Love Always

Song Meaning

El DeBarge's "Love Always" isn't just a love song; it's an anthem of devotion against the backdrop of separation. The very act of writing becomes a ritual, a nightly reaffirmation of commitment in the face of absence. Each 'Love Always' signature is a brand, searing his feelings onto the page, pushing back against the nagging fear of fading affection. The lyrics betray a vulnerability masked by unwavering conviction. He admits to obsessively thinking of his beloved, writing her name 'at least a thousand times,' a count that hints at the anxiety simmering beneath the surface. This isn't just romance; it's a coping mechanism. The song meaning deepens when DeBarge addresses external influences, acknowledging that 'lots of people I know try to shape your mind.' This introduces a conflict beyond mere distance – the threat of outside manipulation. His declaration, 'that can't happen to me, I'm not the jealous kind,' feels less like a statement of fact and more like a desperate attempt to ward off insecurity. He's battling not just absence but also the potential erosion of trust, clinging to the belief that his love is strong enough to withstand both. The repetition of 'love always' becomes a mantra, a shield against doubt. The bridge offers a simple, almost childlike promise: 'We'll always be so faithfully, just hang on to me, forever.' It's a distilled plea for mutual endurance, stripping away complex emotions to reveal a core desire for steadfastness. The outro, with its repeated affirmations and vocal runs, is a raw outpouring of emotion. The ad-libs and improvisations convey a sense of urgency and a need to express the depth of his feelings beyond the confines of the written word. The addition of 'P.S.' to the letter suggests an unending well of affection, a love that can't be fully contained within the original message. In essence, "Love Always" is a portrait of a man fighting to preserve a connection against the forces of distance and doubt, using the power of words as his primary weapon.