“Lovers Rock” is a captivating track by TV Girl from their debut album French Exit, released in 2014. The song draws its name from a sub-genre of reggae music known for its smooth, romantic sound that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s.
This genre focuses on themes of love and intimacy, contrasting with the more politically charged reggae styles of the time.
The lyrics of “Lovers Rock” explore the ephemeral nature of romantic encounters, capturing moments that feel both significant and fleeting.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
Table of Contents
“Lovers Rock” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1: Brad Petering]
Are you sick of me?
Would you like to be?
I’m tryin’ to tell you somethin’
Somethin’ that I already said
You like a pretty boy
With a pretty voice
Who is tryin’ to sell you somethin’
Somethin’ that you already have
In the opening lines, the narrator questions their partner’s feelings, asking if they are tired of them and if they would prefer to be apart. This sets a tone of insecurity and introspection.
The narrator reflects on the superficiality of attraction, suggesting that their partner is drawn to “a pretty boy with a pretty voice,” who is ultimately trying to sell something that the partner already possesses—implying a sense of redundancy in their interactions and a critique of shallow connections.
[Chorus: Brad Petering, Brad Petering & Faith Harding]
But if you’re too drunk to drive, and the music is right
She might let you stay, but just for the night
And if she grabs for your hand, and drags you along
She might want a kiss before the end of the song
Because love can burn like a cigarette
And leave you with nothin’
And leave you with nothin’
The chorus encapsulates the transient nature of love and intimacy. It describes a scenario where intoxication and music create an opportunity for a brief romantic encounter.
The lines suggest that such moments are conditional and temporary, emphasizing that the connection might only last “just for the night.”
The metaphor comparing love to a cigarette highlights its fleeting pleasure, which ultimately leaves one feeling empty and unfulfilled. This duality of enjoyment and loss is central to the song’s emotional impact.
[Verse 2: Brad Petering]
While the others talked
We were listenin’ to Lover’s Rock
In her bedroom
In her bedroom
And if you start to kiss
And the record skips
Flip it over
And sit a little closer
The second verse shifts to a more intimate setting, where the narrator recalls a moment spent listening to Lovers Rock music in a bedroom. This evokes a sense of nostalgia and romantic anticipation.
The mention of a record skipping symbolizes interruptions in their connection, suggesting that even in moments of closeness, there are uncertainties and the need to “flip it over” to continue the experience.
The imagery here captures the delicate balance between intimacy and the potential for disconnection.
[Verse 1: Brad Petering]
Are you sick of me?
Would you like to be?
I’m tryin’ to tell you somethin’
Somethin’ that I already said
You like a pretty boy
With a pretty voice
Who is tryin’ to sell you somethin’
Somethin’ that you already have
The repetition of the first verse reinforces the narrator’s ongoing insecurities and the cyclical nature of their thoughts regarding their relationship.
It emphasizes the struggle with self-worth and the desire for genuine connection amidst superficial interactions.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Lovers Rock”
“Lovers Rock” by TV Girl explores the fleeting nature of romantic encounters and the complexities of love.
The song’s title “Lovers Rock” is named after a sub-genre of reggae music that emerged in the 1970s and is characterized by its romantic sound and content. This genre, known as Lovers Rock, was developed by Black musicians in London and is noted for its smooth, slow-paced love songs that resonate with themes of romance and emotional connection, contrasting with the more politically charged reggae styles of the time.
The lyrics narrate a story of a temporary connection, where the characters experience a brief yet significant encounter, akin to the romantic escapades celebrated in Lovers Rock music.
This is exemplified in lines like “But if you’re too drunk to drive, and the music is right / She might let you stay, but just for the night”.
The song captures the essence of ephemeral love, where moments feel both beautiful and insubstantial, much like the fleeting nature of the genre itself. It uses the metaphor of a cigarette to describe love: “Because love can burn like a cigarette / And leave you with nothing”. This comparison suggests that love can be intense and pleasurable but also quickly consumed, leaving emptiness in its wake.
Brad Petering, the band’s frontman, has shared that the song was written during a moment of introspection while he was staying at his sister’s apartment. He intended to go on a date that ultimately got canceled, leading him to channel his feelings into writing “Lovers Rock.”
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.