World (The Price Of Love) [Live in Dallas, 1993]

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of profound isolation and a desire for escape. The narrator feels like an outsider, a "freak" who can "hear me talk, but never speak," suggesting a disconnect between internal experience and external expression. This internal world is a "jungle," a place of overwhelming complexity or danger that necessitates keeping "thoughts from everyone." The act of "turn[ing] sideways to the sun" becomes a metaphorical shield, a way to avoid direct engagement with the world and its demands. It's a posture of self-preservation against an environment that feels hostile or alienating. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle with "hate" and the elusive nature of love. Despite feeling trapped, perhaps by circumstance or internal conflict, there's a clear rejection of negativity: "I've no passion for this hate." This sets up the recurring question of love's value and endurance. The chorus, "That's the price of love," coupled with "If we could buy it now, How long will it last?" implies that love, unlike tangible goods, cannot be acquired or guaranteed. Its value is tied to its impermanence, a concept the narrator grapples with. The most striking imagery appears in the second verse and third verse. The idea of "breaking in is a crime" suggests that genuine connection or entry into a desired state is illicit or impossible, forcing the narrator to "step out of time." This leads to the powerful metaphor of the building on fire: "These flames can't burn any higher." In this moment of extreme crisis, the narrator reverts to the initial coping mechanism, turning "sideways to the sun" and vanishing. This suggests that when faced with overwhelming external or internal turmoil, the only recourse is to retreat, to become intangible, rather than confront the conflagration directly. This lyrical construction is effective because it grounds abstract feelings of alienation and the ephemeral nature of love in concrete, albeit metaphorical, imagery. The contrast between the internal "jungle" and the external "sun," the impossibility of "buying" love, and the dramatic image of the burning building all contribute to a sense of profound emotional struggle. The repeated questions about love's duration and the narrator's ultimate act of disappearing highlight the fragility of connection and the deep-seated need for self-protection, making the "price of love" feel both immense and unquantifiable.