# Are there love songs that don't focus on appearance? (To women, particularly) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306 "2009-09-23T23:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/21 "2009-09-24T02:54:27Z")
_The way you wear your hat The way you sip your tea The mem’ry of all that No, no they can’t take that away from me._ ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/22 "2009-09-24T03:01:01Z")
> [@choie](#): > > A very good example (I think) is “She’s Always a Woman.” Doesn’t say a thing about her looks (unless you count wounding with her eyes) or what she does to the singer, except that he apparently loves her despite the fact that she’s a bitchy narcissist. Same with “That’s Not Her Style”, which comes closest in > [@](#): > > I’ve read where it’s said that she sleeps in a bed made of satin > She’s had her face done in every place you can try “Shameless” suggests this, and maybe a few other Billy Joel songs. Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” has a merely adequately pretty woman: > [@](#): > > You ain’t a beauty but hey you’re all right A fair number of Bob Dylan’s songs to/about women don’t praise the woman’s beauty or love for him ([“Just Like A Woman”](http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/just-woman), [“Love Minus Zero”](http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/love-minus-zerono-limit), [“Tangled Up In Blue”](http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/tangled-blue), etc.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/23 "2009-09-24T03:05:50Z")
Brad Paisley: It’s mentioned, but not the majority of the song She’s a yellow pair of running shoes A holey pair of jeans She looks great in cheap sunglasses She looks great in anything She’s I want a piece of chocolate Take me to a movie She’s I can’t find a thing to wear Now and then she’s moody ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/24 "2009-09-24T03:50:20Z")
[Woman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArcSnt7ui8k) - John Lennon ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/25 "2009-09-24T04:14:33Z")
I came in to say “Annie’s Song”, but somebody beat me to it, so I’ll say “Lay You Down”, by Conway Twitty, which I find unbearably touching. When a whole lot of Decembers Are showing in your face Your auburn hair has faded And silver takes it’s place You’ll be just as lovely And I’ll still be around And if I can I know that I’ll still love to lay you down. It’s about real couple-love between two people. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/26 "2009-09-24T04:27:37Z")
Although she may not be the girl some men think of as pretty to my heart she carries the key. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/27 "2009-09-24T04:35:34Z")
**A Fairytale Of New York** , by The Pogues. Also: **Annie’s Other Song** , by John Denver ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/28 "2009-09-24T04:54:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > **A Fairytale Of New York** , by The Pogues. Great choice! \*You’re a bum You’re a punk You’re an old slut on junk Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed You scumbag, you maggot You cheap lousy faggot Happy christmas your arse I pray God its our last \* …although he did call her “pretty” earlier in the song. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/29 "2009-09-24T04:59:36Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Great choice! > > \*You’re a bum > You’re a punk > You’re an old slut on junk > Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed > You scumbag, you maggot > You cheap lousy faggot > Happy christmas your arse > I pray God its our last > \* > …although he did call her “pretty” earlier in the song. \*You took my dreams from me When I first found you I’ve kept them with me, babe And put them with my own Can’t make it all alone I’ve built my dreams around you\* ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/30 "2009-09-24T05:03:54Z")
Rush records the occasional love song, and they fit the OP: [Entre Nous](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Entre-Nous-lyrics-Rush/AF18AEC2ED11CC9C48256BBF0032BD12): We are secrets to each other Each one’s life a novel No-one else has read. Even joined in bonds of love, We’re linked to one another By such slender threads. [Ghost of a Chance](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Ghost-Of-A-Chance-lyrics-Rush/858737C6A125250E48256BBF00350ED5): I don’t believe in destiny Or the guiding hand of fate I don’t believe in forever Or love as a mystical state I don’t believe in the stars or the planets Or angels watching from above But I believe there’s a ghost of a chance we can find someone to love And make it last [Alien Shore](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Alien-Shore-lyrics-Rush/0BCA9491D8D3EDFE48256BBF003565E3): You and I, we are strangers by one chromosome Slave to the hormone, body and soul In a struggle to be happy and free Swimming in a primitive sea You and I, we must dive below the surface A world of red neon and ultramarine Shining bridges on the ocean floor Reaching to the alien shore ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/31 "2009-09-24T06:39:25Z")
