For You
Tracy Chapman Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

No words to say
No words to convey
This feeling inside I have for you
Deep in my heart

Safe from the guards
Of intellect and reason
Leaving me at a loss
For words to express my feelings
Deep in my heart
Deep in my heart

Look at me losing control
Thinking I had a hold
But with feelings this strong
No longer the master
Of my emotions

No words to say
No words to convey
This feeling inside I have for you
Deep in my heart

Safe from the guards
Of intellect and reason
Leaving me at a loss
For words to express my feelings
Deep in my heart
Deep in my heart

Look at me losing control
Thinking I had a hold
But with feelings this strong




No longer the master
Of my emotions

Overall Meaning

Tracy Chapman's song "For You" is an emotive ballad about the intense feelings of love that transcend language and reason. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song with the singer admitting that they cannot express their true feelings for the object of their love. The guards of intellect and reason have failed, and the singer is left bare, vulnerable and speechless, unable to find the words needed to convey their emotions.


The song's theme revolves around the idea that love is an undeniable force that can control our actions, leaving us at a loss for words when trying to express these feelings. There is a sense of deep emotional instability that is conveyed in the lyrics that is underscored by the way Chapman delivers the lines, with her voice rising and falling, subtly revealing the singer's emotional state.


The chorus is a repeated call to the title 'For You' signifying that no matter how strongly these emotions overpower the singer, they know it is all for the person they love. The final line "No longer the master of my emotions" signifies a loss of control; this is the ultimate admission that love is the driving force, and no one can resist its control.


Line by Line Meaning

No words to say
I cannot put my feelings into words


No words to convey
I lack the ability to express what I feel


This feeling inside I have for you
The emotions I have for you run deep


Deep in my heart
My feelings for you lie in the depths of my heart


Safe from the guards
My emotions are protected from the rationality of the mind


Of intellect and reason
Logic and reason cannot explain my emotions


Leaving me at a loss
I don't know how to express my emotions


For words to express my feelings
I'm struggling to convey what I feel


Look at me losing control
My emotions are overpowering me


Thinking I had a hold
I believed I was in control of my feelings


But with feelings this strong
My emotions are too strong to be controlled


No longer the master
I'm no longer the one in control


Of my emotions
My feelings for you have taken over my being




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Lamont Everett Chapman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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