A lyrical question

[nitrah55]

I was thinking about Bing Crosby (as I'm sure you do every year around this time) and recalling that he did not like singing the phrase "I love you." He thought love songs should be more subtle. There were a lot of songwriters who tried to write love songs for Crosby by leaving out that phrase. Crosby was credited with the lyrics for "Moonlight Becomes You," where the phrase is snuck in as a conditional:

If I say I love you
I want you to know
It's not just because there's moonlight
Although, moonlight becomes you so.

What I meandered into was thinking, "Are there any great love songs that don't have the word 'love' in the lyrics at all?"

Anybody?

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Here's a love song,
Master and Servant by Depeche Mode

Theres a new game
We like to play you see
A game with added reality
You treat me like a dog
Get me down on my knees

We call it master and servant
We call it master and servant

Its a lot like life
This play between the sheets
With you on top and me underneath
Forget all about equality

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Its a lot like life
And thats whats appealing
If you despise that throwaway feeling
From disposable fun
Then this is the one

Dominations the name of the game
In bed or in life
Theyre both just the same
Except in one youre fulfilled
At the end of the day

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Lets play master and servant
Come on, master and servant

[Bob Juch]

Here's a love song,
Master and Servant by Depeche Mode

Theres a new game
We like to play you see
A game with added reality
You treat me like a dog
Get me down on my knees

We call it master and servant
We call it master and servant

Its a lot like life
This play between the sheets
With you on top and me underneath
Forget all about equality

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Its a lot like life
And thats whats appealing
If you despise that throwaway feeling
From disposable fun
Then this is the one

Dominations the name of the game
In bed or in life
Theyre both just the same
Except in one youre fulfilled
At the end of the day

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Lets play master and servant
Come on, master and servant

Why you kinky little PSM!

[Bob Juch]

"Are there any great love songs that don't have the word 'love' in the lyrics at all?"

Anybody?

Perhaps "I Want to Hold Your Hand"?

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

You probably mean something more traditional.

My Funny Valentine (by Rogers and Hart)

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is Valentines Day

Is your figure less than Greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But don't you change one hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is Valentines Day

[fantine33]

I'm sure there are lots of them. But my first thought was I Wanna Be Your Dog. Iggy is a real romantic type. Ha!

[nitrah55]

It's a love song, of a sort: "When I'm Sixty-Four."

[ToLiveIsToFly]

I was thinking about Bing Crosby (as I'm sure you do every year around this time) and recalling that he did not like singing the phrase "I love you." He thought love songs should be more subtle. There were a lot of songwriters who tried to write love songs for Crosby by leaving out that phrase. Crosby was credited with the lyrics for "Moonlight Becomes You," where the phrase is snuck in as a conditional:

If I say I love you
I want you to know
It's not just because there's moonlight
Although, moonlight becomes you so.

What I meandered into was thinking, "Are there any great love songs that don't have the word 'love' in the lyrics at all?"

Anybody?

"Question" by the Old 97s came immediately to mind. Let's see, what else:
"Passionate Kisses" by Lucinda Williams (not-as-good version by Mary Chapin Carpenter)
"No Lonesome Tune" by Townes Van Zandt
"You Needed Me" by Anne Murray
"I've Just Seen a Face", "When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles
"In Spite of Ourselves" by John Prine and Iris DeMent (depends on how strict you are)
"I Saw a Stranger With Your Hair" - John Gorka

[Appa23]

Here's a love song,
Master and Servant by Depeche Mode

Theres a new game
We like to play you see
A game with added reality
You treat me like a dog
Get me down on my knees

We call it master and servant
We call it master and servant

Its a lot like life
This play between the sheets
With you on top and me underneath
Forget all about equality

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Its a lot like life
And thats whats appealing
If you despise that throwaway feeling
From disposable fun
Then this is the one

Dominations the name of the game
In bed or in life
Theyre both just the same
Except in one youre fulfilled
At the end of the day

Lets play master and servant
Lets play master and servant

Lets play master and servant
Come on, master and servant

OK. Way too much of a peek into the private life of the Suchards.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

OK. Way too much of a peek into the private life of the Suchards.

I used the winky emoticon. I used it to convey the fact that I was joking.