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Love To Be Loved Lyrics

Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Us

So, you know how people are
When it's all gone much too far
The way their minds are made
Still, there's something you should know
That I could not let show
That fear of letting go

And in this moment, I need to be needed
With this darkness all around me, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted
'Cause I love to be loved
I love to be loved [x2]
Yes, I love to be loved

I cry the way that babies cry
The way they can't deny
The way they feel
Words, they climb all over you
'Til they uncover you
From where you hide

And in this moment, I need to be needed
When my self-esteem is sinking, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear,
I want to be wanted
'Cause I love to be loved
I love to be loved [x2]
Oh I love to be loved

This old familiar craving
I've been here before, this way of behaving
Don't know who the hell I'm saving anymore
Let it pass let it go let it leave
From the deepest place I grieve
This time I believe

And I let go [x2]
I can let go of it
Though it takes all the strength in me
And all the world can see
I'm losing such a central part of me
I can let go of it
You know I mean it
You know that I mean it
I recognize how much I've lost
But I cannot face the cost
'Cause I love to be loved

Yes I love to be loved
I love to be loved
[x3]

I love to be loved

I love to be loved
Yes I love to be loved

Comments/Interpretations

by Gaby on 9/5/2008 2:52am
love this song!

i believe he's talkin about lettin go of his freedom to be with a loved one...

by Juandiego on 12/1/2008 11:38am
I, in the other hand, think that he is facing a inevitable separation from the person he has been together with for a long time. Although it hurts him to do so, it seems that it is something that must happen and thus has to accept it no matter the cost.

by Mac on 12/5/2008 11:10am
i disagree. i think he's trying to let go of a relationship that didn't work out.

by Ang on 2/3/2009 7:43pm
I think it's about a man who feared so long the chance of a close relationship that he began to spiral into a darkened outlook all the while still wanting someone to love him, to just know he wants it although he hides it and because he did not express such he lost his chance with someone and he aims to let go on his fears in the hopes that the person will hear him again and love him.

by kevin on 2/4/2009 4:00am
it's about that deep desire to be desired and learning to let go of that child's fear and craving for love and attention. it's one of my favorite songs of his. so basic, so raw.

by lorraine on 5/29/2009 5:25am
'The lyrics are about Gabriel's fear of dedicating himself to his relationships. He dedicated Us to his ex-wife, Jill, his 2 daughters, and actress Rosanna Arquette, who he was involved with in the early '90s.'
I found it on songfacts.com

by love to be loved on 8/6/2009 12:49pm
hes talking about letting go period and all the bullshit we go through chasing around trying to find a love that exist only in our minds and dream fantasies...
this song goes jand and hand with stings 'desert rose'

by Marc on 9/7/2009 9:49pm
I think this song describe a man who's facing is dark side. sounds like a person who's involved in a therapy. Who dig in it's shadow side to find light. Like Carl Jung would suggest...excuse my english... I'm a sort of borat :-)

by Jess on 9/24/2009 8:26pm
I agree with Marc. I think there's a lot of psychology to this song...

by heidi on 10/25/2009 6:14am
I agree a lot with Kevin. And I think the song is about letting go of the feelings we are hiding inside of us. Our fear of letting go.... our fear of having our anger, aggression, love or whatever feeling uncovered.

by relayer on 11/11/2009 2:49pm
Peter has gone through several levels of analysis, mostly Jungian, and is a shaman; that is, someone who travels to the underworl to recover missing pieces of someone's soul.

I think here, he is admitting his craving and need to be in the spotlight, to be The Show, and how that can cause grief and sadness to others, who get shut out from such selfishness. And yet... he wants to grow up; to let go of such egotism.

And yet he is a showman...

Very brave, is Peter.

by Karl L on 11/24/2009 1:55am
I think it about a man who is afraid to admit that he needs to be loved.
He must be vulnerable. Dose not want to be seen as needing. He cries like a baby cries....

by kd on 6/24/2010 10:07pm
a breakup with R.A. Very talented sensitive male. Much to love...

by LP on 2/16/2011 6:32pm
I think this is about a man that gives up something he loves because he doesn't want to lose the love of everyone else. He recognizes he's losing a central part of him, he recognizes how much he's lost, be ultimately he loves to be loved...

by lisa on 10/1/2012 3:31am
I agree with Kevin is exactly the way a feel it that song.

by Dori on 6/11/2013 7:54pm
It strikes me as the difficult choice to end a relationship because it will never supply the love that's needed.