(I’m) in Love Again

Song Meaning

Blossom Dearie's "(I'm) in Love Again" isn't a breathless plunge into the unknown, but a sophisticated, almost wry re-acquaintance with a familiar euphoria. The opening lines, "I'm in love again / And the feeling's not new," immediately subvert the typical love song trope of naive infatuation. Dearie isn't discovering love; she's rediscovering it, like a cherished book pulled from the shelf after years of neglect. There's a knowingness in her voice, a seasoned acceptance of the cyclical nature of affection. She understands the "signs" and knows "what to do," suggesting a comfortable expertise in the rituals of romance. It's not a desperate clinging, but an assured embrace. The lyrics paint love as a well-worn path: "It's a highway / That I have traveled through before." This isn't presented as a negative, but rather as a source of comfort and anticipation. She knows "all the curves," implying a deep familiarity with the emotional terrain of this particular relationship. The phrase "I've come back for more" isn't a plea, but a confident declaration of desire. It speaks to the addictive quality of love, the irresistible pull to return to a source of joy and connection. There's a certain self-awareness here, an understanding of her own patterns and preferences. The song’s core message seems to be less about the object of her affection and more about the transformative power of love itself. "I'm alive again / I can wake up and sing / Nothing bores me now / I enjoy everything" reveals love as a revitalizing force, a catalyst for renewed engagement with the world. It's not just about the 'you' she's singing to, but the 'me' that emerges in their presence. The repetition of "Here I go again / The way that I always do" reinforces this sense of comfortable inevitability. This isn't a reckless abandonment, but a conscious choice to surrender to a familiar and cherished experience, an embrace of the self that love unlocks. Ultimately, Dearie's "(I'm) in Love Again" is a testament to the enduring and transformative power of love, not as a singular event, but as a recurring and welcome visitor in the landscape of the heart.