Love is Strong

I wrote this back in mid-January; I thought one of my friends was being fucked with, and after playing basketball for three hours, I sat in the hot tub with a six pack and wrote this, start to finish, save a few line edits.

Love is Strong

Now I've heard 'em say
that love is strong
and I used to think
that they were wrong
because it can not
hold two people together
but that's not
the appropriate measure
the fact is
it can pin you to the wall
and that's it means
when love conquers all

I know because it happened to my friend
saw it trap the happiest of men
didn't take a doctor to know she wasn't right
calling someone else in the middle of the night
caught and snared, but not even out of spite
just drawn like a moth to her white pixie light
and she forgot to tell him that her heart just might
belong to her ex, trapped in his bite
but he swore back tears to be her white knight
he withered and he strained and his pride grew slight
love found him, and it was strong alright
Baby Cupid caught him square in his sights
and shot him out the sky like a broken kite
broke his legs no flight
took his heart no fight
you tell me love is strong
I look at his broken body
and I think you're right

because I've heard 'em say
that love is strong
and I used to think
that they were wrong
because it can't hold
two people together
but that's still not
the appropriate measure
the fact is, it can
pin you to the wall
and that's what they mean
when they say love conquers all

I know because of what happened to my mom
it kept her married to John
for twenty years too long
and I'm lucky that my mom's not a swan
because she might have ended up broken and gone
victim of a monster blue-eyed and blond
with no heart, no brains, all brawn
a man who would've shot Bambi the fawn
June 2006, she ripped up the Autobahn
she came flying down thirty
cause she was tired of hurting
that day was too much, and she had to flee
but it took a car crash to finally set us free
we uprooted half of our family tree
terrifying as it was, it still filled me with glee
my mother, I love her, she's an angel to me
but she showed me the truth of love to see
that even when it's wrong
or all gone
love is still strong

maybe it will hold
two people together
but that's still not
the appropriate measure
the fact is that sure,
love conquers all
it can kill you
and nail you to the wall

if you've got it
your heart's sinking, your mind's racing
you're not thinking, the truth's facing
staring you right in the eye
you look and you swallow and kiss it goodbye
no way are you gonna think about it
I'd rather let my mind tiptoe around it
it's a crushing boulder on your shoulders
a truth you bear when you get older
that love is strong and the young are wrong
I personally know love is strong
all those little bits of memories that keep you hanging on
after everything's gone
and you're crying to old songs
every conversation's a self-con
she's the queen to your pawn
and nothing matters, not brains or brawn
you're still hoping and talking to her mom
weeping and watching a rising red dawn

it's a rope around your throat
a little something to help you choke,
all those little bits of hope
the girl who made me hyphy
I was gonna make her wifey
but she wasn't right, see
she loved me only slightly
she killed me impolitely
stabbed by her knife-y
and even though she still texts on the low
still I know, I gotta let her go
see it's like Janus, two-faced
meeting someone new and find out how their lips taste
just two holding hands out ahead of the rat race
it can make extraordinary out of the everyday commonplace
but the one that you love might really be a snake
then your mind's a waste
you ache for their embrace
lost, alone, drifting in space
slammed back to earth
with a broken sense of self-worth
so love's a blessing and a curse
because it brings both misery and mirth
kisses and hugs and a kick to the groin
you might as well flip a coin
you don't know anything about the future
you just hope you don't end up with holes sutured
all throughout your chest
you give it your best
and then deal with the mess
the pieces, the bits, and all the rest
the hope, the rope wrapped around your neck
of memories of the past and all that's left
so you gotta decide if it's worth the stress
ask yourself
do you like wearing a blindfold
or is not knowing gonna turn your heart cold
because if you're caught in Cupid's chokehold
then you decide if you're gonna let go
and take that ride
and let love burn inside
you can try and try and try
and you might succeed
and find the one you need
the one for whom you do heroic deeds
who'll take your hand and lead
if you're ever in need
or end up on your knees
with your heart on your sleeve
ripped out so you can't even breathe
with no blood left to bleed

I'm telling you,
I know love is strong
Now I know they weren't wrong
Love, man, it really does conquer all
It'll kill ya and nail ya to the wall