Valentine's Day
Townes Van Zandt & Guy Clark Steve Earle Lyrics
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I guess I just forgot again
I only got my love to send
On Valentine's Day
I ain't got a card to sign
Roses have been hard to find
I only hope that you'll be mine
I know that I swore that I wouldn't forget
I wrote it all down, I lost it I guess
There's so much I want to say
But all the words just slip away
The way you love me every day
Is Valentine's Day
If I could I would deliver to you
Diamonds and gold; it's the least I can do
So if you'll take my IOU
I could make it up to you
Until then I hope my heart will do
For Valentine's Day
The song "Valentine's Day" is a beautiful ode to the love between two people. Steve Earle, the songwriter, speaks directly to his loved one by admitting his current state of being, "I come to you with empty hands/I guess I just forgot again." This line highlights the natural forgetfulness of humans, and it also foreshadows the overall message of the song. Earle doesn't have a lot to offer his beloved, but he still comes to her with the most valuable thing in his possession - his love. The line "I only got my love to send" shows that while he may be lacking in material things, he is still giving his all and expressing his love in the most authentic way he knows how.
The chorus is simple yet profound, with Earle wanting his beloved to be his on Valentine's Day. He speaks of the struggle of finding roses, and the inability to write down the things he wants to share with her. But despite these setbacks, he is still able to appreciate the love that they share: "The way you love me every day/Is Valentine's Day." This line encapsulates the idea that expressing love should not be limited to just one day a year, but it should be a constant occurrence in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I come to you with empty hands
I arrive before you physically empty-handed, with nothing to offer but my affection.
I guess I just forgot again
I apologize for my forgetfulness on this special day yet again.
I only got my love to send
My love for you is all I have to give on this Valentine's Day.
I ain't got a card to sign
I don't have a Valentine's Day card to express my feelings in writing.
Roses have been hard to find
I had difficulty acquiring roses, a traditional gift for Valentine's Day.
I only hope that you'll be mine
My desire for this Valentine's Day is for you to become mine or to continue loving me.
On Valentine's Day
Today, Valentine's Day, holds a special meaning to me and this relationship.
I know that I swore that I wouldn't forget
I recall making a promise to you previously that I wouldn't forget this day, unfortunately, I did.
I wrote it all down, I lost it I guess
I tried keeping a note to remind me of this day, but I couldn't locate it, and it slipped my mind.
There's so much I want to say
I have many words to express how I feel about you and us on this day.
But all the words just slip away
Unfortunately, the words evade me at this moment, and I struggle to put my emotions into words.
The way you love me every day
Your love for me daily is more meaningful to me than Valentine's Day.
Is Valentine's Day
In my eyes, the way you love me every day is more important than this holiday.
If I could I would deliver to you
If I possessed the means, I would provide you with jewelry such as diamonds and gold.
It's the least I can do
At the very least, I would give you a physical token of my love for you.
So if you'll take my IOU
If you accept my promise to repay you, I can make it up to you at a later time.
I could make it up to you
I will compensate for my lack of gift by being more attentive and showering you with my love.
Until then I hope my heart will do
In the meantime, I trust that my heart and love are sufficient for now.
For Valentine's Day
On this day, I hope that my love and admiration for you are enough to express how I feel about you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind