# Help Suggest Realistic/Mature Love Songs for my Playlist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 28, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084 "2010-05-28T16:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/41 "2010-05-29T03:26:43Z")
If You Want My Love - Cheap Trick Come and Get Your Love - Redbone ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/42 "2010-05-29T04:24:41Z")
**Alison Krause** - _When You Say Nothing At All_ ---
**Author:** ![Sinisterniik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Sinisterniik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinisterniik)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/43 "2010-05-29T04:58:17Z")
Everything - Alanis Morissette > **[Alanis Morissette - Everything Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/alanismorissette/everything.html)** > > Alanis Morissette "Everything": I can be an asshole of the grandest kind I can withhold like it's going out of style I can be the mo... Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns N’ Roses (the verses are actually pretty well written) > **[Sheryl Crow - Sweet Child O' Mine Lyrics | AZLyrics.com](https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sherylcrow/sweetchildomine.html)** > > Sheryl Crow "Sweet Child O' Mine": He's got a smile and it seems to me Reminds me of childhood memories Where everything was as fresh a... I Try - Macy Gray > **[Macy Gray - I Try Lyrics](https://www.lyricsmania.com/i_try_lyrics_macy_gray.html)** > > Macy Gray I Try Lyrics. I Try lyrics performed by Macy Gray: Games, changes and fears > When will they go from here? > When will they stop? I’m sure I’ll think of more… ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/44 "2010-05-29T05:08:57Z")
Most of my favorite musicians don’t have many love songs, but I culled and found some that are close. It was tough. Kate has 8 albums, and I could only think of a handful that are love-type songs. Same with Hap. 11 albums and, damn, it was hard to find love songs. Mostly these women tell stories or sing about personal, non-relationship matters. I can provide you with free mp3s if you like any of Hap’s songs because I have permission to do so, but I can’t help with Kate. Kate Bush [“The Man I Love”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcJ1m2JvNeU) (killer Gershwin cover, with Larry Adler on harmonica, a breathtaking Kate) [“Eat The Music”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM_8vOG-3CY) (love/fruit/music metaphors, voodoo, wild dancing, a beautiful Kate…that’s Lindsey Kemp at the beginning, he was in the original [The Wicker Man](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070917/) as Alder MacGreagor, the Innkeeper, Britt Ekland being the Innkeeper’s daughter. It seems out of place because it comes from a long-form video called The Line, The Cross and The Curve, starring Miranda Richardson, Kate and Kemp. This is the official video, different from TLTC&TC, and I don’t know why they didn’t cut that opening out. Oh well.) [“Why Should I Love You”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbP-dapt09Q) (demo version, before Prince ruined it) [“Pi”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ExxUdW8gE) (a love song about a guy who loves Pi) [“The Saxophone Song”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexNR7nxk8s) (a love song to a guy who plays the saxophone) [“Houdini”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23EPGzr8pmQ) (Mrs. Houdini’s love for Mr. Houdini) [“The Man With The Child In His Eyes”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfjPivYmV7Y) (an early song, some consider it a love song) [“Oh To Be In Love”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y88sXeNJrOw) (an early song about being in love) [“Under The Ivy”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLaUgi1AzC0) (giving a lover a very precious gift) Other songs that might seem to be about love really aren’t, like “Hounds of Love” or “Love and Anger” or aren’t suitable for this thread, like “L’Amour Looks Something Like You” or “Mrs. Bartolozzi.” Lots of other songs are about creepy or bizarre or dangerous kinds of love, again, not suitable here. Hap (all vocals on all songs by HTR) [“Hold Me”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo_ImDk5uuQ) (David Torn on Electronic Guitar) (Here is a [slower, quieter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmk6id3Ras), more acoustic version, and here’s a [live version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcXOiiyHE_c) [fanwank]where she forgets the lyrics and looks at me to provide them[/fanwank]) A few very old songs from when she was very young, so maybe not mature, but I can’t not include them. [“Come Here”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZEp5hZ1ij4) (sweet waltzy song, don’t let the monster scare you, he’s a very nice monster) [“One Alien”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGaoQB9ztDA) (unusual viewpoint, but still a love song) [“If Love Is A Game, I