This is one of the smarmiest and most cynical pieces of bullshit ever created to manipulate young women. An age-old ruse packaged in an acoustic guitar ballad crooned by two romantic long-hairs. Ick.
I was dismayed to hear a cover for this song on Friday at the high school where I teach. Three young women were using the song for an assignment they were doing for their ASL class, learning to sign all the lyrics in preparation for an eventual presentation.The current version—the one they were using—is a cover by an artist named Frankie J. The original (above) was written and recorded by the band Extreme, and also covered by Eric Clapton (eep!)Check out these “heartfelt” lyrics:
More Than Words
lyrics by Gary CheroneSaying I love you
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It’s not that I want you
Not to say, but if you only knew
How easy it would be to show me how you feel
More than words is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me
Cos I’d already knowWhat would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn’t make things new
Just by saying I love youMore than words
All you have to do is close your eyes
And just reach out your hands and touch me
Hold me close don’t ever let me go
More than words is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me
Cos I’d already know(emphasis mine)
The song itself asks the person to whom it is addressed to show love through “more than words.” Given its context as a song on Pornograffitti, a concept album about a decadent and corrupt society, it could be interpreted as a cynical plea for sex, though most listeners interpret it as being about emotional intimacy.
“Most listeners interpret it as being about emotional intimacy.” Indeed. Is this because most listeners are not paying any attention to what the lyrics are really saying? Since when is “emotional intimacy” displayed by “reach(ing) out your hands and touch(ing) me”?
I cannot BELIEVE this song is beloved by so many people, including so many young girls. It makes me sad to even think about it.
Comments 11
I remember when the Extreme version was new. I thought it was awful and smarmy and I still do.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 4:54 am ¶I remember this song from my Junior Homecoming, and I hated it then. Ugh.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 6:55 am ¶Barf. I’m glad I never liked this song well enough to think about the lyrics.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 8:18 am ¶I guess I never thought about it that way, although I didn’t ever closely examine the lyrics either.
I always thought of it as your actions speaking louder than your words…. like how sometimes holding someone’s hand can do a lot more to comfort them than saying “I’m sorry you’re hurting”.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 9:58 am ¶agreed. though, if we’re going to start dissecting lyrics of uber-popular songs for repulsive and reprehensible, misogynistic meanings, i can cite you about 20 far more heinous ones right off the top of my head, mostly from the hip-hop and rap genres. i know you know, btw.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 10:15 am ¶Mim ~ Maybe, except they’re specifically talking about saying “I love you,” and how those words are “not enough.” Eew.
Debbie ~ True, but I think this one really bugs me because it’s packaged like a love ballad. At least most hip hop doesn’t pretend to be something else.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 11:44 am ¶Oh I was sucked in, I thought this song was sooo romantic when I was in high school. It wasn’t until a few years later that I actually listened to the lyrics and got totally disgusted.
Posted 19 Feb 2008 at 10:28 pm ¶I just never liked the song enough to listen to the lyrics before. Ugh.
Posted 20 Feb 2008 at 5:56 pm ¶Naif that I am, I understood it like Mim did. “Just reach out your hand…” Somehow it seemed pretty above-the sheets. Maybe a hand job.
My Dad always hated the Extreme version because it sounded like the same guy on 2 tracks. He always called it “the Everly Brother.”
Posted 20 Feb 2008 at 11:19 pm ¶Even the bloggers at the Seattle P-I agree. http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/131943.asp
The way this song continues to invade teenage minds is a case against free speech. Well, that’s overstating it, but still. UGH.
Posted 24 Feb 2008 at 10:35 am ¶I remember loving the way this song ‘felt’ but wanting to slap the guys - and the girls that loved how romantic it was.
The other one that bugged me was the one where clapton gets shitfaced and knows his wife loves him because she’ll take him home and make sure he’s okay. How beautiful! It’s sung the same way, with love oozing out of it’s pores, so it’s seen as respectful and loving.
There are more, but it’s the ones that pretend to be about love but don’t really follow through that make me grump.
Posted 09 Mar 2008 at 10:48 am ¶Post a Comment