This is no great illusion
When I'm with you I'm looking for a ghost
Or invisible reasons
To fall out of love and run screaming from our home

Because we live in a house of mirrors
We see our fears and everything
Our songs, faces, and second hand clothes
But more and more we're suffering
Not nobody, not a thousand beers
Will keep us from feeling so all alone

But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
That's why I'm here on your doorstep
Pleading for you to take me back

The phone is a fine invention
It allows me to talk endlessly to you
About nothing disguising my intentions
Which I'm afraid, my friend, are wildly untrue

It's a sleight of hand, a white soul band
The heart attacks I'm convinced I have
Every morning upon waking
To you I'm a symbol or a monument
Your rite of passage to fulfillment
But I'm not yours for the taking

But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
So I guess that's why you keep calling me back

I'm fraudulent, a thief at best
A coward who paints a bullshit canvas
Things that will never happen to me
But at arms length, it's Tim who said
I'm good at it, I've mastered it
Avoiding, avoiding everything

But you are what you love, Tim
And not what loves you back
And I'm in love with illusions
So saw me in half
I'm in love with tricks
So pull another rabbit out of your hat


Lyrics submitted by lessadventurous

You Are What You Love Lyrics as written by Jenny Lewis

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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You Are What You Love song meanings
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    General Comment

    they live in "a house of mirrors," mirroring their fears of the person they. both keep looking for reasons to not love each other, they "avoid" each other. for example, "to you i'm a symbol or a monument, a rite of passage to fulfillment" - this is her fear, that she's just someone he can use.

    "so pull another rabbit out your hat" - their fears are all an illusion because she concludes that they must really love each other, enjoy each other's company, if they keep calling each other back.

    browsacookiemonstaon October 19, 2008   Link

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