The song "Love's Not Where We Thought We Left It" by John Hiatt addresses the disillusionment and confusion that can arise in relationships. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where reality is distorted and love is elusive. The opening lines describe a forest devoid of gravity, symbolizing a place where the laws of the world don't apply. Birds mocking reality and someone eating the bread crumbs set a tone of unpredictability and disappointment. The protagonists had always believed that they would find love in this place, but it keeps shifting and evading them. The mention of blood and tears implies the emotional toll of searching for love without success. The song then brings up the story of Mary Magdalene and Jesus, where the apostles express jealousy over Jesus' affection for Mary. Jesus responds by questioning why he loves her more and emphasizes that love is not a competition. This story serves as a metaphor for the complexities of love and how it cannot be contained or controlled. The chorus repeats the idea that love is not where it was expected to be. Someone has taken the last remnants of love and secured it away, making it inaccessible. The image of love being caged and protected suggests the fear of losing or damaging it. The message is that love can't always be found where one expects or hopes to find it. The lyrics further contemplate the idea of gender roles and how they affect relationships. The mention of men becoming more ladylike and women becoming more like men signifies a desire for balance and equality. The song implies that when society overcomes gender stereotypes, there will be a shift in how relationships function and conflicts will diminish. The lyrics also touch upon the complexity of religious beliefs and the presence of a jealous God. The reference to the Father, Mother, Ghost, and Son suggests the Holy Trinity in Christian theology, and the song questions the idea of love and the divine. Overall, "Love's Not Where We Thought We Left It" explores the various aspects of love, its elusiveness, and the misconceptions surrounding it. It suggests that love goes beyond expectations and cannot be easily defined or controlled.
