Day 64 - When You Really Love Someone

 

So, I like this song, and I wanna look at it a little closer.  :)  She begins by talking about herself as a woman and saying what she needs/expects from a man - "Sweet attention, love and tenderness.  When it's real it's unconditional."  But then she takes it a step further to say that "a man just ain't a man if he aint' man enough to love you when you're right, love you when you're wrong, love you when you're weak, love you when you're strong. Take you higher when the world got you feelin low.  He's giving you his last, cuz he's thinking of you first, giving comfort when he's thinking that you're hurt.  That's what's done when you really love someone."  Then she switches to the male side, saying, "Cause you're a real man and lord knows it's hard; sometimes you just need a woman's touch.  Sweet affection, love and support. When it's real, it's unconditional, I'm telling y'all. Cuz a woman ain't a woman if she ain't woman enough to love you when you're right, love you when you're wrong, love you when you're weak, love you when you're strong. Take you higher when the world got you feelin low.  She's giving you her best, even when you're at your worst.  Giving comfort, when she's thinking that you're hurt.  That's what's done, when you really love someone."  

I appreciate this song, because it spells out some things that are key within love and relationship, although I do have to wonder about the differences in the verses.  Why is it that the male role is provision ("he's giving you his last") while the female role is intimacy and support ("she's giving you her best even when you're at worst")?  Shouldn't this be more balanced and equal?  I would think so, but patriarchy tends to set other norms.  

The bridge of the song is nice though - "Sometimes you gonna argue, sometimes you gonna fight, sometimes it's gonna feel like it will never be right, but something so strong, keeps you holdin on.  It don't make sense, but it make a good song."  As with every relationship, there are ups and downs, ins and outs, good times and bad times, but if the relationship is worth it, love and care will keep the relationship together with work and communication and compromise on both sides.

Aside from that, I think that this song should extend beyond male-female romantic relationships.  In my mind, any successful relationship (friendships, sisters, brothers, etc) should have all these elements - affection, love, support, give and take, comfort, etc.  While I appreciate what Alicia was going for, I think we should take it a step further and apply this to all relationships with all genders.  :)