Song Meaning

The narrator directly addresses a lover with a famously difficult disposition, stating plainly, "You don't have a very good temper." This sets a tone of weary acceptance, immediately followed by a shrug: "After all, what does it matter?" The lyrics paint a picture of someone who loves their partner despite, and perhaps even because of, their significant flaws. It's a love that's been tested, acknowledging "you have very big ones" when it comes to faults. This isn't a fairytale romance; the narrator admits to dreaming of an angel but finding something entirely different with this partner. The tension arises from the constant push and pull between exasperation and affection. "For nothing, you get angry," which "makes me tense and exasperates me," yet these outbursts are countered by "little things on the side" that compel forgiveness. This cycle of frustration and appeasement is the core conflict, making the love feel earned rather than effortless. The most striking aspect is the narrator's evolving resignation, moving from initial annoyance to a state of being "used to it" and able to "put up with you." The partner's suggestion that the narrator "could find worse" becomes a strange form of comfort. Even the public embarrassment, where "the neighbors laugh in silence" at the partner's antics, is reframed with a sarcastic "Hey! Hey! It's always a pleasure when you think about it." This dark humor highlights a deep-seated, almost defiant, commitment. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture the messy reality of long-term relationships. The narrator's love isn't based on an idealized image but on a pragmatic, if sometimes painful, acceptance of who the partner is. The final declaration, "I still stay / Because I love you," is powerful precisely because it's so unvarnished. It's a love that endures not because the partner is perfect, but because, despite everything, the narrator's affection is stronger than their frustration.