Love Hurts

Roy Orbison Roy Orbison

The Bittersweet Reality of Love in Roy Orbison's 'Love Hurts'

Roy Orbison's 'Love Hurts' is a poignant exploration of the painful side of love. The song delves into the emotional scars and wounds that love can inflict, portraying it as a force that can cause significant pain and suffering. Orbison's lyrics suggest that love is not for the faint-hearted; it requires a certain resilience to endure the heartache it often brings. The metaphor of love being like a cloud that holds a lot of rain vividly illustrates the idea that love can be heavy and burdensome, filled with sorrow and tears.

In the second verse, Orbison reflects on his own experiences with love, despite his youth. He acknowledges that he has learned valuable lessons from these experiences, albeit painful ones. The comparison of love to a stove that burns when it's hot is a powerful metaphor, emphasizing the intensity and potential danger of passionate love. This imagery conveys the idea that while love can be warm and comforting, it can also cause severe emotional burns when things go wrong.

The final verse takes a more cynical turn, as Orbison dismisses the notion of love as a source of happiness and bliss. He refers to those who believe in the idealized version of love as 'fools' who are deceiving themselves. For Orbison, love is a lie that ultimately leads to sadness and disappointment. This stark perspective challenges the romanticized view of love, presenting it instead as a source of inevitable pain. Through 'Love Hurts,' Orbison captures the complex and often contradictory nature of love, highlighting its capacity to bring both joy and sorrow.

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  1. She's a Mystery To Me
  2. Oh, Pretty Woman
  3. It's Over
  4. There Won't Be Many Coming Home
  5. A Love So Beautiful
  6. Beaujolais
  7. Unchained Melody
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  9. Candy Man
  10. Tryin' To Get To You
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