The partner must face the consequences of their actions and decisions
There's no denying it's a shame
Both the artist and the partner know that it's unfortunate that the relationship did not work out
But there's really no one else that you can blame
The partner can only blame themselves for the end of the relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind