lyrics to "to make you feel my love" - DV?

[NicknameTaken]

Listening to Rebecca singing "To Make You Feel My Love" on the X-Factor, I'm really uncomfortable with the lyrics "I'd go black and blue".

Seriously, why do you need to be black and blue to demonstrate to love to somebody? Okay, maybe if they were being menaced by a speeding bicycle, and you flung your body in front of it to protect them, but other than that, how might it happen?

Anyone else find it uncomfortably close to the rationale of an abused woman - "He only does it because he's insecure. I'll make him secure and he will stop!"

I accept I may be overthinking it.

"Every breathe you take" is supposed to be repulsive.

Sting among others has expressed horror that people think its a love song, and have it played at weddings. (A bit like "I don't like Mondays" at school Discos.)

The JLS one I've always taken as a bit of teenage angst, as after all no one is given a terminal diagnosis just cos they've split with their girlfriend.

Why is it supposed to be repulsive?

Because it's about obsessively stalking your ex wife, cindy.

Here's worse - and the video - Rhinna and Eminem -Love the Way you Lie

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now there's a steel knife
In my windpipe
I can't breathe
But I still fight
While I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right
It's like I'm in flight
High of a love
Drunk from the hate
It's like I'm huffin' paint
And I love it the more that I suffer
I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown
She resuscitates me
She fucking hates me
And I love it
Wait
Where you going
I'm leaving you
No you ain't
Come back
We're running right back
Here we go again
It's so insane
Cause when it's going good
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind at his back
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad
It's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who's that dude
I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie

You ever love somebody so much
You can barely breathe
When you're with them
You meet
And neither one of you
Even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah them chills
Used to get 'em
Now you're getting fucking sick
Of looking at 'em
You swore you've never hit 'em
Never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face
Spewing venom
In Your words
When you spit 'em
You push
Pull each other's hair
Scratch, claw, bit 'em
Throw 'em down
Pin 'em
So lost in the moments
When you're in 'em
It's the rage that took over
It controls you both
So they say it's best
To go your separate ways
Guess that they don't know ya
Cause today
That was yesterday
Yesterday is over
It's a different day
Sound like broken records
Playing' over
But you promised her
Next time you'll show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no Nintendo game
But you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave
Out the window
Guess that's why they call it window pane

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie

Now I know we said things
Did things
That we didn't mean
And we fall back
Into the same patterns
Same routine
But your temper's just as bad
As mine is
You're the same as me
But when it comes to love
You're just as blinded
Baby please come back
It wasn't you
Baby it was me
Maybe our relationship
Isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens
When a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is
I love you too much
To walk away though
Come inside
Pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity
In my voice when I talk
Told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed
I'll aim my fist
At the dry wall
Next time
There will be no next time
I apologize
Even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games
I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to fuckin' leave again
I'mma tie her to the bed
And set this house on fire

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie

sanebrain - Yes, that's truly horrible. I listened to the lyrics properly the other day and felt sick. At the time when the Police song was in the charts, though, I thought it was a love song (long time ago).

NicknameTaken - Its a great thread! Totally thought provoking!

I just find it sad that love is portrayed in such horrid ways. I feel like it sets a bad example!

Dr Shepherd has cheered me up

But in the arts and literature generally isn't love often portrayed in such ways - ie think Greek tragedies Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights etc - ie they are taking dramatic licence and presenting an extreme version of things.

It's nothing new surely?

when I was a teen I did break up with my first boyfriend of two years and he did stalk me for a while, was possessive etc I think that it was just how he was and was not influenced to do this by any song lyrics.

Possibly the songs reflect real life or maybe I am a bit detached from lyrics of songs.

the difficulty perhaps is that we find self expression in the arts (songs, stories, pictures) - it tells our story, we identify with it... and at times it validates and encourages us... this can be to the good, or the ill.
And I think the media at the moment has such huge coverage, is so easily available, that all of us see these songs / lyrics / videos and accept them - there's not a lot of challenging going on. Where are the better role models?
Maybe the role models who don't put up with being treated badly are not interesting enough; those who try to address things, who step away from bad things are not going to capture the imagination.
I look in the papers etc at the moment, I see 'WAGs' and other celebrities putting up with terrible behaviour, then I see lyrics and videos like this and I despair, particularly when I look at my 5 year old and wonder which model she will prefer.

WAGs put up with it because there is something in it (the lifestyle) for them.

I pointed out to my teenagers the other day that the Eminem song was about DV. I don't think it had occurred to my dd's.

Oh come on- what is it?

get on with it girl.

People don't often notice the meaning of song lyrics if it doesn't relate to their experiences. (Just my opinion).

I think there's a difference between songs that are meant to be about horrible things (I'm thinking Nick Cave's Murder Ballads or The Police mentioned above) in the same way to books or movies that depict rape, etc, and those songs where the lyrics are almost incidental to the music and you don't notice how the song lyrics can be interpreted (definitely thinking Delilah here)

oh god, have I got to go get the lyrics myself?

I should be working you see, not messing about on here mnetting.

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive. (ok not DV).

Hats off to the Stones.....

Button your lip baby
Button your coat
Let's go out dancing
Go for the throat
Let's bury the hatchet
Wipe out the past
Make love together
Stay on the path

You're not the only one
With mixed emotions
You're not the only ship
Adrift on this ocean

This coming and going
Is driving me nuts
This to-ing and fro-ing
Is hurting my guts
So get off the fence
It's creasing your butt
Life is a party
Let's get out and strut

Etc., etc., blah blah blah

But this one takes the :

Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around

It's down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb

Ain't it the truth, babe?

Under my thumb
The squirming dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways

It's down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she's told
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Ah, ah, say it's alright

Under my thumb
A Siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
She's the sweetest, ummm, pet in the world

It's down to me
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Ah, take it easy, babe
Yeah

{Repeat above verse to 'thumb'}
Yeah, it feels alright

Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept to herself
Under my thumb, well I
I can still look at someone else

It's down to me, oh that's what I said
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me the change has come
She's under my thumb
Say it's alright