When Love And Hate Collide

Def Leppard's "When Love And Hate Collide" delves into the emotional struggle of a relationship teetering between deep affection and profound discord. The lyrics express the pain and confusion that arise when love is met with resistance and conflict. The song's narrator is caught in a cycle of desire and disappointment, reaching out to a partner who seems indifferent or even hostile. The repeated attempts to connect, symbolized by the 'hundredth time' the phone is slammed down, highlight a persistent hope for reconciliation despite ongoing strife.

The chorus, 'Without you, one night alone is like a year without you baby,' emphasizes the depth of the narrator's longing and the emptiness felt in the absence of their loved one. The question 'Do you have a heart of stone?' suggests a plea for empathy and emotional response from the partner. The juxtaposition of love and hate within the song suggests that even in the midst of conflict, the narrator's feelings remain complex and intertwined, making it difficult to let go or move on.

The song's title and recurring theme, 'When love and hate collide,' encapsulate the central message: the tumultuous experience when strong emotions clash, creating a volatile and painful dynamic. Def Leppard, known for their rock anthems and ballads, captures the universal experience of struggling with contradictory feelings in a relationship, where the line between love and animosity can become blurred.