And This is Love

Song Meaning

This song defines love not through grand gestures, but through a mosaic of everyday moments and shared experiences. It opens with simple, almost mundane objects and events – an apple tree witnessing a first kiss, glue for a mended dish, a checkered handkerchief. These aren't the stuff of fairy tales, but the quiet building blocks of a life lived together. The lyrics suggest love is found in the accumulation of these small, specific memories, both good and bad. The central tension arises from the contrast between idyllic shared dreams and the harsh realities of conflict and pain. The narrator recalls a "little dream house" meant to be filled with children, a symbol of future happiness. Yet, this is juxtaposed with a moment of intense jealousy where a "hand that struck" and broke the relationship, leaving "nothing left but hurt and pain." This duality highlights that love isn't just about the good times; it's also about the struggle, the forgiveness, and the persistent effort to "try and try and try again." The most striking craft element is the deliberate cataloging of these memories, presented as a collection of "all the things I've left behind" or "pasted to my mind." The repetition of specific images, like the "tree that spied on our first kiss" and the "old broken, broken dish," anchors the listener in tangible recollections. Even the seemingly negative memories, like cheating at checkers or the "broken vase I once threw at you and missed," are framed as integral parts of the love story, suggesting that imperfections and past hurts are woven into the fabric of enduring affection. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they redefine love as a lived, imperfect, and deeply personal narrative. It's not about a singular, perfect emotion, but about the messy, beautiful accumulation of shared history. The song's power lies in its ability to make the listener reflect on their own "broken dishes" and "birthday cakes," recognizing the profound significance of these ordinary details in the grand, complex story of love.