Song Meaning
Michael Bolton, the master of soaring power ballads, takes a detour into classic, almost saccharine, romanticism with "The Very Thought of You." Stripped of the big hair and stadium-sized production, the song reveals a core of pure, unadulterated devotion. The lyrics aren't complex; they bypass clever wordplay for direct emotional impact. It's a testament to the intoxicating power of idealized love, where the mere contemplation of the beloved derails the mundane rhythms of daily life. Bolton, known for his vocal acrobatics, here allows the melody to carry the weight of the sentiment, creating a sense of timeless longing.
The song's strength resides in its simplicity. "I forget to do the little ordinary things that everyone ought to do," sings Bolton, capturing the all-consuming nature of infatuation. This isn't about grand gestures or dramatic pronouncements; it's about the quiet disruption caused by a persistent, loving thought. The lyrics paint a picture of a world saturated with the object of affection – a face in every flower, eyes in the stars. This borderlines on obsessive, yet the tone remains tender and sincere. It's the kind of love that romanticizes the everyday, turning the mundane into a sacred experience.
Ultimately, "The Very Thought of You" exposes the vulnerability inherent in deep affection. It's a portrait of a mind completely consumed, willingly surrendering to the dizzying effects of love. While some might find its earnestness old-fashioned, there's an undeniable appeal in its unwavering focus. Bolton taps into a universal desire to be utterly captivated, to find someone whose mere existence can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The song's meaning, therefore, lies not in groundbreaking lyrical innovation, but in its honest portrayal of love's intoxicating and sometimes overwhelming power.