In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'm not in love
So don't forget it
It's just a silly phase I'm going through
And just because
I call you up
Don't get me wrong, don't think you've got it made
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
I like to see you
But then again
That doesn't mean you mean that much to me
So if I call you
Don't make a fuss
Don't tell your friends about the two of us
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
'Be quiet, big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
I keep your picture
Upon the wall
It hides a nasty stain that's lying there
So don't you ask me
To give it back
I know you know it doesn't mean that much to me
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
Ooh you'll wait a long time for me
Ooh you'll wait a long time
Ooh you'll wait a long time for me
Ooh you'll wait a long time
I'm not in love
So don't forget it
It's just a silly phase I'm going through
And just because I call you up
Don't get me wrong, don't think you've got it made, ooh
I'm not in love
I'm not in love
So don't forget it
It's just a silly phase I'm going through
And just because
I call you up
Don't get me wrong, don't think you've got it made
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
I like to see you
But then again
That doesn't mean you mean that much to me
So if I call you
Don't make a fuss
Don't tell your friends about the two of us
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
'Be quiet, big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
Big boys don't cry
I keep your picture
Upon the wall
It hides a nasty stain that's lying there
So don't you ask me
To give it back
I know you know it doesn't mean that much to me
I'm not in love, no no, it's because
Ooh you'll wait a long time for me
Ooh you'll wait a long time
Ooh you'll wait a long time for me
Ooh you'll wait a long time
I'm not in love
So don't forget it
It's just a silly phase I'm going through
And just because I call you up
Don't get me wrong, don't think you've got it made, ooh
I'm not in love
I'm not in love
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21
I'm Not in Love Lyrics as written by Graham Keith Gouldman Eric Michael Stewart
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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You call her up? Check. You like to see her? Check. You keep her picture upon the wall? Check.
You my friend, are in love.
definitely true. The title is just to show ppl how ironic the situation is. He is totally in love with this girl. But he doesnt want to admit that he is love for some reason. and he pretends that he is not in love by keep saying "I'm not in love"
Very well put.
happy birthday!
@xchrisrocksx A very good reason could be the theory that a girl could want less to be attached to a guy who she has fully in her hands...
@lyndon Not always .. Ive dated someone and not been in love .. I liked them and enjoyed the company but wasnt in love ..last relationship however he kept saying he fell for me .. but we were only together like 6 weeks .... and he said it from like date 2 .. red flags there to me .. and yeah we would call / see each other and have pics of us together some which were on my wall and fridge lol
It's about someone who's in love but he's afraid to admit it probably because he's afraid that he will be hurt. I love this song
Everybody's been close but no cigar, this song is about a guy who is denying that he's in love with this girl, if you listen to the song, or read the lyrics on the part that says (it's because) but then never gives an explanation, its cuz his feeling are too complicated to explain to the girl, trust me, When love presents its self guys like us are afraid of it, we'd rather have one night stands, or a girlfriend we don't love except for sex. than to treat ourselves to the real thing, not afraid of commitment, but love.. the guy in the songs pushing her away because he doseen't feel like he deserves real love,,,.and at the same time gets some kind of sick depressing satisfaction from breaking his heart and hers........
@kcwheezy <br /> THIS, is exactly it. <br /> This is the story of me and him. In fact, just today, after silence all night. After yesterday, when I told him I wished I was the girl in the romantic poem of love he wrote, his first communication since then, was to post this song. I spent all the silent night believing that he is not in love with me, and now, because of this song, this timing, I believe he is in love with me.
@kcwheezy Saying people are "close" is so weird. As if you know everything. Sick of seeing these dumb comments, even though this one is 18 years old.
I think this is a very raw feeling song. I believe he was rejected by her but yet he is in love with her. He wants the pain to go away denial takes place. He doesn't want her to have the upper hand "don't think u got it made..." He wants her to feel his pain "You'll wait a long time for me.."
A lot of people say love is a game. Scoreboard Her: 78 Him:67 Will the game ever resume or did she win?
The initial love affair has ended. Time has passed. He realizes he doesn't want to be without her. He calls her up, but he is afraid of what will happen if he opens his heart to her like he did before. He doesn't want to get hurt again - the emotions and loss were too overwhelming to bear.
So he tells himself and her that he's not in love and not to make a big deal about it. But he's in denial, and when he tries to explain why he still feels for her he says "it's because..." and he stops. The true answer is too frightening for him to admit.
And in a moment of weakness when he finally faces the truth, he breaks down and cries, but the voice in his head tells him to stop. He has kept her memory alive, she has waited for him, and this is the only way he can be with her - by denying his true feelings.
