What Is This Thing Called Love?

Song Meaning

Julie London's rendition of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" is less a celebration of romance and more an elegant post-mortem. Forget the giddy, hearts-and-flowers cliché; London's voice, a smoky whisper draped in melancholic jazz chords, dissects love with the cool precision of a surgeon. The song meaning hinges on that central, repeated question: "What is this thing called love?" It's not a hopeful inquiry, but a frustrated demand for explanation after love's inevitable failure. The repetition itself underscores the bewilderment, each iteration laced with a fresh layer of disillusionment. There's a palpable sense of betrayal woven into the lyrics. The singer recounts a specific, painful event: "I saw you there, one wonderful day / You took my love and threw it away." This isn't some abstract philosophical pondering; it's a direct address to a former lover, a pointed accusation delivered with a veneer of sophisticated sadness. The phrase "threw it away" is particularly brutal. It suggests a casual disregard, a lack of appreciation for the vulnerability offered. This casualness deepens the sting, transforming love from a grand passion into something easily discarded. Ultimately, "What Is This Thing Called Love?" isn't about finding answers. It's about articulating the frustrating, often inexplicable nature of heartbreak. The final plea, directed "to the Lord in heaven above," highlights the singer's desperation. She's exhausted earthly explanations and now seeks divine intervention to understand this "funny thing" that has made her a fool. The question remains unanswered, leaving the listener to grapple with the same unresolved ache. Julie London doesn't offer solace, but rather a beautifully rendered portrait of love's perplexing aftermath, a sentiment that resonates long after the last note fades.