Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of intimate connection happening in the "dark hours of the night," a setting that immediately suggests secrecy or transgression. The narrator directly confronts an external judgment, stating, "There are those who say it's wrong but it's right." This sets up the central tension: an internal feeling of pure love clashing with societal or external disapproval.
The core conflict here is the disconnect between perceived sin and experienced emotion. The narrator questions, "how much sin can it be?" when the feeling is so profound and positive. This is amplified by the insistent repetition of "Feels like love feels like love," directly countering any notion of wrongdoing. The external voices are dismissed as "jealous tongues" who "will find something evil to say," implying their negativity stems from envy rather than any objective truth about the relationship.
The most striking craft element is the persistent, almost defiant, assertion that "it don't feel like sinnin' to me." This phrase acts as an anchor, grounding the entire argument in subjective experience. The contrast between the abstract concept of sin and the tangible, personal feeling of love is stark. The lyrics suggest that when love feels this genuine, external labels of sin become irrelevant, even nonsensical. The reference to "first love" further validates this feeling, implying a pure, uncorrupted state of affection.
Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they champion personal truth over external condemnation. The simple, direct language and the powerful repetition of the core phrase create an undeniable sense of conviction. The narrator's unwavering stance, rooted in the undeniable feeling of love, offers a compelling argument for the validity of their connection, regardless of what others might say.