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Schweiz (Deutsch)Wording of Ballad of Love and Hate
Wording of Ballad of Love and Hate
Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 00:09
I often find myself debating some of the wording at the end of the song to myself. Not that it matters, just something that changes the dynamic of the last verse depending on how I feel that day. Here's what I juggle back and forth with:
He says "Love, I'm sorry"
She says "What for? I'm yours and that's it, whatever. I should not have been gone for so long..."
Notice here, he could be brushing off her words:
He says "Love, I'm sorry"
She says "What for? I'm yours and that's it"
He says "Whatever"
She says "I should not have been gone for so long..."
What do you think?
Replies for this Board Topic
Never thought of it like that but it is an interesting perspective.
I'm not sure what was meant when it was written, but I will always interpret it as love redeeming hate.
--
I keep shoes on from the time I wake until the time I go to sleep. I was in a fist fight once, back in high school, and I was wearing flip-flops. I found it difficult to defend myself without shoes on, so I always keep a pair on now. Just in case.
I always have thought this song was about unconditional love...and that's what her "whatever" stands for. If you follow through to the next line "you're mine and that's it forever, it makes sense to me that she is reaffirming, her no matter what sentiment.
hmmm... didn't think of that... I always assumed it was:
Hate- "He says Love, I'm sorry"
Love- She says, "What for? I'm yours and that's it- whatever." (as in, that's it, period, final, nothing will change that..."
but who knows? Artists tend to keep so many of their inspirations for songs to themselves, which is understandable...
hnflowers: I agree that the first interpretation makes more sense (with Love saying everything after "What for?").
I see Love's use of the word "whatever" here to be, as it were, a kind of reversal of Hate's use of the word earlier in the song: "I'll see you or I won't. Whatever."
LindaM, I like how you put that: Love redeems Hate. Exactly it.
BTW, for a similar discussion, see this thread.
-- Eric
Hey, all! I'm actually a newby to the music of the Avett Bros. I read the lyrics to this song in Acoustic Guitar magazine before I ever heard it sung and it blew me away. Love and Hate personified and in a relationship; amazing! In the month since then I've picked up three of their CDs and have watched every video I could find. Thank heavens for Youtube! I agree with the consensus here. Love is accepting and constant, "whatever".
I've always imagined these lyrics from Seth's Darling song, Forgiving Me, were a precursor to Ballad - very similar sentiment, in my mind.
So I said I'm no angel. Do you understand?/She said you're the one and that's how it is/And you can't be blamed for the evil that is/And you cannot be troubled with things that have been/And you need not worry for me/My life is what it should be/Just forgiving you