Hey, I was just wondering who This Love is about? Karlie or Dianna? I always thought it was Dianna because of the line "I watched you leave". Also, it seems (so far if the album doesn't live up to its standard) that Dianna would have gotten a better album. And better songs. Even if they're not all positive
Finally the anon I was waiting for.
First of all Dianna isnāt just in 1989, Red is full of swiftgron (happy and sad, pretty much everything). 1989 is more the aftermath. Wonderland and Clean are just a work of art and, dear Lord, Iād love to hear lyrics like those on rep (I mean the way, not the object).
As for This Love, it has been a song that I had to listen to for few times, over and over. Itās a song full of metaphores and figurative lyrics, well-put with the melody. You start listening to it and youāre imagining being on a balcony or walking on the beach at night. Itās gloomy, lonely and makes you think about anything. The way she describes love, and the feeling of it, with those images is astonishing.Ā
First it came like an high tide, and it seemed to last somehow, then it went away with the low tide, which brought a storm and new loneliness. She wouldāve never predicted the feeling of being alone again or feel like this, not even in her āwildest dreamsā
Ā The reference to Clean, and thoseĀ āsilent screamsā say how hurt she was and still didnāt figure out a way to feel better, she screams but no one can listen. The past relationship affected her so much that even if sheās sharing a bed or sheās getting to know someone else, itās early and she feels the weight of the past. The spark was soft, thereās no more fireworks but something was still there, even if the person wasnāt.
This is the second verse, which, in my opinion, is where the song has a twist. The perspective is turned and something happens. Someone else shows up, and Iām sure that the secret message ātiming is a funny thingā refers to this. She was losing hope, and right when she thought she wasnāt going to have that feeling back, this person gives her a hand.
The prechorus hasĀ āpermanent markā as for you canāt forget your past, even if youāre in a new relationship. You donāt forget, but you grow with it, you have the scars but they donāt make you weak, they make you wiser and then stronger.
Your kiss, my cheek, I watched you leaveYour smile, my ghost, I fell to my kneesWhen youāre young you just runBut you come back to what you need.
This Love is a cyclical song, it describes first the feeling of being left, then of finding someone new, or feeling better, but it returns to be alone. Thatās why she describes the feeling itself asĀ āgoodā andĀ ābadā, and why se emphasizes the need to let it go free to have it back unexpectedly. Thereās no need to run for miles or go to another country, if itās meant to happen then it can be anywhere, at any time.
So, my conclusion is this, the song is obviously a hint at her past relationship with Dianna and how much it changed her, but also about Karlie and how she got the chance to feel it again. Itās more generic but if we want to point out which one of her lovers is, Iād say itās halfway. End of one - beginning of the other. Cyclical, like a natural phenomenon.