This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
If you're down and confused
And you don't remember who you're talking to
Concentration slip away
Because your baby is so far away
Well there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Don't be angry, don't be sad
Don't sit crying over good times you've had
There's a girl right next to you
And she's just waiting for something to do
And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Turn your heartache right into joy
'Cause she is a girl and you're a boy
Get it together, make it nice
You ain't gonna need any more advice
And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
And you don't remember who you're talking to
Concentration slip away
Because your baby is so far away
Well there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Don't be angry, don't be sad
Don't sit crying over good times you've had
There's a girl right next to you
And she's just waiting for something to do
And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Turn your heartache right into joy
'Cause she is a girl and you're a boy
Get it together, make it nice
You ain't gonna need any more advice
And there's a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can't be with the one you love, honey
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Love the one you're with
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It sounds to me like the song is about how you should stop chasing the dreams you have about your ideal person and be more open and accepting of alternative options. It does kind of sound depressing that you can't be with the one you want. But if you think about it, it is sort of like a message to move on, to get your head out of the clouds and be with someone real.
I had the same thought about this song, but seems like we're in the minority.
This song is also about the 'social animals' that human beings are.
According to a recent study by the NY Times
"Loneliness, as the researchers note, is a greater risk for morbidity and mortality than cigarette smoking. So if you can’t talk with the ones you love, talk to the ones you’re with."
This song is about not seeing something that's right in front of you.
The Eagle flies with the dove. Through pain, there is pleasure.
It's about how you should love the girl you're with!
Tom Rapp (of Pearls Before Swine) also wrote and recorded an answer song called "Love/Sex":
I want to meet somebody, That I can talk to. I want to meet somebody, I can make love with, not to. Bodies on bodies Like sacks upon shelves. People are using each other, To make love to themselves.
And we all use our bodies As a place to hide And meet all the other bodies With people hiding inside. If all that is touching, Is just what you wear, I guess that not sharing, Is the only thing we share, Somewhere.
Somewhere we lost real love, Somewhere along the line. They say get it while you can, Get it while you can, But don't get left behind. And if you don't love The one that you're with Why don't you just Wait for the one that you love? And she'll love you, too.
Today I met somebody That I can talk to. Today I met somebody I can make love with, not to. She says love will get you Through times of no sex Better than sex will get you Through times of no love. We wrote that on the wall, We wrote that on the wall, We wrote that on the wall, And why don't you Write that on your wall, too.
Great description of ths song tikbalang. Too bad Melanie's 'answer song' never got released...it's called "I Just Can't Do It If I'm Not In Love (And I'm Not In Love With You")! Smack!
i personally dont like the meaning of this song. if you love someone, shouldnt you try your best to make t work. and not deal with the one your with?
I get two meanings. One being well-they aren't around so I'll just move on and be with who ever is right next to me. And the other that the grass isn't always greener on the other side-stick it out and love the one your with. ;)
I hate this song. I was in a very emotional long distance relationship once, and it ended with me being completely faithful and working 60+ hours a week saving up every penny to move there, only to have her decide that she'd rather just "love the one (she's) with" - and it didn't last either, she wanted me back after just a month. I bet it's just about Stephen Stills wanting to get into someones pants whose lover was fighting in the War.
Completely agree. This song is not about love, it is about sex and the naive (actually foolish) "hippie" notion of "free love," which really means having sex with whomever you want. I was surprised that when CSNY toured a few years back (as 50-60 year olds with sons and daughters of their own) that they hadn't matured enough to abandon this anthem to promiscuity.
@Icklejabob said " I bet it's just about Stephen Stills wanting to get into someones pants whose lover was fighting in the War." <br /> <br /> Or maybe the flip - he's 19 years old...... been fighting the war that no one back home supports, he doesn't get any mail from his high school friends, and now finds himself on R&R in some bar in a strange Asian city; Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei.... that Stephen Stills song is playing on the juke box....... amplifying the loneliness that now has a chance to overshadow the stress and terror of humping the bush, walking point, booby traps, ambushes.... knowing that in a few days he'll be on a plane heading back to Tan Son Nhut AB; Danang; I Corps ..... while back in the 'world' it seems that no one gives a hoot...... there's no condemnation in her almond eyes .... so he just loves the one he's with.....
This song is also about the 'social animals' that human beings are.
According to a recent study by the NY Times
"Loneliness, as the researchers note, is a greater risk for morbidity and mortality than cigarette smoking. So if you can’t talk with the ones you love, talk to the ones you’re with."