The narrative voice does allow for some ambiguity as to what the lie is that the subject of the song is telling him- or herself: Are they lying in believing that he could fall in love with the subject, or lying in believing that they are indeed in love with him? These possibilities are also not mutually exclusive; there are many ways in which a person might lie to oneself. Is he resistant to saying the three words because he truly isn't in love with the subject or because he fears that the subject is insincere or fickle? In stating that all he wants is a "kiss or two" would seem to indicate the former. However, it is not inconceivable that a person could: 1) be attracted to another enough to desire a physical relationship with another; 2) feel deeper emotions and romantic attachment to said other; and, 3) not trust the other's perception/intention/self-representation enough to feel safe in acting upon the aforementioned emotions in order to seek a committed relationship whilst still pursuing the physical aspect of a relationship.
Will he or she not hear the "I love you" because he refuses to speak it (and moreover, does he resist this action out of integrity and honesty to his own emotions, or is he refusing to speak a truth in an act of self-preservation against a person he sees as untrustworthy?), or will he or she be unable to "hear" it in a sense of listening to his words, understanding and truly valuing his position, and allowing his or her natural defense of self-deception down long enough for another's voice to penetrate this egocentric fantasy?
The narrative voice does allow for some ambiguity as to what the lie is that the subject of the song is telling him- or herself: Are they lying in believing that he could fall in love with the subject, or lying in believing that they are indeed in love with him? These possibilities are also not mutually exclusive; there are many ways in which a person might lie to oneself. Is he resistant to saying the three words because he truly isn't in love with the subject or because he fears that the subject is insincere or fickle? In stating that all he wants is a "kiss or two" would seem to indicate the former. However, it is not inconceivable that a person could: 1) be attracted to another enough to desire a physical relationship with another; 2) feel deeper emotions and romantic attachment to said other; and, 3) not trust the other's perception/intention/self-representation enough to feel safe in acting upon the aforementioned emotions in order to seek a committed relationship whilst still pursuing the physical aspect of a relationship.
Will he or she not hear the "I love you" because he refuses to speak it (and moreover, does he resist this action out of integrity and honesty to his own emotions, or is he refusing to speak a truth in an act of self-preservation against a person he sees as untrustworthy?), or will he or she be unable to "hear" it in a sense of listening to his words, understanding and truly valuing his position, and allowing his or her natural defense of self-deception down long enough for another's voice to penetrate this egocentric fantasy?