Te amo, te amo, she says to me
I hear the pain in her voice
Then we danced underneath the candelabra, she takes the lead
That's when I saw it in her eyes, it's over

Then she said, "Te amo", then she put her hand around my waist
I told her, "No", she cried, "Te amo"
I told her, "I'm not gon' run away, but let me go"
My soul is awry, without asking why
I said, "Te amo", wish somebody'd tell me what she said
Don't it mean, "I love you"?
Think it means, "I love you"
Don't it mean, "I love-"

Te amo, te amo, she's scared to breathe
I hold her hand, I got no choice, uh
Pulled me out on the beach, danced in the water, I start to leave
She's begging me and asking why it's over

Then she said, "Te amo", then she put her hand around my waist
I told her, "No", she cried, "Te amo"
I told her, "I'm not gon' run away, but let me go"
My soul is awry, without asking why
I said, "Te amo", wish somebody'd tell me what she said
Don't it mean, "I love you"?
Think it means, "I love you"
Don't it mean, "I love you"

Listen, we can dance
But you gotta watch your hands
Watch me all night
I move under the light because I understand
That we all need love, and I'm not afraid
I feel the love but I don't feel that way, no

Then she said, "Te amo", then she put her hand around my waist
I told her, "No", she cried, "Te amo"
I told her, "I'm not gon' run away, but let me go"
My soul is awry, without asking why
I said, "Te amo", wish somebody'd tell me what she said
Don't it mean, "I love you"?
Think it means, "I love you"
Don't it mean, "I love you"?
I think it means, "I love you", I love you

Te amo, te amo
Don't it mean, "I love you"?


Lyrics submitted by tavinha

Te Amo Lyrics as written by Tor Hermansen Mikkel Eriksen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Te Amo song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

25 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +7
    General CommentI think there's a girl who's in love with the narrator (a woman), but the narrator doesn't like women, but doesn't wanna hurt the girl who's in love...

    even though it's a cover, in this version the lesbianism is very evident if that's your vision of the song. I mean, "i'm not afraid of feeling love, but i don't feel that way..." my vision is that there's a girl in love with another, but this other doesn't love her back. And if you don't think this song is about this, then the song is simply about someone who's in love with someone who doesn't feel the same...

    :)
    babyfabyon December 08, 2009   Link
  • +4
    My InterpretationMy Interpretation of Te Amo:

    I believe the two women are actually just Rihanna battling with herself and her feelings of love and how half of her wants to hold on and not let go of love and the other half know she needs to let go and the relationship is over.

    "Te Amo, Te Amo
    She says to me, I hear the pain in her voice
    Then we danced underneath the candelabra
    She takes the lead
    Thats when I saw it in her eye
    It's over"

    this part is the side of Rihanna this is in love and wants to hold on...she's telling the other part of herself that "I'm still in love but i know its over but i still want to love anyway"... and the part "She takes the lead, That's when I saw it in her eye It's over"- could mean" That the part of Rihanna that is no longer in love is stronger than the Rihanna in love and she understands that no matter what she says that the love is over

    Then she says Te Amo
    Then she put her hand around me waist
    I told her no,

    Rihanna that is in love tells the other part of herself that she is still and love and wants to hold on("then she put her hand around me waist") and the other Non lover side of Rihanna tells her no that she can't stay in love


    She cries Te Amo
    Told her I'm not gonna run away
    But let me go

    Lover Rihanna is crying that she is still in love and is begging for Non Lover Rihanna to understand..Non Lover Rihanna tells her that "I'm not in love anymore and i'm not goin to run away from love but i need to let this love go".

    My soul is a Cry, without ask me why
    I said Te Amo, somebody tell me what she said
    Don't it mean I love you
    Think it means I love you
    Don't it mean I love you

    Non Lover Rhianna feels the pain of having to let go of love and doesn't understand why... Non lover Rhianna is confused by love and she just doesn't understand it anymore... it's a distance feeling.


    Te Amo, Te Amo, she's scared to breathe
    I hold her hand, I got no choice uhh

    This part in the song is where Non Lover Rhianna and Lover Rhianna come together to help each through the pain of realizing love is gone ("I hold her hand, I got no other choice)- she has to hold herself together...