Win”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcOzJ10iQAs) (another sweet song, another nice monster, don’t freak) Really wacked/unusual viewpoints, but still love songs, in a way. [“Here And Hereafter”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSW_s_ZXi3E) (can be heard as a beautiful and breezy love song, unless you _really_ pay attention, so don’t. Just enjoy) [“Number One”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hJqx-xD2Ms) (very old, another monster) [“Case of Glass”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ZJymJw6Is) (well, it’s very sweet for a mini Twilight Zone episode…) Stretching: [“Omar”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKYg1piWTjs) (kinda love-songy, a love letter to Omar Sharif, though he’s not specified except in the title, so it could stand in as a regular love song.) [“He Will Come/The Flight”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqgElL1Vdck) (ok, it’s a 2-part vampire love story, so it may not count) [“The Wretches Gone Awry”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LZ79ZVTleE) (a love song to wretches, and they need love too) ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/45 "2010-05-29T10:44:27Z")
People have posted some great songs. I actually went and looked through my whole collection before I looked at the rest of this thread, and found it surprisingly difficult to find any such songs–maybe I’m sadly cynical, or just too young. Or maybe I’m paying more attention to the realistic/mature part than others… I only found a few songs and someone already mentioned one of them. (Wilco’s “I Got You”). The other one is a bit of a long shot–not to everyone’s taste, but some people love her (like me!) She’s an amazing lyricist. Joanna Newsom - [Good Intentions Paving Company](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STwVx6ynYjk) > [@](#): > > And I regret, I regret > > How I said to you, “honey, just open your heart” > When I’ve got trouble even opening a honey jar > And that right there is where we are… > > And I been 'fessing double fast > Addressing questions nobody asked > I’ll get this joy off of my chest at last > And I will love you 'til the noise has long since passed > > … > > Well, I saw straight away that the lay was steep > But I fell for you, honey, as easy as falling asleep > And that right there is the course I keep… > > And no amount of talking > Is going to soften the fall > But, like after the rain, step out > Of the overhang, that’s all If you really want something from every genre, I like the Roots / Erykah Badu “[You Got Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJCHeEQV454).” ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/46 "2010-05-29T11:55:20Z")
‘You’re My Best Friend’ by Queen. What better way to say ‘I love you’? ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/47 "2010-05-29T15:00:23Z")
All of these songs are from the wedding CD we made for a wedding favor for our guests (tried to focus more on the songs for your theme, we had some over the top gushy ones on here 😉 See Me Beautiful - Sizer Hazel This Kind of Love - Sister Hazel Smile - Uncle Kracker (this was the song we danced to at our wedding, I love it) Another Day in Love - TJ McCloud Always Will Be Yours - TJ McCloud Lovely Tonight - Joshua Radin Everything - Michael Buble Here are a few more (songs that didn’t make the CD, but were contenders): Fit - Jeremy Lister You - Michael Warren I’m Yours - Ron Pope ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/48 "2010-05-29T16:41:09Z")
[Rainy Night in Soho](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8U93klVz-8) - The Pogues ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/49 "2010-05-29T17:00:01Z")
**Ocean of Noise** by Arcade Fire > [@](#): > > In an ocean of noise > I first heard your voice > Ringing like a bell > As if I had a choice, oh well! > > Left in the morning > While you were fast asleep > Into an ocean of violence > A world of empty streets > > You’ve got your reasons > And me I’ve got mine > But all the reasons I gave > Were just lies to buy myself some time > > … > > I’m gonna work it out > Cause time wont work it out > I’m gonna work it out > Cause time wont work it out for you > I’m gonna work it on out ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/50 "2010-05-29T17:08:14Z")
Fairytale of New York, The Pogues ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/51 "2010-05-29T17:23:09Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It’s practically impossible to find a Bruce Springsteen song that’s about love in _good_ way, but we settled on “Luckytown” for the wedding playlist because by god we were going to play Bruce Springsteen. It ends on a positive note, at least. “This Life” from the recent “Working on a Dream” album might work. I was also thinking: “Harbor” by Vienna Teng and “Secret O’ Life” by James Taylor ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/52 "2010-05-29T18:02:27Z")
