This Is The Way Love Is
In the 1980′s, Lou Gramm, the front man for the group Foreigner, cried out, “I want to know what love is! I want you to show me!” In 1998, the song was rerecorded by Australian singer, Tina Arena, and then in 2009, it was covered again by Mariah Carey. Evidently, people still want to know.
In the midst of our culture crying out to know what love is, a band called The 77′s recorded a song in 1990 called “This Is the Way Love Is.” Whether they meant to or not, the song seems to serve as a response to the cry of the culture. They compare the way we – as humans – often love to the way God loves us. Take a read…then take a listen. It’s a good one!
THIS IS THE WAY LOVE IS by The 77′s
When I gave up, you held up
When I ran out, you filled me up
When I kept runnin’, you kept up
When I let you down you lifted me up
This is the way love is
When I couldn’t find the words, you understood
When I didn’t find the time, you were in no hurry
When I wouldn’t make ends meet, you tied them together
When I cheated you kept to the rules
Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it’s a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection
When I was keepin’ it in, you were givin’ out
When I was losin’ out, you’d let me come back
When I was holdin’ back, you were holdin’ on
When I was losin’ my cool you were keepin’ your love warm
Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it’s a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection
When I kept it all to myself like a miser holds on to his last dime
When I closed up myself like a desperate hand on a lifeline
Well I was bled, I was dried, all wrapped up in my pride
This is the way it is when you’re on the wrong side
Well, this is the way love is
This is the way love is
When it’s a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection
When I gave up, you held up When I ran out, you filled me up When I kept runnin', you kept up When I let you down you lifted me up This is the way love is When I couldn't find the words, you understood When I didn't find the time, you were in no hurry When I wouldn't make ends meet, you tied them together When I cheated you kept to the rules Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection When I was keepin' it in, you were givin' out When I was losin' out, you'd let me come back When I was holdin' back, you were holdin' on When I was losin' my cool you were keepin' your love warm Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection When I kept it all to myself like a miser holds on to his last dime When I closed up myself like a desperate hand on a lifeline Well I was bled, I was dried, all wrapped up in my pride This is the way it is when you're on the wrong side Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When I gave up, you held up When I ran out, you filled me up When I kept runnin', you kept up When I let you down you lifted me up This is the way love is When I couldn't find the words, you understood When I didn't find the time, you were in no hurry When I wouldn't make ends meet, you tied them together When I cheated you kept to the rules Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection When I was keepin' it in, you were givin' out When I was losin' out, you'd let me come back When I was holdin' back, you were holdin' on When I was losin' my cool you were keepin' your love warm Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection When I kept it all to myself like a miser holds on to his last dime When I closed up myself like a desperate hand on a lifeline Well I was bled, I was dried, all wrapped up in my pride This is the way it is when you're on the wrong side Well, this is the way love is This is the way love is When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection When it's a one-sided double-minded mirror with no reflection
Sweet! I love the 77s, and this is a particularly good song by them. I’d never thought of it as a response to Foreigner’s song, but it’s actually not a bad way to think of it. Thanks for posting this, Mike!