We Used to Call It Love

Song Meaning

Mayra Andrade's "We Used to Call It Love" isn't a simple lament; it's a post-mortem on a relationship, delivered with a haunting sense of resignation. The core of the song meaning resides in the repetition of the title phrase. It's not that love is necessarily gone, but rather that its definition has fundamentally shifted. What was once understood, celebrated, and even taken for granted is now viewed through the lens of absence and questioning. The constant repetition of 'We used to call it love' suggests a desperate clinging to a past understanding, a refusal to fully accept the present reality. It’s the echo of a definition that no longer quite fits. The lyrics themselves paint a picture of stark abandonment. The 'babe' or 'baby' has departed, leaving the singer in a state of profound disorientation. There’s a geographic element to the departure – 'gone away from the shore,' 'heading north' – implying a journey, a deliberate severing of ties. This isn't just a lovers' quarrel; it's a relocation, perhaps even a metaphorical journey into a different emotional landscape. The speaker is left 'crying out for more,' indicating an imbalance of power and desire within the relationship. The simple question of "why, oh, why?" is relatable, but it also expresses deep confusion and a search for understanding. The bridge, sung in Cape Verdean Creole, adds a layer of cultural and spiritual depth. The reference to Oxum, a Yoruba deity of love, beauty, and fertility, suggests that even divine intervention is powerless to alleviate the singer's pain. The lyrics speak of an emptiness so vast it leaves the singer aimless, longing for a freedom far from this world. This hints at a despair that transcends mere romantic disappointment, touching on themes of existential loneliness and a search for meaning beyond the failed relationship. Andrade uses this cultural inflection point to elevate the song beyond a typical breakup ballad, imbuing it with a sense of profound loss and a yearning for liberation from emotional pain.