Love by Keyshia Cole Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Depths of a Soulful Ballad
Lyrics
And I used to think that I wasn’t wild enough
But I won’t waste my time tryna figure out why you playin’ games
What’s this all about?
And I can’t believe
You’re hurting me
I met your girl, what a difference
What you see in her
You ain’t seen in me
But I guess it was all just make-believe
Oh, love
Never knew what I was missin’
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found
Love
Never knew what I was missin’
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found, found you
Now you’re gone, what am I gonna do?
So empty
My heart, my soul, can’t go on
Go on, without you
My rainy days fade away when you
Come around, please tell me, baby
Why you go so far away?
Why you go?
Love
Never knew what I was missin’
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found
Love
Never knew what I was missin’
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found, I found you
Who would have known I’d find you?
Ooh
Now you’re gone, what am I gonna do?
So empty
My heart, my soul, can’t go on
Go on, baby, without you
Rainy days fade away
When you come around
Say you’re here to stay
With me, boy
I don’t want you to leave me
I, I need you
Love
Never knew what I was missin’ (I never knew)
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found (found love)
Love
Never knew what (I never) I was missin’ (never, never)
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found (I found, I found)
Love
Never knew what I was missin’
But I knew once we start kissin’
I found
Keyshia Cole’s ‘Love’ is more than just a song; it’s a journey through the landscape of the heart. Ostensibly simple in its melody and arrangement, the track, released on Cole’s 2005 debut album ‘The Way It Is’, digs deep into the emotional complexities of love lost and the self-discovery found in its aftermath.
The song’s raw and vulnerable lyrics serve as an autobiographical sketch of Cole’s own experiences with love and heartache. But beneath its chart-topping melody and soulful vocals lies a layered tapestry of meaning that resonates with anyone who’s ever faced the specter of unrequited love.
Reflecting Insecurities Beneath The Surface
One of the key themes buried within the song’s poignant verses is the sense of inadequacy that often accompanies a one-sided affection. Cole’s candid admission that she once doubted her own worth and vibrancy echoes a universal human insecurity.
This lyrical confession elevates ‘Love’ from a mere song to an anthem for every person who has questioned their value through the murky lens of someone else’s gaze. The power in Cole’s voice, paired with her transparency, offers a mirror to our innermost fears.
The Transformation of Pain into Self-Discovery
The defining moment of revelation arrives as Cole closes the door on speculation, refusing to engage in the mental games played by her inattentive lover. It’s a turn towards personal empowerment, where the real love found is for oneself.
In this way, ‘Love’ is a cathartic release—a narrative about moving beyond the shadows of a failed romance to find a deeper connection and understanding of one’s own needs and desires. The song embodies the blossoming of self-love that often sprouts from the ashes of lost external affection.
The Resonating Echo of Memorable Lines
‘Never knew what I was missin’, But I knew once we start kissin’, I found, I found you.’ These lines serve as the song’s heartbeat, encapsulating the serendipitous discovery of love that transcends an initial void—accentuated with the sharp pain of subsequent loss.
This poignant refrain is more than mere words; it’s a powerful narrative device that captures the sudden clarity of realizing what one had only after it’s gone. The duality of discovery and loss wrapped in these lines forms a bittersweet melody that lingers long after the song ends.
The Hidden Meaning: Glimpsing a Mirror Rather Than a Memory
While on the surface ‘Love’ appears to be about the singer’s relationship with an absent paramour, a deeper exploration suggests it could be viewed as the artist’s dialogue with her own reflection—where the ‘you’ found is not another person, but rather her own identity.
This introspective read of the song presents it as a narrative arc of evolving self-recognition; a poignant reminder that the greatest love stories may not be about the ones we’re with, but the ones we become through the trials of the heart.
Why We Still Croon to Keyshia Cole’s Siren Song
Years after its release, ‘Love’ continues to be a staple in R&B rotations and playlists dedicated to heartbreak and healing. Cole’s soulful rendition strikes a chord as it encapsulates the universal language of human emotion—our collective experience of searching for, losing, and ultimately finding love within.
Therein lies the song’s undying appeal. It is a melody that memos our own vulnerabilities and strengths, drawing us back to reflect, relate, and sing along with Keyshia Cole, as if reclaiming pieces of our own love stories with each note.
