I picked you out
Of a crowd and talked to you
Said I liked your shoes
You said "Thanks can I follow you?"
Now it's up the stairs
And out of view, no prying eyes
I poured some wine
When I asked your name,
You asked the time

Now it's 2 o'clock
The club is closed
We're up the block
Your hands on me,
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Tryin to keep the words from comin out
You didn't care to know
Who else may have been here before

I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Where's the kid with the chemicals?
I thought I'd meet him here
But I'm not sure
I got the money if you got the time
You said it feels good
I said, "I'll give it a try"

Then my mind went dark
We both forgot where your car was parked
So let's take the train
I'll meet up with the band in the morning
Bad actors, with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic
And the phone's ringin'
And the band's leavin'
Let's just keep touching
Let's just, keep on singing

I want a lover I don't have to love
I want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk
Yea, where's the kid with the chemicals?
I got a hunger and I can't seem to get full
I need a meaning I can memorize
The kind I have always seems to slip my mind
But you

You write such pretty words
But life's no story book
Love's an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do
Then hurt me
Then hurt me

Didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me
It didn't hurt me


Lyrics submitted by nicchikk, edited by selenijum

Lover I Don't Have to Love Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Lover I Don't Have To Love song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

14 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's ok as a song, but nothing can top the original.

    Something I find rather amusing is that in the original chorus it goes "i want a girl who's too sad to give a fuck" and the second part is "i want a boy who's so drunk he doesn't talk." In this version, it's only "i want a boy...".

    louderthanyouon November 11, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.