Amber Run is a British indie rock band from Nottingham, made up of Joshua “Joe” Keogh, Tom Sperring, and Henry Wyeth.
The song “I Found” delves into the experience of finding love with the wrong person in the wrong setting. It explores the challenge of trying to caution oneself against getting entangled in such a relationship. The lyrics show the tug-of-war between rationality and emotion within a forbidden love.
In this article, we’ll dive into the lyrics of “I Found,” unveiling the profound meaning hidden within its words.
Table of Contents
Amber Run “I Found” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
And I’ll use you as a warning sign
That if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind
And I’ll use you as a focal point
So I don’t lose sight of what I want
And I’ve moved further than I thought I could
But I missed you more than I thought I would
And I’ll use you as a warning sign
That if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind
The opening lines, “And I’ll use you as a warning sign,” may seem mysterious, but in a romantic context, they reveal that the singer fell in love with the wrong person and now sees her as a cautionary example.
The line “That if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind” might sound confusing, but in the complexities of love, attempting to rationalize it can lead to madness. It’s like saying that questioning his strong feelings for the wrong person could create a confusing, irrational situation, making him feel crazy.
Despite this confusion, the singer still emotionally loves the wrong person. So, when he sings, “And I’ll use you as a focal point/So I don’t lose sight of what I want,” it means he’s intensely focused on her; she remains his primary desire. The lines “And I’ve moved further than I thought I could/But I missed you more than I thought I would” indicate he tried hard to distance himself from the girl more than he expected, yet ironically, it only intensifies his longing for her.
To cope, the singer resorts to rational thinking, viewing her as a “warning sign” to stay away. Yet, labeling her as a “warning sign” also reveals the strength of his love for her, as he needs to label her as “dangerous” to avoid getting in touch.
Chorus
Oh, and I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be
Right in front of me, talk some sense to me
And I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be
Right in front of me, talk some sense to me
In the chorus, the singer questions his love for the wrong person, expressing, “Oh, and I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be.” This suggests their meeting was in an unsuitable place, and they aren’t a good match. Despite the unfortunate circumstances—wrong time, wrong person—his feelings are genuine.
When he sings, “Right in front of me, talk some sense to me,” it’s like he’s questioning whether God or destiny is playing tricks on him. Why did he fall for someone he shouldn’t have in the wrong place? Nothing seems to make sense to the singer, as love shouldn’t be present when everything else is going wrong.
Verse 2
And I’ll use you as a makeshift gauge
Of how much to give and how much to take
Oh, I’ll use you as a warning sign
That if you talk enough sense, then you’ll lose your mind
Since the singer struggles to make sense of his feelings and feels confused about how to handle them, he decides to rely on the girl’s feedback as guidance for what to do next. He sings, “And I’ll use you as a makeshift gauge/Of how much to give and how much to take.”
In simpler terms, a “gauge” is a measuring instrument, and “makeshift” implies something temporary or improvised. So, using someone as a makeshift gauge suggests using that person as a temporary or informal measure or reference point.
Here, it means the singer is using the girl’s reactions to him as a temporary or informal measure to assess the love he is experiencing, even if it’s not the ideal or right kind of love. He’s essentially saying, “If she gives hints of having a crush on me and shows kindness to me, then I should be nice to her and get closer to her as well—simple.”
Of course, the lyrics don’t explicitly mention the girl’s reaction. All we know is the singer goes on to sing, “Oh, I’ll use you as a warning sign.” Without any feedback from the girl, he can only see her, the wrong person, as a “warning sign” he should avoid.
Alternatively, if we examine the lyrics in the context of the music video, where an abductor falls in love with his victim, a young woman, “makeshift gauge” could suggest that the singer is attempting to treat the girl as a “measure device,” focusing solely on her value for ransom.
This interpretation aligns with the lyrics “I’ll use you as a makeshift gauge/Of how much to give and how much to take.” By objectifying the girl, he reinforces his identity as an abductor whose primary goal is financial gain, not love. This serves as a way for him to suppress his emotions towards the girl.
Music Video
The “I Found” music video by Amber Run connects closely with the theme of forbidden love explored in the song’s lyrics. It tells the story of an abductor who unexpectedly falls in love with his victim and eventually helps her, vividly portraying the complexities of wrong love.
Notably, this music video is part of a series that begins with “I Found” and concludes with “Pilot.” In this series, we follow a storyline where the younger criminal begins to empathize with the girl held for ransom. This connection aligns well with the song’s iconic lyrics, “I found love where it wasn’t supposed to be.”
It doesn’t specifically suggest a romantic bond between the characters, but when you consider the entire video series, the song gains a meaningful role and becomes clearer in its context.
Overall Message
“I Found” by Amber Run is a beautifully poignant song that delves into the internal struggle of falling in love with the wrong person. The narrative revolves around a character grappling with feelings for someone he believes he shouldn’t be connected to.
Despite attempts to move on, he finds himself missing this person more than anticipated. Trying to justify the connection logically would only lead to confusion and frustration.
Ultimately, “I Found” serves as a reminder of the powerlessness we experience in love. Even when reason suggests avoiding someone, the heart often has a mind of its own. Such is the nature of love.

Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.