That’s What Love Will Make You Do (Live at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, September 2, 1989)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone utterly consumed by love, to the point of losing all composure. The narrator describes a physical reaction, a "shake inside," and a complete loss of "self-control" simply at the thought or sight of their beloved. This isn't a subtle affection; it's an overwhelming force that dictates their actions and feelings. The repeated assertion, "That's what love will do for you," acts as both an explanation and an almost helpless acknowledgment of this powerful emotional state. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle against this overwhelming feeling. Despite admitting, "No matter how hard I fight it," the love persists, making them feel "still in love." This internal conflict highlights the involuntary nature of their affection. The promise to "work eight days a week" and do "no limit" things for the other person underscores how love compels them to exceed normal boundaries and personal limits, even if they're trying to resist the full implications of it. The bridge offers a shift, moving from the internal turmoil to external validation of the beloved's qualities. The narrator praises their beauty and prowess, but immediately tempers it with a desire not to "brag about you too much / And give others ideas." This reveals a protective, almost possessive, undertone to the love, suggesting that the intensity of their feelings also stems from a deep appreciation for the beloved's unique and desirable traits. The struggle to "express myself" further emphasizes the profound impact this love has on their ability to articulate their own feelings. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics comes from their directness and the raw depiction of love's power. The simple, declarative chorus and the vivid, albeit brief, descriptions of physical and emotional reactions create an immediate sense of being swept away. The contrast between the desire to fight it and the inability to escape it makes the narrator's devotion feel both relatable and intensely personal, capturing that moment when love becomes an undeniable, all-encompassing reality.