> [@](#): > > It isn’t what she’s got to say, > or how she thinks or where she’s been. > To me the words are nice the way they sound. > > I like to hear them best that way. > It doesn’t much matter what they mean > 'cause she says them mostly just to calm me down. > > And I feel fine any time she’s around me now, > and she’s around me now almost all the time. > If I’m well you can tell that she’s been with me now. > She’s been with me now quite a long, long time, > yes, and I feel fine. James Taylor, “Something in the Way She Moves” And my favorite happy bluegrass love song: “Till the End of the World Rolls 'Round,” by Flatt and Scruggs, which may not be realistic but it’s filled with joy. > [@](#): > > I tried to sail the sea of life I rowed my boat alone > Your love meant nothing to me dear my heart was made of stone > To a harbor filled with loneliness my little boat was moored > And on the day I first met you I fell right overboard > > Til the end of the world rolls 'round I’ll keep on loving you > As long as the sun goes up and comes down > And the big blue sky goes down to the ground > As long as the world goes round and round I’ll keep on loving you ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/53 "2010-05-29T18:12:25Z")
In case all the serious suggestions make you too emotional when you’re listening, you can always throw in Tom Lehrer’s “[When You Are Old and Gray](http://www.lyrics007.com/Tom%20Lehrer%20Lyrics/When%20You%20Are%20Old%20And%20Gray%20Lyrics.html).” 😃 ---
**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:** [May 29, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/54 "2010-05-29T21:31:23Z")
I really should have thought of this one earlier\*: **[Still the One](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbH_sDyWZqo)** by Orleans \*I know why I didn’t, but I still should have. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/55 "2010-05-29T22:29:38Z")
[Damien Rice – Cannonball](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/cannonball-lyrics-damien-rice/277965b2ebee3e9848256da0000ae7e1). A bit more about falling in love than being in enduring love, but it’s still very pretty. Foo Fighters is one of the only modern rock bands to write mostly straightforward love songs that aren’t dark. [Everlong](http://www.lyrics007.com/Foo%20Fighters%20Lyrics/Everlong%20Lyrics.html) and [Times Like These](http://www.lyrics007.com/Foo%20Fighters%20Lyrics/Times%20Like%20These%20Lyrics.html) may satisfy your need for something up-tempo. A bit depressing, but [Naked As We Came](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Naked-As-We-Came-lyrics-Iron-Wine/1D5E0382747A2CF348256EFE00066861) by Iron and Wine is a beautiful sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/56 "2010-05-30T00:27:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Sowing the Seeds of \*\*Love \*\*- Tears for Fears > Let \*\*Love \*\*Rule - Lenny Kravitz > All My \*\*Love \*\*- Led Zeppelin > Send Her My \*\*Love \*\*- Journey > I Want to Know What \*\*Love \*\*Is - Foreigner > This \*\*Love \*\*- Maroon 5 > Feel Like Making \*\*Love \*\*- Bad Company > Say You \*\*Love \*\*Me - Fleetwood Mac > **Love** song - The Cure > If You Want My \*\*Love \*\*- Cheap Trick > Come and Get Your \*\*Love \*\*- Redbone Geez, Wilbo523…how did you _ever_ find all these oh-so-appropriate suggestions?? mmm ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/57 "2010-05-30T05:04:13Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits > Differest Strings - Rush > Let’s Do It - Cole Porter > Anna Begins - Counting Crows > Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters > Don’t Get Me Wrong - The Pretenders > Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan Kind of wondering about **Anna Begins** on this list. I always thought it was about trying to figure out if you want to have sex with your gal pal or not. I don’t see how it could be a mature, serious love song. More like a fuck song. But, it came out when I was a teen and I was a gal pal to a lot of guys and trying to decide if I wanted to have sex with them. So, my interpretation may be off. What is your take, **Jonathan Chance**? ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/58 "2010-05-30T10:49:25Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > _I’ll Stand By You_ by The Pretenders. Thread over. This was my wedding song and it still brings me to tears every damned time I hear it. Also, “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/59 "2010-05-30T11:18:33Z")
Nick Cave- [Into My Arms](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgXvKurJq2Q) Christy Moore- [The Voyage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_surYSjPZQA)- particularly relevant if you have kids. Metallica- Nothing Else Matters Joni Mitchell- My Old Man (good if your aren’t married) ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084/60 "2010-05-31T05:23:48Z")
[Somebody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-IOvcB-I4) - Depeche Mode [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-suggest-realistic-mature-love-songs-for-my-playlist/541084.md?page=4)