33 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A
Video

I Want To Know What Love Is Lyrics

Gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older

This mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I want to know what love is
I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is
I know you can show me

I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I want to know what love is
I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is
I know you can show me

I want to know what love is
I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is
I know you can show me
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer
Michael Leslie Jones
Duration
5:01
Submitted by
novartza On May 31, 2001
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

33 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

I believe it's about someone who has never been in a serious relationship but desperately wants to.

My Interpretation

@IRONCAT68 Nope, it's about someone who's been in a serious relationship (In my life there's been heartache and pain) but it's never been "true" love, more like relationships he thought was love, that it was what he needed, but now he's finally "seen the light" and seen what he truly wants, no more second bests.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

I just heard Winona sing it on Oprah and it means a person yearns desperately to know what love is and what's to know what it feels like inside. Winona had everyone in tears when she sang it. I hoped to hear Foreigner sing it. Does anyone know where online I can go to listen to a song and not just read the lyrics? As for a comment about what the song means to me... it reminds me of the lucky I am to feel love towards someone and to feel their love back. I know what love is... it's everything.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

the song is really romantic, in a rock and roll kinda way. if you like to keep your tough ass image and yet want to express your feelings for a chick this song is perfect. or "meatloaf" 's song, 2 outta three aint bad.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

This has to be the hands down most emotional love rock song EVER!.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

wow its hard to sing along to this song when u know exactly how the speaker feels. i so wana know wot love is!

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

A hooker? Please.

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

ROFL. Durang0's comment cracked me up...

Anyway, this is one of the classic love songs. Gotta love it. I could picture myself singing this to a certain girl I like... and in the middle, I picture my throat closing up and forgetting the words. :P

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned the religious overtones of this song. I don't think it was an accident that the band used a gospel choir on the chorus. There's not one in this line that has to be about romantic love, rather than divine love, and the second verse sounds pretty spiritual to me:

"This mountain I must climb Feels like a world upon my shoulders Through the clouds I see love shine It keeps me warm as life grows colder"

My take on it is it's like a number of U2 songs, in that it is simultaneously both about romantic love and about finding God. FYI, I'm not Christian nor am I particular religious, myself...but this interpretation makes a lot of sense to me.

Hmmm, I think you may be on to something here. After all, Ted Haggard used to hum it while playing "hide the sausage" with teen boys.

Not Valid

U2?

@Alligator Boxer Yes. Watching the foreigner video, you see both the girl, he finds that kind of love, and the choir, spiritual love. Thus the video suggests the song means both! It is my understanding that this song also did quite well on the gospel charts!

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

such a cheesy song, yet i still love it

Cover art for I Want To Know What Love Is lyrics by Foreigner

what a song, for god's sake!!!! it's one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard!!! please show me what love is...i'm waiting in the dark!!! ---have fun---