I see this song through different eyes, I don't think he's in love with her. I think, she is in love with him, and he's telling her that he just needs her company and nothing deeper.
He's just telling her not to misinterpret the little things he does...the picture, the phone calls...and mistake them for love.
Some people "can" have a relationship without being in love, and I think this song explains it beautifully.
@StuartJS So how do you know if you are in love with the person you are in a relationship with?
@StuartJS thats how I saw it too :) and been through that myself but was the guy who was too much too soon Not me ..
@yledbetter well love takes time its not something that happens after a few dates or a week or 3 ..........<br /> and No i dont believe in this love at first sight thing ya dont even know each other how do ya know iits love ??
@StuartJS . I agree with you but it's about the opposite.<br /> Eric write it for his wife of 58 years! Gloria. LOL!
@StuartJS I think your close but he literally toys with her cause he knows she’s in love (or at least believes she is) in love with him. I have first hand experience with this and what I found out is he is a con man. It’s a kind of confession of his inability to do anything but use people’s love to his advantage!
The song is obviously about a guy in the following situation: He’s met a girl, maybe had a few dates (or maybe they’re about to have their first date after being acquaintances for a while), and he finds himself becoming infatuated with her. Being the typical male who fears commitment, he enters the textbook “head vs. heart”/“emotions vs. reason” battle. He tries to put aside his feelings for her and convince himself (and her) that, while he may like her and is fond of her, she’s just another in a line of female companions for him, and he’s just going through a “silly phase.” He tries to explain away the signs of his deep emotional attachment to her by diminishing their importance to him, but he isn’t very convincing. I have first-hand, personal experience with this because I’m going through it right now. It’s both exhilarating and anguishing at the same time. I really can’t take much more of this. Oh… and I am NOT in love. Heh heh.
@AnalogKid2 how did it turn out with that person ? Now 7 years later
Okay, here's my take since I am living it. The guy is in love, the girl is in love. The guy is emotionally unable to deal with being in love. Commitment Phobic, due to something in his life regarding love, most likely something to do with his mother. There is a break. The girl moves on. He contacts her. When he is with her, he is so overcome with emotion and not equipped to deal with it. He retreats. She is hurt. He is hurt. Time passes, he still can't stop thinking about her. So denies it to himself and her. The voice "big boys don't cry" is a voice from the past. I think his mother. Who was also probably emotionally distant. And was distant/emotionally unavailable to him when he was a child.
Interesting how songs can apply to so many different situations. The gay man theory could apply to someone in that situation. Although I don't think that's what it's about.
@mzclarol "The voice "big boys don't cry" is a voice from the past. I think his mother. Who was also probably emotionally distant. And was distant/emotionally unavailable to him when he was a child."<br /> <br /> A very interesting deep psychologic view on the song! <br /> I wonder, why noone but you ever realized that important hint! <br /> <br /> Actually, this also explains very deeply the speechlessness after the line "It´s because...": The singer can not even to himself deliver a propper explanation, why he stops after "It´s because...." - But it´s obviously because right here begins his hidden sub-conscious and painful experiences from his childhood, when he could not rely on the motherly love - and thus - as an adult - is unable to really love someone, because he hasn´t experienced in his very childhood...!
This song is about a man who tries to deny his unreciprocated feelings for the woman who left their relationship. He tries to protect his dignity of being the one who was left behind. The saying of "The one who is in control is the one who cares less" is his way of hiding his pain and shame. The unpublished solo vocal section by Eric Stewart also revealed the meaning of the song. The following vocal section was never released since Lol Creme and the band did not like it and cut it out from the final track. " Don't feel let down, don't get hung up. We do what we can. Do what we love". This is the part where he tries to convince himself to move on.
YES
The song is obviously about a guy in the following situation: He’s met a girl, maybe had a few dates (or maybe they’re about to have their first date after being acquaintances for a while), and he finds himself becoming infatuated with her. Being the typical male who fears commitment, he enters the textbook “head vs. heart”/“emotions vs. reason” battle. He tries to put aside his feelings for her and convince himself (and her) that, while he may like her and is fond of her, she’s just another in a line of female companions for him, and he’s just going through a “silly phase.” He tries to explain away the signs of his deep emotional attachment to her by diminishing their importance to him, but he isn’t very convincing. I have first-hand, personal experience with this because I’m going through it right now. It’s both exhilarating and anguishing at the same time. I really can’t take much more of this. Oh… and I am NOT in love. Heh heh.
@AnalogKid2 happy birthday!