White Town is a techno-pop act (actually only one man, Jyoti Mishra, born i… Read Full Bio ↴White Town is a techno-pop act (actually only one man, Jyoti Mishra, born in Rourkela, India, on July 30, 1966; Mishra has lived in the United Kingdom since the age of three), often regarded as a one-hit wonder for its 1997 song "Your Woman", which sampled a 1930s song called "My Woman" by Al Bowlly, which was featured in the Dennis Potter drama Pennies From Heaven. This single was often known not by its name, but by the title of the EP it originally appeared on - ">Abort, Retry, Fail?_".

Mishra, a straight edger and ex-Marxist, often incorporates political concerns in his songs veiled in terms of personal relationships (as in his only hit). After a troubled working relationship with EMI Records, Mishra was dropped from the label in 1997 and since then has gone back to working with indie labels like Parasol Records. His last album, 2000's Peek & Poke, received moderately enthusiastic reviews but sold pitifully compared to his major label work.

In 2005 White Town contributed the song "The PNAC Cabal" to the charity album "Voyces United for UNHCR" (Voyces United for UNHCR (disc 1)).

In October 2006 White Town released a new album, Don't Mention The War on Mishra's own label, Bzangy Records.

Shape Of Love
White Town Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here's the best I can do
So far away from you
As the ocean holds the sky
So I try to hold your eyes
And I know the world is turning
I know it's yesterday for you
But the shape we're giving love
Could never be untrue

Choose the way you want to be
That doesn't mean him or me
Love is so much more that flesh
How to hurt and how to kiss

And I know the world is turning
I know it's yesterday for you
But the shape we're giving love
Could never be untrue

I wish I'd known you when
I could have made a change
I would have been a friend
I would have given you anything

As you touch near your heart
Are we really far apart?
Yes I know distance kills
But it can't fight love's will

And I know the world is turning
I know it's yesterday for you
But the shape we're giving love
Could never be untrue

And we know the world is turning
We know that yesterday is due.
But this shape we're giving love

Can never be untrue.
This shape can never be untrue.

Overall Meaning

In the White Town's song The Shape of Love, the artist is reflecting on a relationship that is distant from them. They feel far away from their partner, as if they are separated by the ocean. Despite this physical distance, the artist feels as though they are holding their partner's eyes as a gesture of intimacy. The artist acknowledges that while things may be different for their partner who is far away, the shape of their love could never be untrue.

The song discusses the intricacies of love, emphasizing that love is more than just a physical relationship between two people. Love encompasses bits of hurt and bits of kindness. The artist encourages their partner to choose the way they want to be and asserts that the shape of their love would never change because it's rooted in something much deeper than flesh. In the final stanza, the artist expresses regret that they didn't meet their partner in time for it may have led to something different. Regardless of this, they feel a connection to their partner through their heart, even though they are physically apart.

Line by Line Meaning

Here's the best I can do
I am doing my best

So far away from you
I am physically distant from you

As the ocean holds the sky
I am trying to hold onto something impossible

So I try to hold your eyes
I am trying to connect with you through your gaze

And I know the world is turning
I am aware that time is moving forward

I know it's yesterday for you
You are ahead of me in time

But the shape we're giving love
The form of our love is true

Could never be untrue
It will always be genuine

Choose the way you want to be
You have autonomy over yourself

That doesn't mean him or me
It does not refer to choosing between us

Love is so much more that flesh
Love is deeper than physical attraction

How to hurt and how to kiss
Love can include both pain and pleasure

I wish I'd known you when
I regret not meeting you earlier

I could have made a change
I could have made a difference in your life

I would have been a friend
I would have been supportive of you

I would have given you anything
I would have done anything for you

As you touch near your heart
You are placing your hand on your chest

Are we really far apart?
Is the distance between us greater than physical?

Yes I know distance kills
I am aware of the destructive power of distance

But it can't fight love's will
Love is stronger than distance

And we know the world is turning
We both recognize the passage of time

We know that yesterday is due.
We cannot change the past

But this shape we're giving love
Our love is taking a certain form

Can never be untrue.
It is inherently true and real

This shape can never be untrue.
Our love is authentic and genuine

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JYOTI MISHRA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

bellla

5y↑4

The first time I ever got high alone when I was 14 I listened to this song next to my sleeping friend n on that first wave I had a panic attack. It sent me into an unknown part of myself. I will always love this song for that,