Song Meaning
These lyrics paint a picture of an utterly idealized romance, set in a place beyond the bounds of reality. It's a vision of two people building a perfect life together. The dominant feeling is one of hopeful, enduring love.
The central tension arises from the fantastical setting. The lovers plan to build their "dream house of love" in a place that doesn't exist: "East of the sun and west of the moon." This impossible geography suggests that their love, too, aims for an unattainable perfection, a sanctuary where ordinary constraints simply don't apply. It's a powerful metaphor for the boundless nature of their affection.
What truly elevates these lines is the unexpected twist: "Living our love in memory." This phrase subtly shifts the narrative from a purely present or future aspiration to something perhaps already cherished or sustained through recollection. It suggests that this perfect love, whether past or present, is so profound it feels like a treasured memory, or perhaps that its ideal form can only truly exist in the mind's eye. This adds a layer of wistful depth to an otherwise straightforward romantic fantasy.
Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they articulate a universal human yearning for a love so pure and enduring it transcends reality. By grounding this immense desire in vivid, if impossible, imagery and then adding that poignant note about memory, the writing creates a sense of both boundless hope and precious, almost fragile, idealization.