The Book of Love

One of the simplest, yet most beautiful and touching songs about love ever written. Stephen Merritt is an absolute genius and the fact that he wrote 68 other songs about love in a single release without wasting a word or a note is testament to his brilliance. This is definitely the signature song on that masterpiece as it kind of sums up the entire theme. Although the song (and the 69 songs album) is ostensibly supposed to be a commentary about the expression of love through music rather than love itself, the singer/narrator does laps into the feeling of love itself in the second verse. This is what makes the song both ironic and incredibly touching. The cynical, cerebral narrator himself cannot elude love's irrational grip.

The song is a natural for being covered and it really doesn't bother when other artists attempt their own version of it. However, I think most attempts are doomed to fail because they can't approach the stark simplicity and authenticity of the original without just copying it completely which would be pointless. Peter Gabriel's version is remarkably uninspired because his style (lush compositions) doesn't suit the irony implicit in the songs lyrics, and his musical vision is so different than Stephen Merritt's.

I would have loved to have heard Jeff Buckley cover this song (sadly that can't happen) or someone with an equally supple and expressive sound. Somebody upthread mention Leonard Cohen and and there really is a similar style and approach. (I wonder if and how much SM was influenced by Cohen).