All Over You Lyrics
pinned down and abused
for being strange
than me alone
for me all day
our love is like water/angels
pinned down and abused
the sun, the fields, the sky
i've often tried to hold the sea
the sun, the fields, the tide
pay me now, lay me down

I think this song is actually about Ed's loneliness, "our love is no other than me alone for me all day" which is definately strange. And perhaps he is after someone that he can not allow himself to be with regardless of how bad he wants to be with this person. I think that the chorus suggests that the person that he is infatuated with is his world and his everything who in fantasy, or in his mind tried to convince himself he can hold, "the sea" well that's my own opinion. I think this song is one of the greatest live songs ever, definately a top 20 in my book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars
That's the way I've always taken it...
That's the way I've always taken it...

This song refers to a relationship with a prostitute. The lyricist faces criticism from his social circle but ultimately has his own fears and insecurities about the relationship.
"Our love is like water" - this is a standalone verse and does not connect to the next one. It sets the scene and his own emotions about the relationship, namely that it is fluid and elusive. "Pinned down and abused for being strange" - pinned down is an ironic contrast to the previous verse. Although the relationship itself is like water, which cannot be pinned down, society does exactly that by clasifying it, describing it and condemning it.
"Our love is no other than me alone for me all day" - This describes his own doubts and fears for the signicance of the emotions of both sides. This verse can be interpreted as him doubting the female's feelings for him. Another possibility is that he is recognising that the love that he feels effectively stems from hedonism. He may have strong feelings but their origin makes his involvement effectively a selfish affair.
The references to nature in the last verse are another reference to the hedonistic nature of the relationship. "I've often tried to hold the sea, the sun, the fields, the tide" - Here he refers to the fact that he's tried to "hold" these feelings and translate them to something else. Of course he cannot as he cannot hold the sea or the tide - again a reference to the elusive nature of the love that he feels.
"Pay me now, lay me down" - First pay, then lay me down. The order signifies the reality of the relationship.
I know I'm 12 years late with this reply but...
I know I'm 12 years late with this reply but...
Except for the prostitute and hedonism parts, I was thinking all these same things. I think your comments are spot on.
Except for the prostitute and hedonism parts, I was thinking all these same things. I think your comments are spot on.
I think that it's not a prostitute but it's not a normal or conventional relationship either and it doesn't matter what it is, it's just different. That's all we need to know.
I think that it's not a prostitute but it's not a normal or conventional relationship either and it doesn't matter what it is, it's just different. That's all we need to know.
Along with this, he is alone in the relationship and lonely and is the only one giving to keep the relationship going. His partner is more aloof about it or happy the way it is; but he's...
Along with this, he is alone in the relationship and lonely and is the only one giving to keep the relationship going. His partner is more aloof about it or happy the way it is; but he's not. He wants more out of it and the "Pay" line is a question even though it's not phrased that way. It's asking "When is the payoff?" "When do I get mine?" Likely meaning love. Lay me down is not sexual either, it more of a "Let's put this relationship to rest by committing to it" or "Let's put it to rest by ending it."

The song talks about a love and the whole song refers to her love in all its senses -(All over you all over me)
The love of both is of a complicated form and can referersi to a relationship where she has distanced herself -(Our love is like water Pinned down and abused For being strange)
Here in this expression he talks about his love to that person, which is not so reciprocated and implies that He suffers and feels lonely because of his absence. -(Our love is no other Than me alone For me all day)
And to understand when he finally knows something about the person he says in this sentence -(Pay me now, lay me down) As a claim for all that time that he has waited for her.

i think this song is about a guy in a relationship with a hooker, and although others think its inapropriate he loves her secretly regardless. The sun,feilds,tide verse is refering to how they are able to escape in nature where they are not judged. just what i though anyway...

Wow. I don't agree with anyone else's opinion. Lol. So I thought I'd share mine.
I think it's about a one-sided relationship in which the singer is the one in love. He's putting in more than he's getting back and it feels like it's pretty much just sexual. Water, like the sun, fields, and sky that are mentioned, is something that can't be held by a person alone and whoever he's with can't be pinned down and kept.
I think this hit the nail on the head.
I think this hit the nail on the head.

I was born in 84 so I know this song very well. I believe in my opinion, it is about homelessness.
@ponygreen “my love for me alone, all day”. People don’t usually actively dedicate themselves to Helping others in need. “Pay me now pay me now” landlords, the cost of housing . “The sun, the fields, the sky” living outdoors
@ponygreen “my love for me alone, all day”. People don’t usually actively dedicate themselves to Helping others in need. “Pay me now pay me now” landlords, the cost of housing . “The sun, the fields, the sky” living outdoors

it is the best in the world cause live is the best in the world, i will forever be a live fan!!!

i heard its about a gay relationship ed had but im not sure

I always thought it was about a relationship with a prostitute ("pay me now, lay me down"), but the gay relationship could also make sense. Amazing song.

our love is like water, pinned down and abused for being strange: could be gay, could be a prostitute, or anything. There are alot of people in odd relationships...
Maybe it's a cousin :p