Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Lyrics Analysis (I Need Love)

Is it too soon for another lyrics analysis? Seems like it might be too soon. Well, I can't help it. Hadley mentioned LL Cool J's "I Need Love" to me the other day and I need to post something before I forget. It's too good to pass up. I think what I'll do this time is post the entire song in black and add my two cents in red. So without further ado...


When I'm alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall (Really? That must look weird.)
and in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call
Telling me I need a girl who's as sweet as a dove (Is "sweet as a dove" a real term? I know doves are a symbol of peace. Sweet as a dove? I'm not sure on that one.)
for the first time in my life, I see I need love
There I was giggling about the games
that I had played with many hearts, and I'm not saying no names (Very gentlemanly)
Then the thought occured, tear drops made my eyes burn (That sounds pretty painful)
as I said to myself look what you've done to her
I can feel it inside, I can't explain how it feels
all I know is that I'll never dish another raw deal (Noble thought. Songs like "Doin' It" make you wonder how serious he was about that pledge though)
Playing make believe pretending that I'm true
holding in my laugh as I say that I love you (That's cold)
Saying amour kissing you on the ear (In the words of Don Cherry..."That's French, folks.")
whispering I love you and I'll always be here
Although I often reminsce I can't believe that I found
a desire for true love floating around
Inside my soul because my soul is cold
one half of me deserves to be this way till I'm old
But the other half needs affection and joy (...and, also, an Around The Way Girl)
and the warmth that is created by a girl and a boy (that sounds a little dirty)

I need love
I need love

Romance sheer delight how sweet
I gotta find me a girl to make my life complete (See Maguire, Jerry)
You can scratch my back, we'll get cozy and huddle (Huddle? That has to be a misprint, no? Has to be cuddle, doesn't it? Although, you know what...I'm sticking with huddle. F it. Insert football joke here.)
I'll lay down my jacket so you can walk over a puddle (Seems doubtful)
I'll give you a rose, pull out your chair before we eat
kiss you on the cheek and say ooh girl you're so sweet (Again, very gentlemanly)
It's deja vu whenever I'm with you (Wait. What?)
I could go on forever telling you what I do (Huh? You're losing me)
But where you at you're neither here or there
I swear I can't find you anywhere
Damn sure ain't in my closet, or under my rug (Yeah, but did you check behind the fish tank?)
this love search is really making me bug (I can tell)
And if you know who you are why don't you make yourself seen (Like a ghost? And how would she know in the first place?)
take the chance with my love and you'll find out what I mean
Fantasies can run but they can't hide (I'm not sure fantasies can do either of those things.)
and when I find you I'm gonna pour all my love inside (Niiiiice)

I need love
I need love

I wanna kiss you hold you never scold you just love you (This is getting a little personal. Good use of scold though.)
suck on you neck, caress you and rub you (Stop it)
Grind, moan and never be alone (Why? Was that really necessary?)
if you're not standing next to me you're on the phone (That seems a little suffocating. I mean, what if she wants to take a yoga class?)
Can't you hear it in my voice, I need love bad
I've got money but love's something I've never had (Good work slipping the money part in there.)
I need your ruby red lips sweet face and all
I love you more than a man who's 10 feet tall (That's awesome. That's all I can say. Best line in the song. As if height has anything to do with it. What about a 15 foot tall man? Do you love her more than him? What about weight?)
I'd watch the sunrise in your eyes (Sounds good on paper. Are you really gonna do that though? I'm gonna guess no.)
we're so in love when we hug we become paralyzed (Really? Why? That's bad.)
Our bodies explode in ecstasy unreal (That seems a little excessive. And, again, potentially painful)
you're as soft as a pillow and I'm as hard as steel (Try that pickup line sometime and see where it gets you.)
It's like a dream land, I can't lie I never been there
maybe this is an experience that me and you can share
Clean and unsoiled yet sweaty and wet (That's a phrase you won't find in the Bible.)
I swear to you this is something that I'll never forget

I need love
I need love

See what I mean I've changed I'm no longer
a playboy on the run I need something that's stronger
Friendship, trust honor respect admiration (What about Umberto Unity?)
this whole experience has been such a revelation
It's taught me love and how to be a real man
to always be considerate and do all I can (He seems pretty earnest, ladies)
Protect you you're my lady and you mean so much
my body tingles all over from the slightest touch (You might want to have that checked)
Of your hand and understand I'll be frozen in time (Don't oversell it)
till we meet face to face and you tell me you're mine
If I find you girl I swear I'll be a good man
I'm not gonna leave it in destiny's hands (Things are either destined or they're not. If so, you most certainly will leave it in destiny's hands. You won't have a choice. If not, you were in control the whole time anyway. Don't go blaming your "playboy on the run" antics on destiny.)
I can't sit and wait for my princess to arrive
I gotta struggle and fight to keep my dream alive
I'll search the whole world for that special girl (Starting with the closet and under the rug apparently)
when I finally find you watch our love unfurl (Can you use "unfurl" if you're not talking about a flag? Is that allowed?)

I need love
I need love

Girl, listen to me
When I be sittin in my room all alone, staring at the wall
fantasies, they go through my mind
And I've come to realize that I need true love
and if you wanna give it to me girl make yourself seen
I'll be waiting
I love you

(Ladies...how can you possibly refuse?)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

maybe he meant sweet as a dove bar?

Anonymous said...

also, if you watch the entire sunrise via its reflection in someone's eyes, good shot they are blinded, if not permanently, at least for the morning.

Selfish prick.

Seems like he picked up the pipe around the "huddle" line, and just said, fuck it.

he's no Daddy Yanqui

JMD said...

There is really only one scenario that a man should love another man who is 10 feet tall more than any woman on the planet and that is if that man was the coach, player, front office executive or owner of a NBA team that secures the lottery pick that allows them to draft that 10 foot tall man. In that case, they'll win championship after championship and accumulate a lot of money and fame.

It doesn't work as a fan or as a gambler. The betting lines would adjust to the 10 foot man, and a fan really shouldn't love an athlete more than a woman. That's a little bizarre. Look where it got Robert De Niro in The Fan. All that lust for Wesley Snipes and all it garnered was a 5.4 rating on IMDB.