    Pull me out on the beach, danced in the water
    I start to leave
    She's begging me and asking why
    It's Over

    Non lover is moving on and Lover Rhianna she is still pleading for to undertstand why she doesn't want love or the relationship that she had.



    Yes we can dance
    But you gotta watch your hands

    "I can play with the idea of love but i don't want it right now"

    Watch me all night
    I move under the light
    Because I understand
    That we all need love
    And I'm not afraid to feel the love
    But I don't feel that way
    " I understand that everyone needs love and not goin to push it way but i'm not in love anymore now"


    this part of the song is the answer from Non Lover Rihanna to Lover Rihanna about why it's over...She tells Lover Rihanna that she just can't love right now and she understands that she wants to stay in love and that every one needs love and that she won't run away from love when it comes again but she can't hold to this love any longer.
    ashleigh312on December 30, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI believe the other woman is a metaphor/symbol for "love." Both women are Rihanna, battling with herself. She (Rihanna) doesn't want to love anymore and wants to let go, but Te Amo (alter) is holding onto love.

    It can also be Rihanna having a hard time loving herself, but subconsciously, she realizes she has to start to become a better and happier person. It just seems as though she's scared due to her confidence. It's a process.

    It's a great song, either way.
    mad about the boyon July 06, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song can be taken two ways (being sung by a male narrator, or a female narrator) either way, the meaning doesn't alter too much.

    The song is about being held too close to someone, sometimes you just need your own space. In this song, the female being sung about is obviously in love with the narrator, but they don't feel the same way.

    "Thats when I saw it in her eye
    It's over"

    'it' in her eyes, being love, and so the narrator had to end it, but then the female " hand around me waist" and as the narrator "told her no" she cired "Te Amo".

    The narrator then asks what Te Amo means, saying: "Doesn't it mean I love you?" giving the sense of confusion, like they have never felt love at all, or if they couldn't imagine the female actually loving the narrator.

    If you believe that the narrator is female, the story takes the path of friends dancing, and the one admitting to the other that she loves her.

    If you believe that it is a male narrator, he could be looking to have some fun, but then finding that the female has fallen for him.

    The main thing to realise is that just because it's a female singer, doesn't mean that it has to the voice of female — that is the nature of a tale, poetry and lyrics ...
    Ahamkaraon November 14, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is not originally Rihanna's. Its by James Faultenroy, thats why Rihanna says "she", because she didnt alter the lyrics. Just thought I should mention :)
    SmileyxDon December 04, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Commenti think maybe she seems to think she is like the girl, even though she knows its over, she doesn't want to let go of something she thought was so good. and the guy just drags it out, but as its from his persepctive, she is trying to get guys to see how a girl's mind works. But then again. the whole lesbian theme seems pretty strong too. it could be about your bestfriend falling in love with you, and you having to tell them the friendship is "over" and your not afraid of love but you "dont feel that way". Afterall, if not a lesbian, would you be dancing with a girl you just met, close enough and intimately enough for her to tell you she loves you? :)
    rhorihornon December 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt is possible to think about these things too much y'know.
    Some woman is coming onto Rihanna and is being all drunk and "Oh I love you" whilst Rihanna is just like "Holy crap, I'll dance with you and maybe flirt abit but I don't bat for that team babe".
    sugarnspice91on August 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is a cover, correct?

    Either way- I see this as Rihanna's way of addressing herself, a dual perspective of being in love, and knowing better, and ultimately having to let go.
    LunaFlyon December 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationFor me, my initial interpretation was that it was about someone who wanted to be more then friends with someone else. Such as being a relationship. But the other person doesn't want to take that far.

    ashleigh312 & Ahamkara opinions I think are pretty good also.
    ASongsMeaningon January 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationIt's not a cover. James Fauntleroy II wrote this and several other songs for Rated R.

    Just for a short little interpretation: I think the song is narrated by a man. The woman loves the narrator, but he doesn't like her like that. He wasn't looking for a really serious relationship, and she's trying to make him stay. She's saying that she loves him, but it's like he doesn't understand what "I love you" means (hence the Spanish).
    Sylfion February 20, 2010   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!

Back to top