Valentine's Day is here whether you like it or not. The good thing is that the love being celebrated this week does not have to be romantic. Love is a great thing. We love our parents, our siblings, our friends, our pets, etc. Why should we mope around if we don't have a significant other to spend this lovely day with? I have compiled a list of songs about love, not love songs, for you to listen to by yourself, with your friends, or with your true love!
Baby I’m Yours — The Arctic Monkeys
“I’ll be yours until the stars fall from the sky, yours until the river all run dry. In other words, until I die.”
Originally made famous by Barbara Lewis in 1965, this song has been covered by many artists including Cher for the soundtrack of her movie, “Mermaids” in 1990 and most recently by the Arctic Monkeys. It’s a good slow doo-wop song that should be listened to in a diner while sharing a milkshake with your true love — or just listened to by yourself in your dorm room.
A Father’s First Spring — The Avett Brothers
“I have been homesick for you since we met.”
I obviously have never experienced what it's like to be a parent to a child, but if it’s anything like owning a dog, then I can sincerely relate to this song. This song always gives me chills up my arm because of how sweet and pure it is. It also leaves me with bitterness to my parents for not writing me a love song about my birth.
They Long To Be Close To You — The Carpenters
“On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true.”
I hate to cause a spoiler alert for anyone, but my mom made me believe this song was written about me as a kid. Honestly, to this day I still feel like it was. Regardless of the Carpenters inspiration, this song is full of golden pure love. I love my mom and I love this song.
The Girl — City and Colour
“And when you cry a piece of my heart dies knowing that I may have been the cause.”
Play this song for me if you want me to have an emotional breakdown. This song is a rare idea for me to grasp. A guy loves a girl so much that he has to write a song about why he doesn’t deserve her? I need to get me a freak like that.
Wake Me Up — Ed Sheeran
“See, I could do without a tan on my left hand, where my fourth finger meets my knuckle.”
That lyric blew my mind when I first heard this song in high school. Ed Sheeran is such a creative poet that “Will you marry me?” won’t even cut it for him. This whole song is just too sweet for me and everyone needs to listen to it. Thanks, Ed.
Home — Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
“Home, let me come home. Home is wherever I’m with you.”
If you are looking for a song about love that won’t make you question your existence or question where all these perfect fish in the sea are, then I suggest you listen to this song. It’s an upbeat, happy song about home being a person, not a place. It’s relatable for any type of love.
The Way I Am — Ingrid Michaelson
“I’d buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair. Sew on patches to all you tear.”
What kind of song talks about buying your true love Rogaine? The answer is a great song.
Laundry Room — The Avett Brothers
“Teach me how to use the love that people say you made.”
This is definitely a song for the romantics. All about young love and innocence, the newness of love that you hear through this song will melt what is left of your heart now that we are at this point of the list.
Nicest Thing — Kate Nash
“All I know is that you’re so nice. You’re the nicest thing I’ve seen. I wish that we could give it a go, see if we could be something.”
This song is for all you hopeless romantic dreamers out there. The people who spend their days pining over people they barely talk to. I mean, it’s relatable. I hope you all find someone who knows when you say two sugars, you actually mean three.
First Day Of My Life — Bright Eyes
“This is the first day of my life, I’m glad I didn't die before I met you. But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you and I’d probably be happy.”
This is the alpha song about love. All other poser love songs need to quit and go home. I love playing this song for people for the first time because you can see their world end and begin again. The meaning of this song comes across gently and lovingly. I think I am crying while I write this. Also, don’t worry the someone you dedicate this song to doesn’t have to be a love interest; I dedicate this to my dog, obviously.
Valentine's Day is a cute little holiday; don't worry too much about finding someone special. Listen to these songs and be happy that love is love and that anyone can feel it.