No Ordinary Love by Sade Lyrics Meaning – Exploring Depths of Love and Sacrifice in Music
Lyrics
I gave you more than I could give
I gave you love
I gave you all that I have inside
And you took my love
You took my love
Didn’t I tell you
What I believe?
Did somebody say that
A love like that won’t last?
Didn’t I give you
All that I’ve got to give, baby?
I gave you all the love I got
I gave you more than I could give
I gave you love
I gave you all that I have inside
And you took my love
You took my love
I keep crying (I keep crying)
I keep trying for you
There’s nothing like you and I, baby
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
When you came my way (my way)
You brightened every day
With your sweet smile
Didn’t I tell you
What I believe?
Did somebody say that
A love like that won’t last?
Didn’t I give you
All that I’ve got to give, baby?
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
I keep crying (I keep crying)
I keep trying for you
There’s nothing like you and I, baby
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
Keep trying for you
Keep crying for you
Keep flying for you
Keep flying, I’m falling (falling, falling, falling)
Keep trying for you
Keep crying for you
Keep flying for you
Keep flying, I’m falling (falling, falling, falling)
And I’m falling (falling, falling)
In the pantheon of love songs, few shine as hauntingly and beautifully as Sade’s ‘No Ordinary Love.’ From the resonant opening chords to the ethereal delivery of Sade Adu’s voice, the track evokes a dream-like quality that transports listeners into the depths of love’s complexities. It’s a song that doesn’t just speak of love; it reverberates with the longing and profound commitments of the heart.
Released in 1992 as part of the prestigious ‘Love Deluxe’ album, ‘No Ordinary Love’ became a seminal work in Sade’s discography, capturing the essence of a love that transcends the ordinary. The rich, sultry tones and minimalist instrumentation underscore a narrative of love’s deep sacrifice and inexorable pain. But let’s dive into the layers that make this song a timeless ballad, loaded with emotion and meaning.
The Sacrifice of Self in Pursuit of Love
The repetition of ‘I gave you all the love I got, I gave you more than I could give’ speaks volumes about the nature of love as depicted by Sade. It’s an act of self-sacrifice, sometimes to the point of depletion. The lyrics paint a picture of a protagonist who has given their everything to a relationship, leaving no stone unturned in their effort to foster a bond beyond the ordinary.
Sade’s depiction isn’t just about love’s beauty. It’s also a warning about the dangers of loving too deeply. As much as love is celebrated, it is also scrutinized here for its capacity to unbalance and drain, perhaps even to a fault where the lover loses parts of themselves in the effort to sustain the connection.
The Masochistic Edge of Unrequited Love
In the lines ‘I keep crying, I keep trying for you,’ we find the lover caught in a cycle of hope and heartbreak. There is a masochistic edge to this unrequited effort; a relentless pursuit in the face of constant pain. Yet, Sade doesn’t judge. Instead, she captures the bittersweet realization that sometimes one’s greatest emotional investments yield no returns.
But ‘No Ordinary Love’ is not a song that revels in sadness. It’s a narrative that elevates the listener’s understanding of love — not as a mere feeling but as an enduring, if painful, action. Each tear and each attempt to connect becomes a testament to the extraordinary nature of the bond that the protagonist has experienced.
Hidden Depths: The Ambiguity of ‘You Took My Love’
A pivotal revelation lies within the words ‘And you took my love, You took my love.’ This phrase can be interpreted in various ways, from a simple acknowledgment of love received to the possibility of love exploited or unappreciated. The ambiguity here is intentional, leaving listeners to ponder whether the protagonist’s love has been cherished or squandered.
The potency of this line is in its open-ended nature. Sade doesn’t provide a clear-cut narrative but instead invites those who have loved to see their own stories in the ups and downs of the melody. It’s a universal echo that resonates with anyone who has felt the volatility of deep affection.
The Irreplaceable Duo: ‘You and I, Baby’
One of the more memorable lines from the song, ‘There’s nothing like you and I, baby,’ encapsulates the unique and irreplaceable nature of the relationship in question. The insinuation is clear: despite the pain and despite the depth of the protagonist’s sacrifice, there is something unparalleled about this love.
In these words, we find the crux of ‘No Ordinary Love.’ Love, in its most sublime form, is irreplaceable. It’s a force that, once experienced, cannot be replicated or substituted. It’s the curse and the beauty wrapped in a single emotional experience that Sade delivers so hauntingly.
The Unending Descent: ‘Keep Flying, I’m Falling’
Emphasizing the dichotomous nature of intense love, Sade uses the imagery of flight and descent to depict both the high hopes and the deep falls of the heart. ‘Keep flying for you, Keep flying, I’m falling’ suggests an almost Sisyphean effort in love — rising and falling in an endless cycle that both elevates and devastates.
Metaphorically, Sade’s words point to the lover’s willingness to endure this cycle for the sake of the connection they have known. It is both a confession of vulnerability and a declaration of unwavering commitment, a sentiment that many listeners can relate to in the vast landscapes of their own loves and losses.
