Love Comes And Goes

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a plea for guidance, a young voice calling out to "father" and "doctor" for answers to "the young man's broken blues." This immediately establishes a tone of vulnerability and a search for solutions to emotional pain. The narrator seems lost, seeking wisdom from authority figures, but the response is a stark, almost dismissive aphorism. The central tension arises from the contrast between the narrator's desperate need for a cure and the world-weary pronouncement that "Love comes and goes." This isn't a comforting platitude; it's presented as a universal truth everyone "knows," suggesting a cyclical, perhaps inevitable, nature to heartbreak. The repetition of "comes and goes" emphasizes this relentless ebb and flow, offering no solace for the present pain. The most striking aspect is the shift in perspective and the framing of the advice. Initially, the narrator seeks help, but the "father" and "doctor" figures are replaced by a "she" who delivers the core message. This "she" seems to represent a different kind of wisdom, perhaps one born of experience. The lyrics suggest that the "sadness in your eyes" is a direct result of this understanding, forcing a choice: "Do I stay in you arms, or, baby, do I fly?" This question highlights the difficulty of holding onto love when its transient nature is so apparent. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their stark simplicity and the implied resignation. The repeated phrase "everybody knows" acts as a heavy blanket, suggesting that the narrator's pain, while acute, is a common human experience. The simple, almost childlike structure of the verses contrasts with the cynical wisdom of the chorus, creating a poignant portrayal of youthful idealism confronting adult disillusionment.