One you won’t have heard of… **[Melbourne](http://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/Melbourne-lyrics-The-Whitlams/748BFCCE3B6603C548256D3B00238E95)** by The Whitlams - She paints pictures on the wall She eats all of the garden And has an aversion to conviction And she calls her dog “the bear” \* ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/32 "2009-09-24T07:55:49Z")
**Don’t Ever Change** by The Crickets You never wear a stitch of lace And powder’s never on your face You’re always wearing jeans Except on Sundays But don’t you ever change No, don’t you ever change I kind of like you Just the way you are ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/33 "2009-09-24T08:30:30Z")
[Human Nature](http://www.metrolyrics.com/human-nature-lyrics-iq.html) by IQ. It praises the relationship itself, describing the different phases of a relationship, and the fact that they’ve weathered the storms and their love is stronger for it. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/34 "2009-09-24T09:25:36Z")
**Days of Love and Innocence** Days of love and innocence when princes ruled the land. You placed wild roses in my hair and kisses in my hand. Days of love and innocence they never fade away. If love can last for centuries I’ll be your love today. [http://www.jacquelynbrown.com/days.html](http://www.jacquelynbrown.com/days.html) ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/35 "2009-09-24T10:30:33Z")
Meat Loaf’s _For Crying Out Loud_, though there is a lot of sexual imagery there is other stuff as well: For taking in the rain when I’m feeling so dry For giving me the answers when I’m asking you why… For taking in the sun when I’m feeling so cold For giving me a child when my body is old… For coming to my room when you know I’m alone For finding me a highway and driving me home… For pulling me away when I’m starting to fall For revving me up when I’m starting to stall… For taking and for giving and for playing the game For praying for my future in the days that remain… Ah but most of all For cryin’ out loud For that I love you When you’re crying out loud You know I love you ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/36 "2009-09-24T10:34:06Z")
[My Funny Valentine](http://www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/my-funny-valentine.htm) focuses on the lack of beauty/pretty/sexy/hotness. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/37 "2009-09-24T10:37:43Z")
When quoting a song, please don’t use more than about one verse. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/38 "2009-09-24T11:20:18Z")
In Your Eyes/Peter Gabriel [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EWvbu5K7MBM/hqdefault.jpg "Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWvbu5K7MBM) IIRC he writes much of his stuff in the African tradition, of writing love songs with the double meaning that they could be addressed to God. In your eyes/The light the heat In your eyes/I am complete In your eyes/I see the doorway to a thousand churches In your eyes/The resolution of all the fruitless searches In your eyes/I see the light and the heat In your eyes/Oh, I want to be that complete I want to touch the light, The heat I see in your eyes ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/39 "2009-09-24T12:19:29Z")
Cheesy, but all love songs are : _So close, no matter how far Couldn’t be much more from the heart Forever trusting who we are And nothing else matters Never opened myself this way Life is ours, we live it our way All these words I don’t just say And nothing else matters_ Metallica - Nothing Else Matters A bit different : _Everytime we lie awake After every hit we take Every feeling that I get But I haven’t missed you yet Every roomate kept awake By every silent scream we make All the feelings that I get But I still dont missed you yet Only when I stop to think about it… I hate everything about you Why do I love you ?_ Three Days Grace - I Hate Everything About You ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306/40 "2009-09-24T14:37:15Z")
[Thunder Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsJsjaYm03E) - Bruce Springsteen _Show a little faith there’s magic in the night you ain’t a beauty but hey, you’re all right oooh, and that’s all right with me_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-love-songs-that-dont-focus-on-appearance-to-women-particularly/511306.md?page=3)