“Lovesong” (sometimes spelled as “Love Song”) is a song by the English rock band the Cure. It was released as the third single from their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989), on August 21, 1989.
The lead singer of the Cure, Robert Smith, wrote this song as a wedding gift for his fiancée, Mary Poole, shortly before they got married in 1988.
Smith has always been deeply devoted to Mary, whom he met when they were both 14 years old. He believes she saved his life during some difficult times when he was struggling with self-destructive behaviors.
The lyrics of the song were inspired by Robert Smith’s extensive touring with The Cure. He wanted to convey to his wife that no matter how much he had to travel and perform, his love for her would always remain strong.
In this article, we will explore the meaning behind the lyrics of “Lovesong.”
Table of Contents
“Lovesong” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
In verse 1, Robert Smith is telling his lover, Mary Poole, that when they are alone together, she makes him feel like he is back in his comforting and familiar home.
He associates being with her as a source of warmth and a feeling of being whole and complete.
[Verse 2]
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again
In verse 2, Robert Smith tells his loved one that when they are alone together, she makes him feel young and full of life once again. Being with her brings out a sense of youthful energy and fun in him.
[Chorus]
However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you
In the chorus, Robert Smith is declaring his unwavering love for Mary Poole.
He reassures her that no matter how far apart they may be or how long he stays away, his love for her will always remain constant.
He emphasizes that his love is enduring and that he will always express his affection for her through words and actions.
[Verse 3]
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again
In verse 3, Robert Smith describes how when they are alone together, his lover makes him feel liberated and free from any burdens or worries.
Being with her makes him feel clean, as if he has been purified.
Deeper Meaning Behind The Cure’s “Lovesong”
The Cure’s “Lovesong” is a heartfelt declaration of enduring love and devotion. Frontman Robert Smith penned this song as a wedding gift for his fiancée, Mary Poole, just before their marriage in 1988.
In a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, Robert Smith explained why he wrote “Lovesong”:
“I wrote ‘Love Song’ for Mary, my wife, as a wedding present, and I put it on the album to be kind of romantic. I thought it was the weakest song on there, and suddenly it went to Number Two in America. It was kept off the top by, like, Janet Jackson. I thought, ‘Of all the songs I’d written, this is the one that … cracks through.’ It was quite disappointing.”
“Lovesong” is a candid and heartfelt expression of love. It stands out as one of the most intimate and honest depictions of Robert Smith’s feelings for Mary.
The song was inspired by the challenges of touring and being apart from Mary for extended periods. Through lines like “Whenever I’m alone with you/You make me feel like I am home again,” Smith expresses how being with Mary makes him feel like he’s at home, whole, and young again.
He associates her presence with feelings of joy, youthfulness, and freedom, and emphasizes that distance or time will never diminish his love for Mary, singing, “However far away, I will always love you.”
Robert Smith described “Lovesong” as a straightforward and emotional track. He said, “It’s an open show of emotion. It’s not trying to be clever. It’s taken me ten years to reach the point where I feel comfortable singing a very straightforward love song.”
Smith initially called it a “cheap and cheerful” wedding gift, but its enduring popularity proves that its heartfelt sentiment resonates with listeners worldwide.
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