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

Now it's two o'clock
The club is closed and we are up the block
Your hands are on me
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Trying to keep the words from coming out
You didn't care to know
Who else may have been you before

I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a girl who's too sad to give a fuck
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought he said to meet him here
But I'm not sure
I've got the money
If you've 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
Let's just 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 ringing
And the van's leaving
Let's just keep touching
Let's just keep, keep singing

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

But you, but you

You write such pretty words
But life's no storybook
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
Then hurt me


Lyrics submitted by firefly716

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

    i think it's about a guy who was in a serious relationship but it ended badly and he was really hurt. now he's so lonely, all he wants to do is be happy without having any responsibility to go along with it... that's why he wants a lover he doesn't have to love, and drugs that will make him feel good. but those are only temporary, so he has to keep doing both to stay happy, and he doesn't understand why he isn't feeling any better.

    (I got a hunger and I can't seem to get full I need some meaning I can memorize)

    dont_panicon April 02, 2006   Link

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