Song Meaning
Sharon Van Etten's "Love More" isn't a simple tale of affection; it's a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, resilience, and the twisted ways that pain can intertwine with love. The opening lines, "Chained to the wall of our room / Yeah, you chained me like a dog in our room," set a stark stage. It's a portrait of confinement, power imbalance, and a relationship bordering on abusive. The speaker's initial naivete, "I thought that's how it was / I thought that we were fine," highlights the insidious nature of such situations, where manipulation can be normalized. The lyrics paint a picture of a partner spiraling into addiction ("You were high, you were high when I was doomed"), leaving the speaker emotionally vulnerable and "dying for" something – perhaps connection, escape, or simply relief.
The refrain, "But it made me love, it made me love, it made me love more," is the song's crux. It's not an endorsement of the abuse, but a complex acknowledgement of how hardship can warp our understanding of love and attachment. This isn't about Stockholm Syndrome; it's about the human capacity to find threads of connection, even in the darkest circumstances. The line "I was younger then / I had nothing to spend but time on you" speaks to a youthful vulnerability, an investment of self that becomes entangled with the abuser. The 'love' that grows isn't healthy, but it's born out of a desperate need for validation and a hope for change.
The song subtly shifts focus towards the end, introducing a female figure who offers support and belief: "Do what you said / The words she said left out / Over into the sky where I'll soon fly." This suggests a path toward healing and self-discovery facilitated by another woman's encouragement. This figure becomes a catalyst for a different kind of love – a love rooted in empowerment rather than subjugation. The repeated line "She made me love, she made me love, she made me love more," mirrors the earlier phrase, but it’s now infused with hope and a sense of self-worth. "Love More" isn't a celebration of suffering, but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of finding genuine connection after enduring profound pain. It's about reclaiming the meaning of love itself.
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