This Love of Mine

Song Meaning

Van Morrison's "This Love of Mine" isn't just a lament; it's a raw, existential scream echoing from the depths of heartbreak. The simplicity of the lyrics belies the profound sense of loss and disorientation that permeates the song. Morrison isn't just sad; he's adrift, questioning the very fabric of his existence in the wake of a love gone sour. The opening lines, "This love of mine goes on and on/Though life is empty since you have gone," establish a stark contrast between the enduring nature of love and the desolation it leaves behind when it departs. It's a love that persists in memory, an almost spectral presence haunting the singer's waking hours and amplifying the solitude of night. The raw emotion is amplified by the almost nihilistic acceptance of pain. The lines, "I cry my heart out, it's bound to break/Since nothing matters, just let it break," suggest a surrender to grief, a willingness to let the pain consume him entirely. This isn't a plea for reconciliation; it's an acknowledgement of utter devastation. The repetition of the question, "What's to become of it, this love of mine?" underscores the singer's confusion and uncertainty. He seeks answers not from another person, but from the cosmos – the sun, moon, and stars – highlighting the scale of his despair. He's not merely asking where the relationship went wrong, but what meaning remains in a world devoid of this love. "This Love of Mine" captures a universal experience – the shattering of one's world when a significant relationship ends. But Morrison elevates it beyond a simple breakup song through his stark lyrical honesty and the palpable sense of existential dread. The song's beauty lies in its vulnerability, its refusal to shy away from the raw pain of loss. It’s a portrait of a soul stripped bare, grappling with the fundamental questions of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. The instrumental break only serves to amplify the feeling of emptiness, giving the listener space to contemplate the vastness of the singer's sorrow.