Love Is Strange

Song Meaning

The lyrics for "Love Is Strange" immediately establish love as a perplexing force. It's something many approach casually, yet once experienced, it becomes an inescapable "awful fix." The speaker quickly sets up a central paradox: love is both alluring and profoundly entangling. A core tension emerges between the shallow understanding of love and its profound, almost addictive reality. Some people mistakenly equate loving with "money in the hand," reducing it to a transactional exchange. The speaker, however, contrasts this with a deeper, more personal value, asserting that true affection surpasses mere physical gestures, even while acknowledging the pain of missing a loved one's presence. This highlights love's complex blend of satisfaction and longing. The abrupt, conversational interlude addressing "Dickie" is a striking craft choice. It shifts the perspective from general observation to a specific, almost overheard moment, inquiring about how one might contact a romantic partner and then immediately pondering the anxiety of an unanswered call.