Que’ Es Amor (What Is Love)

Song Meaning

Rodney Crowell's "Que' Es Amor (What Is Love)" isn't a simple query; it's a sonic koan, a question posed without the pretense of an easy answer. The bilingual phrasing immediately sets up a dialogue, not just between languages, but between perspectives. The initial declaration – "It's a crazy man who sings his song in a hurricane / It's a crazy woman who loves his song" – paints a vivid picture of love as a defiant act of creation and acceptance amidst chaos. It's not about finding shelter from the storm, but about finding beauty and connection within it. The image is romantic, yes, but also tinged with a certain reckless abandon. The repetition of "Que 'es amor / What is love" functions as both a plea and a challenge. Crowell isn't just asking a question; he's inviting us to confront the inherent unknowability of the emotion. The shift to "I don't know what love is / What is love / Nobody knows what's love" underscores this uncertainty. It's a humbling admission from a seasoned artist, suggesting that love transcends definition, existing instead as a subjective experience, interpreted and felt differently by everyone. Ultimately, the song's meaning lies in its embrace of ambiguity. "Que' Es Amor (What Is Love)" isn't seeking to define love, but rather to explore its elusive nature. It suggests that love is not a fixed entity to be discovered, but a fluid, ever-changing force shaped by individual perception and circumstance. Perhaps the "crazy" man and woman aren't crazy at all, but rather the only ones brave enough to acknowledge the beautiful, terrifying mystery at the heart of it all.