Darling

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship marked by frequent, perhaps necessary, separations. The narrator receives communication from afar – postcards, phone calls, a telegram – all conveying a sense of longing and missing. This distance is immediately bridged by the lover's return, described with an intimate "hold, and kiss me," suggesting a passionate reunion that momentarily erases the time apart. The central tension lies in the plea to "leave a little love for later on" and "a secret on the shelf." This isn't about withholding affection entirely, but rather about creating a reserve, an anticipation for future encounters. The narrator wants the lover to be able to "come back when you've gone" and "come back in for more," implying a desire for a sustainable, recurring passion rather than a finite, all-consuming one. It's a delicate balance between present pleasure and future desire. The repeated phrase "darling, darling, darling" acts as both an endearment and a desperate plea, emphasizing the emotional weight of this request. The narrator's imagination is key here, running "fancy free" and conjuring "all the good things we can do." This internal world of fantasy fuels the desire for the lover's return, making the act of leaving a little behind a crucial element for sustaining that imaginative and emotional connection over time. The "magic eyes" and "heart aggression" further highlight the intense, almost overwhelming, attraction that the narrator wishes to prolong. This focus on creating future anticipation through present restraint is what makes the lyrics resonate. The narrator isn't just enjoying the reunion; they are actively crafting the conditions for future ones. The imagery of climbing "mountains and the hills of passion" suggests a grand, enduring love, but the underlying message is that such heights are best reached through a measured approach, ensuring the journey can always begin anew.