I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Anthem of Longing
Lyrics
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I’m older
Ooh, ooh
Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like the world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds, I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
In my life, there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far to change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is, I know you can show me
Oh, oh
I’m gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life, there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
I can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far to change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is, I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me
(And I wanna feel) I wanna feel what love is
(And I know) I know you can show me
Let’s talk about love (I wanna know what love is)
Love that you feel inside (I want you to show me)
And I’m feeling so much love (I wanna feel what love is)
No, you just cannot hide (I know you can show me)
Oh, oh
I wanna know what love is (let’s talk about love)
I know you can show me
I wanna feel it too (I want to feel what love is)
I wanna feel it too
And I know, and I know, I know you can show me
(Show me that it’s real, yeah) I want to know what love is
I wanna know, oh, oh (I want you to show me)
I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know (I wanna feel what love is)
I wanna feel
At first glance, Foreigner’s timeless ballad ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ appears to be a simple plea, a song yearning for understanding and connection. But beneath its anthemic chorus and soul-stirring melody lies a rich tapestry of human emotion and philosophical query. The 1984 hit speaks not just to the hearts of those who have felt the cold touch of loneliness, but also to the curious soul within all of us, desperate to define one of life’s most enigmatic concepts: love.
Through a blend of introspective lyrics, Mick Jones’ evocative songwriting, and Lou Gramm’s impassioned vocals, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ has become more than a chart-topper; it’s an existential exploration wrapped in a rock ballad. Let’s peel back the layers of this classic tune and dive into the deeper meanings that have resonated with listeners for generations.
The Echoes of a Soul Seeking Clarity
The opening verse of ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ instantly sets the tone of introspection: a moment of pause to ‘think things over.’ It’s a realization that love, often thought of as instinctual and natural, is in fact a complex phenomenon worthy of profound consideration.
The narrator understands that the wisdom of love is not just spontaneously understood but perhaps is learned over time, hinted at in ‘I better read between the lines, in case I need it when I’m older.’ Such maturity in the character’s reflection suggests that discovering the essence of love is a lifelong journey.
A Metaphorical Mountain and the Quest for Warmth
In their quest, the protagonist speaks of ‘this mountain I must climb,’ a metaphor for the challenges and intrinsic human struggle to comprehend and attain love. It’s a vision of solitary ascension, striving towards a love that ‘shines through the clouds,’ presenting the idea that love is both a guiding force and a destination.
The warmth that love brings, a contrast to ‘life [growing] colder,’ does more than offer solace; it becomes a beacon through life’s adversities, fueling the climb towards enlightenment and emotional fulfillment.
The Universal Pledge: Transforming a ‘Lonely Life’
Love is positioned as the key to transforming the narrator’s ‘lonely life.’ It’s a declaration we can all relate to, the will to change, to not ‘stop now,’ after coming ‘so far.’ This illustrates the ubiquity of love’s pursuit and the conviction that finding love is integral to altering one’s path.
Emphasizing the journey’s importance and the readiness to embrace vulnerability, the character in our ballad becomes a mirror for our own aspirations, reflecting our deep-seated need for connection and change.
The Hidden Meaning: An Ethereal Yearning Beyond the Physical
Beyond its urging chorus, what this track coyly conceals is an ethereal yearning, a desire for love that transcends the physical realm. It grapples with love as a concept, a force, an ultimate truth that the narrator wishes to ‘know’ and ‘feel,’ suggesting a hunger for something beyond romantic love or companionship.
Parsing the lyrics, one can infer that ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ delves into spiritual territory—holding love as a sacred knowledge that, once understood, could unlock new planes of existence and perhaps even provide meaning to life itself.
Memorable Lines that Transcend Generations: The Anthem’s Core
With its poignant refrain – ‘I want to know what love is, I want you to show me’ – the song captures the essence of the human condition: our intrinsic desire to explore the depths of the heart and to be guided through its mysteries. These words have clung to the lips of many, a heartfelt plea that remains timeless.
It’s a statement that compels the listener to reflect on their own experiences, to question, and perhaps to guide others in their quests. What has etched this line in the annals of music history is its ability to serve as a collective anthem for every individual’s search for the meaning of love.
