I picked you out
Of a crowd and talked to you
Said I liked your shoes
You said "Thanks can I follow you?"
Now it's up the stairs
And out of view, no prying eyes
I poured some wine
When I asked your name,
You asked the time

Now it's 2 o'clock
The club is closed
We're up the block
Your hands on me,
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Tryin to keep the words from comin out
You didn't care to know
Who else may have been here before

I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought I'd meet him here
But I'm not sure
I got the money if you got the time
You said it feels good
I said, "I'll give it a try"

Then my mind went dark
We both forgot where your car was parked
So let's take the train
I'll meet up with the band in the morning
Bad actors, with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic
And the phone's ringin'
And the band's leavin'
Let's just keep touching
Let's just, keep on singing

I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Yea, where's the kid with the chemicals?
I got a hunger and I can't seem to get full
I need a meaning I can memorize
The kind I have always seems to slip my mind
But you

You write such pretty words
But life's no story book
Love's an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do
Then hurt me
Then hurt me

Didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me


Lyrics submitted by nicchikk, edited by selenijum

Lover I Don't Have to Love Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Lover I Don't Have To Love song meanings
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    General Comment

    Generally I like this one more; I think there's more emotion behind the lyrics. It's something to do with the pauses I think. I don't really like Bright Eyes as I think their lyrics are great but the meaning and emotion seems to get lost a little when it's sung.

    One thing I really don't like though is the change from "You didn't care to know/ Who else may have been you before" to "You didn't care to know/ Who else may have been HERE before". I know it's a really minor change but I feel like it makes a lot of difference. It turns the line into a cliche whereas before it really emphasised the idea of meaningless sex with the image of repetition and all these girls blending into one.

    magical_miaon March 19, 2007   Link

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