"The Key" is a song by Joan Armatrading, released in 1983 as part of her album "The Key." The song explores the theme of longing for love and the desire to possess the key to someone's heart. In the song, the protagonist expresses her frustration as her lover tells her that he needs her love, yet he hasn't given her the key to his heart. She questions when he will give her access to his true emotions, comparing it to getting the key to the basement or the key to a door. She feels left out as every previous lover he had before had access to his heart. Despite promising to see each other on Sunday, the protagonist yearns for the key to her lover's heart. She feels lonely and left behind as her friends have all found love and moved forward with their lives, leaving her feeling miles apart. Throughout the song, there is a sense of blindness and being fooled by love. The protagonist acknowledges that love is often blind, and she feels fooled, but she is willing to overlook these aspects for the chance to possess the key and be with her lover. Ultimately, the song captures the protagonist's longing for a deeper connection and the desire to have the key to her lover's heart, symbolizing trust, vulnerability, and intimacy.
