Shouldn’t There Be Lightning

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone questioning the conventional signs of being in love. The narrator repeatedly asks if dramatic, almost supernatural events should accompany a declaration of love, like lightning flashing or choirs singing. This sets up an expectation of grand, external validation for the relationship. The sheer repetition of "Shouldn't there be..." builds a sense of doubt and a yearning for proof. The central tension arises from the contrast between these idealized, cinematic expectations and the reality of the relationship. The narrator lists increasingly fantastical scenarios – music in trees, pigeons turning into doves, puddles becoming wishing wells – all presented as definitive markers of true love. This creates a feeling of performance, as if love itself needs these external embellishments to be recognized or believed. The most striking craft element is the shift in Verse 3. After building a case for these extravagant displays, the narrator pivots dramatically. "But if there can't be rainbows... I won't mind." This is a powerful redefinition of love, moving away from external spectacle towards an internal certainty. The phrase "minus all those trimmings" dismisses the earlier demands, suggesting that the relationship's validity doesn't depend on these grand gestures. This lyrical turn is what makes the song resonate. It moves from a place of insecurity, seeking external validation, to a quiet confidence rooted in the relationship itself. The final lines, "I'd dare them to deny that we're in love," are a bold assertion, implying that the love is so self-evident it needs no flashy proof, defying any external judgment.