Although Uncle Tupelo broke up before it achieved commercial success, the band is renowned for its impact on the alternative country music scene. The group's first album, No Depression, became a byword for the genre and was widely influential. Uncle Tupelo's sound was unlike popular country music of the time, drawing inspiration from styles as diverse as the hardcore punk of The Minutemen and the country instrumentation and harmony of the Carter Family and Hank Williams. Farrar and Tweedy lyrics frequently referenced Middle America and the working class of Belleville.
No Sense in Lovin'
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics
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You might think that I don't care
But I do
And I've tried to understand
I've tried to understand your abuse
But you've got no excuse
And there's no use in lovin'
You keep coming back
So I hold you for a little while
But I always go when I can't take your sad smile
'Cause I can't stand it when you get so intense
And it's all a part of our bad inheritance
And there's no sense in lovin'
Anyone
Won't you come back for a while
You could see exactly what you've always meant to me
But you don't want to know
You don't want to know
And you don't know what I've been through
And if I think that you don't care
You probably do
And there's no sense in lovin'
Anyone who hates themselves
The song "No Sense in Lovin'" by Uncle Tupelo seems to be a melancholic reflection on a relationship that is not worth pursuing. The lyrics are singing about someone who has been through abuse, but instead of healing and moving on, they have started to hate themselves. The persona in the song acknowledges and empathizes with the other person's struggles, but also recognizes that there's no excuse for abusing oneself. They want to make sense of the situation, but find it impossible to do so. They've tried loving the other person but realized it's futile; there's no use in loving someone who hates themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what you've been through
I am unaware of the struggles you've faced in life.
You might think that I don't care
It's possible that you believe I am indifferent to your situation.
But I do
However, I do care about you and your well-being.
And I've tried to understand
I've made an effort to comprehend your perspective.
I've tried to understand your abuse
I've attempted to comprehend the mistreatment you've experienced.
But you've got no excuse
However, there is no justification for your harmful actions and behavior.
And there's no use in lovin'
Loving someone who hates themselves or behaves abusively is pointless.
Anyone who hates themselves
It is futile to have affection for a person who despises themselves.
You keep coming back
Despite the problems in our relationship, you repeatedly return to me.
So I hold you for a little while
I embrace you temporarily and offer comfort.
But I always go when I can't take your sad smile
Eventually, I leave when your sorrow becomes too much for me to bear.
'Cause I can't stand it when you get so intense
Your extreme emotionality and behavior is unbearable for me to witness.
And it's all a part of our bad inheritance
This problematic relationship dynamic is inherited and likely long-standing.
And there's no sense in lovin'
It is illogical to have affection for someone who behaves abusively.
Anyone
It is not reasonable to love any individual who is harmful or abusive.
Won't you come back for a while
Please consider returning to our relationship momentarily.
You could see exactly what you've always meant to me
You have the potential to comprehend the depth of my feelings toward you.
But you don't want to know
Unfortunately, you are unwilling to acknowledge or recognize my feelings.
And you don't know what I've been through
You lack understanding of the difficulties I have faced.
And if I think that you don't care
In the event that I believe you are indifferent to my situation,
You probably do
It is likely that you truly do care, despite my doubts.
And there's no sense in lovin'
Ultimately, it is unwise to have affection for someone who hates themselves and behaves abusively.
Anyone who hates themselves
It is not advisable to have love for a person who actively despises themselves.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFF TWEEDY, JEFFREY SCOTT TWEEDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Virvellian
the most beautiful song on the album. there is something seriously wrong with this world when only 500 people have listened to this song here.
hazel vee
killyourtelevision I paid for all of my Uncle Tupelo music too.
Anodyne Forever
killyourtelevision I bought and paid for all my UT CDs
killyourtelevision
Maybe some people actually pay for it? :)
Dori Vee
I love this song so much..sad there will probably never be a reunion...wish Jeff would play it live once in a while.
Reptile Dysfunction
Probably my favorite UT song. Jeff hit it out of the park here.
Anodyne Forever
Gorgeous song. Sweet, subtle and sweeping.
mud rope
no there is something incredibly sacred about a song this incredible that only has 500 listeners
Post Flight
This song is great. But there are so many from Uncle Tupelo, or Farrar or Tweedy, that will stay with me forever.
A Welch
saw it live in a lawrence, ks record store...i wish there was a recording (although i was pissed that the steel guitar didn't follow the recording)