Song Meaning
Dar Williams' "I Love, I Love (Traveling II)" isn't a simple ode to romance, but a complex portrait of love intertwined with the imperative of self-discovery. The opening lines establish love as a cataclysmic, almost overwhelming force – capable of burying kingdoms and disrupting natural order. This isn't the gentle affection of greeting cards; it's a primal power, an elemental storm contained, paradoxically, within the delicate confines of a 'shadowbox.' The repetition, 'I loved, I love,' suggests an ongoing, present-tense experience, a continuous state of being rather than a past event. The natural world responds in kind, with rivers singing and stars awakening, painting love as a force that animates the universe. Yet, even as the night transforms into heaven, a shadow of restlessness lingers, hinting at the internal conflict at the heart of the song.
The pull of wanderlust, however, directly confronts this idyllic vision. Williams declares her intention to journey 'to a far, far land,' a destination made certain by her own past and future. The 'maps on the table' and admission of lost things reveal a life marked by movement and a conscious decision to not turn back. This isn't mere travel; it's a fundamental aspect of her identity, a need to explore and perhaps escape that clashes directly with the grounding, settling nature of love. The bridge amplifies this struggle, imagining a scenario where she could be a 'deadwood ship,' untouched by love's influence. But she acknowledges her humanity, her vulnerability to being burned by experience, even as she knows walking away might break her heart.
Ultimately, "I Love, I Love (Traveling II)" is a meditation on the tension between connection and independence. Williams chooses a path of self-discovery, acknowledging the profound beauty and power of love while recognizing its potential to tether her to a place or person. The closing verses offer a bittersweet resolution: she will observe and adore, like the moon at a distance or the wind that crowns without possessing. This is not a rejection of love, but a redefinition of its boundaries. She will love, but from a distance, cherishing the connection while remaining true to her own need to travel and explore. The song's meaning resides in this difficult balance, a testament to the complexities of love and the sometimes-conflicting demands of the self.
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