Love To Be Loved

In my opinion, this song is about letting go of a relationship, but it's likened to an addiction of some sort. "Loving to be loved" is considered a bad thing.

So, you know how people are When it's all gone much too far The way their minds are made ("This time you've gone too far..." People's minds are made to crave what they love. Sometimes this wanting is taken too far.) Still, there's something you should know That I could not let show That fear of letting go (The narrator wants to throw away his addiction, but he's too afraid of letting go of it. What if the consequences of quitting are worse than the consequences of not getting help?) And in this moment, I need to be needed With this darkness all around me, I like to be liked In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted Cause I love to be loved I love to be loved [Repeat x2] Yes, I love to be loved (This is a description of the "addiction". It's not an addiction to any physical substance- in fact, it is an addiction to the intangible emotion of love. The narrator considers himself weak for needing this, needing to be needed, liking to be liked, wanting to be wanted, and loving to be loved. Yet sometimes in dark moments, it can't be helped.)

I cry the way that babies cry The way they can't deny The way they feel (Self-explanatory? The narrator cries from wanting, and from shame of wanting. When babies cry, they don't have to hide it, because they're too young to not show emotions. They "can't deny the way they feel".) Words, they climb all over you 'Til they uncover you From where you hide (Not quite sure how to interpret this line. I kind of imagine words of conversations seeking out this person in hiding, who is desperately holding his hands over his ears in an attempt not to hear the words. So maybe it's the voice of the narrator's addicition calling him back, or the voice of his subconscious telling him to change. Either way, the narrator does not want to listen to this voice, or else he wouldn't need to be uncovered by the words it speaks.)

And in this moment, I need to be needed When my self-esteem is sinking, I like to be liked In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted Cause I love to be loved I love to be loved [Repeat x2] Oh I love to be loved

This old familiar craving I've been here before, this way of behaving Don't know who the hell I'm saving anymore (The narrator is very familiar with his "addiction", and is tired of having to give in. He doesn't know how he is helping anyone with his behavior, including himself.) Let it pass let it go let it leave From the deepest place I grieve This time I believe (The narrator tells his hungry feelings of want to leave him, and as he gets rid of the love he craves, he also grieves for its loss. But this time, he believes he can go through with it.) And I let go [Repeat x2] I can let go of it (He realizes he's strong enough to continue without the love that the relationship gave him.) Though it takes all the strength in me And all the world can see I'm losing such a central part of me I can let go of it (Even though it's nearly physically weakening to let go of the relationship, taking all of the narrator's strength, and even though it's obvious that he's hurting from letting go, he is sure that he can indeed let go of it.) You know I mean it You know that I mean it (The narrator convinces himself, and whoever's listening, that he's better off without it. But...) I recognize how much I've lost But I cannot face the cost Cause I love to be loved (...he realizes exactly how much he's lost from releasing himself from the relationship, and can't face the cost of his actions. He can't bring himself to end the relationship. And so he goes back to where he started, loving to be loved, addicted to this painful relationship because he can't imagine the consequences of living without it.)

Yes I love to be loved I love to be loved [Repeat x3]

I love to be loved

I love to be loved Yes I love to be loved

Well, I used to think this was a positive song, but after interpreting the lyrics I'm not so sure... One thing I am sure of is how achingly sad it is to hear the line "I'm losing such a central part of me". I can really relate in some strange way to the narrator's pain. The album this song is on, Us, is full of these moments, such as in the bridge section of Washing of The Water.