Start To Love

Song Meaning

The narrator is caught in a loop of silent observation and unexpressed desire, fixated on someone just out of reach. The opening lines paint a picture of clandestine watching, a quiet yearning that fuels a desperate need for connection. He wonders if his presence is even registered, if his internal feelings are somehow broadcast. This initial uncertainty sets the stage for the central, recurring question: "How do I start to love her?" The core tension lies in the narrator's paralyzing shyness and his elaborate, yet passive, fantasies of interaction. He imagines enlisting friends as intermediaries, a strategy that highlights his inability to approach her directly. The desire to have someone else relay compliments like "she's pretty" underscores his deep-seated insecurity. He’s not just trying to initiate a romance; he’s grappling with the very mechanics of beginning something so profound when he feels so inadequate. The lyrics masterfully capture the feeling of being an outsider looking in. The repeated image of seeing her "with all her friends in town" emphasizes her social presence and his isolation. He wants to demonstrate his vitality, to prove "that I'm alive and well when she's around," but this impulse is immediately followed by the same hesitant questions about how to bridge the gap. The specific detail of her "bluer" eyes, while seemingly simple, is a poignant observation that he can't even voice to her, further illustrating the gulf between his internal world and external reality. Ultimately, the song’s power comes from its raw depiction of unrequited affection and the daunting prospect of vulnerability. The repeated, almost mantra-like refrain, "It's so hard to begin to love," isn't just a statement of difficulty; it’s an admission of fear. The narrator is stuck, paralyzed by the enormity of the task, making the simple act of starting a relationship feel like an insurmountable challenge. The lyrics resonate because they articulate that universal, often unspoken, struggle of mustering the courage to reach out and risk rejection.