That’s the Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Seductive Layers of Desire
Lyrics
Burned by the fire
My love is blind
Can’t you see my desire
That’s the way love goes
(That’s the way love)
(That’s the way love)
(That’s the way love goes)
Like a moth to a flame burned by the fire (that’s the way)
My love is blind, can’t you see my desire? (That’s the way)
Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire (that’s the way)
My love is blind, can’t you see my desire?
That’s the way love goes
Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire
(That’s the way, that’s the way, that’s the way love goes)
That’s the way love goes
My love is blind, can’t you see my desire?
(That’s the way, that’s the way, that’s the way love goes)
Come with me, don’t you worry
I’m gonna make you crazy
I’ll give you the time of your life
I’m gonna take you places
You’ve never been before and
You’ll be so happy that you came
Ooh, I’m gonna take you there, ooh
That’s the way love goes (ooh)
That’s the way love goes
(That’s the way love goes)
That’s the way love goes (desire) (that’s the way)
That’s the way love goes (desire)
(That’s the way, that’s the way love goes)
Don’t mind if I light candles
I like to watch us play and
Baby, I’ve got on what you like
Come closer, baby, closer
Reach out and feel my body
I’m gonna give you all my love (that’s the way love goes)
Ooh, sugar don’t you hurry
You’ve got me here all night
Just close your eyes and hold on tight
(That’s the way, that’s the way)
Ooh, baby, don’t stop, don’t stop
Go deeper, baby, deeper
You feel so good I’m gonna cry
Oh, I’m gonna take you there, ooh
That’s the way love goes
That’s the way love goes
(That’s the way love goes, it goes, it goes)
That’s the way love goes
Ooh, that’s the way love goes
(That’s the way love goes)
That’s the way love goes
Oh, that’s the way love goes
Don’t you know (oh), that’s the way
Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire (yeah)
My love is blind, can’t you see my desire?
Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire
My love is blind, can’t you see my desire? (Baby, yeah)
That’s the way, that’s the way (ooh)
That’s the way, that’s the way (that’s the way love goes)
That’s the way, that’s the way, that’s the way love goes
That’s the way love goes
(That’s the way, that’s the way)
(That’s the way, that’s the way) that’s the way love goes, it goes, it goes
(That’s the way, that’s the way)
That’s the way love goes
That’s the way love goes
That’s the way love goes, ooh (that’s the way love goes)
That’s the way love goes (that’s the way love goes)
That’s the way love, that’s the way love, that’s the way love
That’s the way love, that’s the way love, that’s the way love
That’s the way love goes
In the lexicon of ’90s R&B, Janet Jackson emerges not just as a pop icon but as a maestro of the heart’s complex symphony, a symphony grandiosely encapsulated in her 1993 hit ‘That’s the Way Love Goes.’ The track, from her fifth album ‘janet.,’ serves as a sensuous foray into the interplay of desire, love’s inherent risks, and the abandonment of oneself to passion’s inferno.
More than a mere groove-laden track, ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ presents a multifaceted exploration of romantic love. Janet’s sultry vocals beckon listeners into a realm where the burning and yearning of love reflect life’s visceral experiences, creating an anthem that resonates well beyond its era.
Decoding the Flame: The Moth’s Allure to Love
The song commences with an age-old metaphor, ‘Like a moth to a flame, burned by the fire,’ which vividly illustrates love’s hazardous pull. It’s a poetic admission that even with the knowledge of potential pain, the magnetic lure of passion remains irresistible. Janet invokes this image to embrace the duality of love—the ecstasy coupled with the danger of being consumed by its intensity.
Her repetitive invocation of this metaphor throughout the track isn’t a mere stylistic choice but rather a stark reminder of love’s inexorable nature. It’s a surrender to an elemental, often uncontrollable, force that drives human connection.
The Rhythm of Seduction: Setting Passion to a Beat
While the lyrics muse on the consuming nature of love, musically, the song encapsulates the early ’90s R&B scene with its low tempo and bass-driven groove, inviting a sensuous sway. The soundtrack of the track supplies a melodic lubricant for the listeners’ appetites, luring them into Janet’s hedonistic vision of romance.
It offers a pace akin to the pulsing heart of new love, both sanguine and leisurely, a rhythm willing to let love unfold in waves of desire without rushing towards the climax. The flow of the beats against Janet’s serene delivery becomes a dance of words and music that only deepens the song’s seductive clout.
Behind Closed Doors: The Song’s Veiled Tenderness
Between the lines of passionate bravado lies a subtly implied softness. ‘Don’t mind if I light candles’ isn’t just about setting the physical mood but also about illuminating the intimacy that accompanies physical affection. It’s an acknowledgment of the sacred space created when two lovers merge, a gentle reminder that true passion isn’t skin-deep—it’s soul-deep.
Laden within the sensual lyrics are the raw emotions of vulnerability and trust that are fundamental to any profound relationship. Janet’s approach to these tender moments is not abrasive but inviting, suggesting a mutuality and depth in the sensual experience she portrays.
Euphonic Confessions: Janet’s Vocal Narrative
Janet Jackson’s voice in ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ does more than carry a tune; it narrates the very essence of yearning. As she coos phrases like ‘Come closer, baby, closer,’ her tone dips into a register that resonates with intimacy. It’s not just singing—it’s a confession, a vocal manifestation of hearts colliding.
The depth and variety in Janet’s vocal stylings throughout the song, from flirtatious whispers to resolute declarations, act as both the confidante to the listener and the siren’s call to an unseen lover. Her voice becomes a vessel for love’s journey, mapping out the ups and downs, the whispers and screams, the peace and the turbulence.
Enduring Verses: The Lines That Echo Through Time
Certain lines in ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ have gained an iconic status, etching themselves in the collective memory. ‘I’m gonna give you all my love’ is a promise of complete surrender, encapsulating the song’s bravado and the indivisible bond Janet puts on full display.
The serenading simplicity in ‘You’ll be so happy that you came’ subtly unfolds layers of meaning, with its double entendre speaking to both the rapture of love and the physical consummation that it often entails. These phrases articulate the multifaceted nature of passion that Janet reveals—a passion that is as much about the emotional odyssey as it is about the corporeal union.
