It’s Not Unusual by Tom Jones Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking Love’s Enigma with a 60s Twist
Lyrics
It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It’s not unusual to see me cry
I wanna die
It’s not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime
If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone
It’s not unusual
It happens every day
No matter what you say
You’ll find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can’t this crazy love be mine?
It’s not unusual to be mad with anyone
It’s not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find that you’ve changed at any time
It’s not unusual to find out I’m in love with you
Whoa-whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa-whoa, oh-ohh
Whoa-whoa, oh-oh-oh-oh, whoa
Whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa
In the pantheon of classic pop hits, few songs have bubbled with as much zest and brio as Tom Jones’s 1965 chart-topper ‘It’s Not Unusual.’ On the surface, the song is a vivacious and brassy celebration of the universal nature of love and fun. Yet, beneath its catchy lines and Jones’s powerhouse vocals lies a lyrical depth that captures the zeitgeist of the ’60s while resonating with timeless themes of longing and rejection.
Diving into the text, ‘It’s Not Unusual’ emerges not solely as a jaunty track to twist to but as an exploration of the complexities of the human heart. What makes the song endure is its relatable depiction of the oft capricious and uncontrollable nature of love.
The Swinging 60s: A Mirror to Youthful Joie de Vivre
The sheer exuberance of Tom Jones’s voice captures the rebellious and carefree spirit emblematic of the 1960s. ‘It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone’ is a statement of fact, an axiom of the age where the pursuit of love was an open and free endeavor. The melody that bolsters these words is equally liberating, getting under the skin and inviting a physical, knee-jerk reaction that equalled the decade’s dance craze.
Despite the throes of the Cold War, love and fun remained unbridled forces that the youth clung to. The lyrics ‘It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone’ echo the era’s shift towards a society less bound by previous generations’ courtship formalities and more engrossed in the discovery of new ways to enjoy companionship.
A Cry Beneath the Laughter: The Song’s Heartache
Jones’s rollicking anthem sends listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions that finely balances joy with sorrow. ‘It’s not unusual to see me cry, I wanna die,’ comes through as a stark, raw expression of pain amidst the otherwise brightly lit verses. The juxtaposition creates a compelling tension that speaks to the duality of love — the euphoria and the despair.
As much as the track swings, it also delves into the darker corners of the heart. The transformation from broad smiles to private tears portrays a person grappling with unrequited love, a sentiment that crosses time and place to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who’s pined over someone who doesn’t reciprocate their affections.
The Jarring Injustice of Love’s Whims
Tom Jones brings to the fore love’s indiscriminate caprice with the line, ‘Love will never do what you want it to.’ In this, he captures a universal truth that plagues romantics: love’s inherent unpredictability. The notion that ‘It happens every day’ serves not only as a reassurance of normalcy but underscores the commonality of love’s cruelties.
With ‘It’s not unusual to go out at any time, but when I see you out and about it’s such a crime,’ the singer invokes the sense of injustice felt when seeing a beloved enjoying themselves without you. It’s a reminder that love does not adhere to any laws of fairness or morality. Instead, it follows its mysterious and often painful path.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning: Love’s Derangement
At its core, ‘It’s Not Unusual’ is not just a song about the commonplace nature of love, but also about the transformation it can induce. The repeated line ‘It’s not unusual,’ often followed by various scenarios and emotions, subtly brings attention to the normalization of the wildness and derangement that love can bring about in one’s life.
With the powerful declaration ‘But if I ever find that you’ve changed at any time, It’s not unusual to find out I’m in love with you,’ Jones encapsulates love’s transcendence of reason and the consequential surrender to its overwhelming force, even at the cost of self-destruction.
Memorable Lines that Transcended Time
The very lines of the song have, over the decades, etched themselves into the collective consciousness. The opening phrase, ‘It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone,’ is not merely the commencement of a catchy tune; it’s an affirmation of love’s ubiquity, a line that breaks down barriers and suggests an egalitarian approach to affectionate bonds.
Simultaneously, the verse ‘Why can’t this crazy love be mine?’ resonates with the agony of unfulfilled desires and the universal longing to possess the love that eludes us. Tom Jones’s delivery of these lines with equal parts swagger and vulnerability dig into the melody, turning the song into a time capsule of emotion.
