Our Love Was, Is

Song Meaning

Petra Haden's "Our Love Was, Is" charts the volatile landscape of a relationship defined by extremes, swinging between barren disappointment and euphoric heights. The song meaning isn't buried in complex narratives, but rather in the stark juxtaposition of emotional states. It opens with the blunt acknowledgment of a love characterized by "famine, frustration," a mere "imitation" of genuine affection. This initial assessment paints a portrait of emotional deprivation, a relationship struggling to nourish its participants. The abrupt shift to imagery of flight, soaring, and shining like a summer morning suggests a dramatic transformation, a sudden burst of joy and connection. But the lyrics analysis reveals a deeper tension. The repetition of "flying, soaring, shining morning" devolves into "never leaving, lying, dying," hinting that even the most ecstatic moments contain the seeds of their own destruction. This cyclical pattern is further emphasized by the return to the opening lines, suggesting an inescapable loop. The incantation of "Love, love, love, long" serves as both a plea and perhaps a weary acknowledgment of love's enduring, if sometimes painful, presence. The song suggests that love, in its messy reality, is less a consistent state and more a series of fleeting moments, each carrying the weight of its opposite. "Our Love Was, Is" captures this truth with raw honesty, offering a glimpse into the paradoxical nature of human connection.