What a performance tonight
Should I react or turn off the light?
Looks like you're picking a fight
In a blurring of wrong and right
But how your mood changes
You're a devil, now an angel
Suddenly subtle and solemn and silent as a monk
You only tell me you love me
When you're drunk

It's better than nothing
I suppose
Some doors have opened,
Others closed
But I couldn't see you exposed
To the horrors behind some of those
Somebody said: listen
Don't you know what
You're missing? You should be kissing him
Instead of dissing him like a punk
But you only tell me you love me
When you're drunk
But you only tell me you love me
When you're drunk

All of my friends keep asking me
Why, oh why
Do you not say goodbye?
If you don't even try
You'll be sunk
?Cause you only tell me you love me
When you're drunk

What's the meaning
When you speak with so much feeling?
Is it over when you're sober?
Am I junk?
You only tell me you love me
When you're drunk
But you only tell me you love me
When you're drunk



Lyrics submitted by stacibug

You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk Lyrics as written by Neil Tennant Christopher Lowe

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk song meanings
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    General Comment

    i've never actually heard the song, but i love the lyrics. does the fact that she's drunk give her the courage to say how she really feels? or does she treat him like dirt and say what he wants to hear to keep him hanging in there?

    stacibugon May 19, 2002   Link

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