You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Unspoken Love: Jackie DeShannon's Melody of Heartache and Understanding
Lyrics
When I said I needed you
Expressing the need for the person
You said you would always stay
Assurance of staying committed
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
Highlighting the other person's change leading to separation
Don't you see that now you've gone
Noting the absence of the person
And I'm left here on my own
Feeling abandoned and alone
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
Desperation to bring the person back
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Requesting closeness without verbal declarations of love
You don't have to stay forever I will understand
Acceptance of the potential departure
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
Inability to stop loving despite circumstances
But believe me I'll never tie you down
Commitment to not confining or suffocating the other person
Left alone with just a memory
Feeling abandoned with only memories
Life seems dead and quite unreal
Life feeling empty and surreal after separation
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
Suffering from loneliness and emotional numbness
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Reiteration of closeness over verbal affirmation
You don't have to stay forever
Reiteration of understanding potential departure
I will understand believe me, believe me
Reassertion of unwavering love despite circumstances
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Emphasis on closeness without demanding verbal love
You don't have to stay forever
Reiteration of acceptance of possible departure
I will understand, believe me, believe me
Reaffirmation of understanding despite circumstances
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