What Is Love

Song Meaning

The lyrics grapple with the confusing nature of love, presenting two distinct potential partners and the narrator's inability to reconcile them. One figure represents consistent, perhaps predictable, affection: "checking in every night, same time." The other embodies a more spontaneous, fun-loving connection: "laugh 'til we feel sick kind." This fundamental contrast sets up the central question, "What is love anyway?" as the narrator tries to define it through these opposing experiences. The core tension arises from the narrator's desire for both intense connection and lighthearted ease, a conflict articulated as "I like a heart to heart 'til it's too much / And I like to keep it light hearted 'til it's not enough." This creates an "impossible to choose a side" scenario, where neither option feels entirely complete or correct. The lyrics suggest a yearning for a love that can somehow embody both depth and playfulness, a balance that seems out of reach. A particularly striking element is the redefinition of physical reactions to affection. The narrator admits, "Thought sick to my stomach meant / Butterflies," revealing a past misunderstanding of emotional cues. This implies a shift in perspective, where the initial discomfort or intensity might actually be a sign of genuine connection, challenging the idea that only "easy" interactions are valid. The repeated refrain, "He's the checking in... / You're the laugh..." acts as a constant reminder of these two distinct paths, amplifying the narrator's indecision. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their honest portrayal of romantic confusion. The narrator isn't offering answers but rather articulating the very real struggle of trying to understand love when faced with conflicting desires and experiences. The final plea, "Tell me what is love? / Don't hurt me," encapsulates this vulnerability, highlighting how the uncertainty itself can be painful, especially when genuine feelings are involved.