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Born Lyrics

I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh though my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear

Pour me a glass of wine
Talk deep into the night
Who knows what we'll find

Intuition, deja-vu
The Holy Ghost haunting you
Whatever you got
I don't mind

Put your elbows on the table
I'll listen long as I am able
There's nowhere I'd rather be

Secret fears, the supernatural
Thank God for this new laughter
Thank God the joke's on me

We've seen the landfill rainbow
We've seen the junkyard of love
Baby it's no place for you and me

I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear
Song Info
Submitted by
siberiansgrowl On Jun 29, 2005
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12 Meanings

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Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

If I'm not mistaken, Linford and Karin were having troubles with their marriage when they wrote this song, so I think it's about them trying to resolve their issues. "I was born to laugh through my tears" - I think this could mean that even though they had problems, the light is still stronger than the dark. When I listen to this song I kinda picture a shaken relationship, but yet once they've gotten over their issues, they can just laugh and thank God that they made it.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

I vaguely remember this song and when I heard it again[yesterday], well my family is going through a rough time. My little sister (she's 15) just moved out, and everyone commenting on how the song reminds them of late night conversations reminds me of how our relationship used to be and now it's gone. The learning to love part of the song is just our whole family to me because we all have issues connecting or abandonment issues or whatever else.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

I've re-read the lyrics and listened to the song probably twenty times and I still cannot ascertain the meaning. If I had to take a guess I would say that the singer (the "I") is just trying to go through life and learn. So "I" is plodding along and is in love with someone else (the "you"). So "I" and "You" talk for a while and go on with a relationship until "I" realizes that it won't work. So then "I" is left to pick up the pieces and continue with her life. Again, this is just my take on the song, and I really am not sure at all. I'd like to get other perspectives. :)

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

Although now I've re-read it again and it could mean the opposite. "I" could have found someone who is teaching her to "love without fear" and they could be in a good relationship that's working.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

I always pictured this song as sort of a lyrical version of a late night conversation with the speakers boyfriend/lover/husband. She's saying that they were made with the capacity to laugh and love but they have to learn how to take that gift and express it through the hard times. I feel like "Intuition, deja-vu The Holy Ghost haunting you Whatever you got I don't mind" and "Secret fears, the supernatural Thank God for this new laughter Thank God the joke's on me" are sort of descriptions of what the conversations are about. And then she wraps it up with saying that they've been in worse relationships and situations [landfill rainbows and junk yard of love] and that it's not what they deserve, what they deserve is what they have with each other. I love the landfill rainbow and junkyard of love line because it pairs the beautiful with the ugly which seems to describe perfectly those situations where it's the right thing wrong time or whatever.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

This song is amazing. To me it speaks to the work and the joy of connecting even in the hard times.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

They were on the verge of divorce, and bought a case of wine. The deal was that sat at the table and drank a bottle a night until it was gone, and got to know each other again. In vino veritas.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

I vaguely remember this song and when I heard it again[yesterday], well my family is going through a rough time. My little sister (she's 15) just moved out, and everyone commenting on how the song reminds them of late night conversations reminds me of how our relationship used to be and now it's gone. The learning to love part of the song is just our whole family to me because we all have issues connecting or abandonment issues or whatever else.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

I vaguely remember this song and when I heard it again[yesterday], well my family is going through a rough time. My little sister (she's 15) just moved out, and everyone commenting on how the song reminds them of late night conversations reminds me of how our relationship used to be and now it's gone. The learning to love part of the song is just our whole family to me because we all have issues connecting or abandonment issues or whatever else.

Cover art for Born lyrics by Over the Rhine

Srry about the triple post. My computer is freaking out