Are you hurting the one you love?
You say you've found Heaven but you can't find God.
Are you hurting the one you love?
Bite your tongue till it tastes like blood.

Are you hurting the one you love?
So many glasses on the tabletop.
Are you hurting the one you love?
You'd like to stay in heaven but the rules are too tough.

Tough,
It's just too tough.
Tough,
It's just too tough.

Are you hurting the one you love?
When they watched the walls, and the ticking clock.
Are you hurting the one you love?
And was it something you could not stop.

Could not stop.
Stop,
Could not stop.
Stop,
Could not stop.
Stop,
Could not stop.
Stop,
Could not stop.

Are you hurting the one you love?
When you leave them sleeping on the hollow ground.
Are you hurting the one you love?
And lost for themselves.

Are you hurting the one you love?
And if heaven knows then who will stop.
Are you hurting the one you love?
You said you got to heaven, but it wasn't enough.


Lyrics submitted by mamma123456, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Are You Hurting the One You Love? Lyrics as written by Florence Leontine Mary Welch Christopher Lloyd Hayden

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Are You Hurting the One You Love? song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I got the lyrics as;

    Are you hurting the one you love? When you're safe from heaven, but you can't find God. Are you hurting the one you love? Bite your tongue till it tastes like blood.

    Are you hurting the one you love? So many glasses on the tabletop. Are you hurting the one you love? You'd like to stay in heaven but the rules are too tough.

    Tough, It's just too tough. Tough, It's just too tough.

    Are you hurting the one you love? When they watched the walls, and the ticking clock. Are you hurting the one you love? And was it something you could not stop.

    Could not stop. Stop, Could not stop. Stop, Could not stop. Stop, Could not stop. Stop, Could not stop.

    Are you hurting the one you love? When you leave them screaming on the hollow ground. Are you hurting the one you love? And lost for themselves.

    Are you hurting the one you love? And if heaven knows then who will stop. Are you hurting the one you love? You said you got to heaven, but it wasn't enough.

    I'm not a hundred percent sure about the 'leave them screaming on the hollow ground' section. she sings really quietly on the part!

    x

    florencefanon June 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard "Leave them sleeping" But I think mine might be a demo. I also think she is saying "You say you found Heaven, but you can't find God." That's what I always thought it was.

    sunbrightswallowon November 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard "Leave them sleeping" But I think mine might be a demo. I also think she is saying "You say you found Heaven, but you can't find God." That's what I always thought it was.

    sunbrightswallowon November 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to me, it's about never being satisfied in a relationship - nothing is ever quite good enough.

    diamondsandoakson January 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    I think Florence has changed the lyrics since the demo, it now says 'leave them sleeping in the middle of the floor, are you hurting the one you love, and watch the water fall are you hurthing the one you love, and if heaven knows then who else does' youtube.com/watch

    Brilliant song :)

    wilisorangeon February 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    there was never any real lyrics towards the end of the song. she didn't know what to say so she made up the words as she went along. she asked fans at shows to write the end part for her to help her, she then admitted at the show she just mumbled a slur of words that rhymed as she was recording it

    lungson July 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I feel like this song could be about any kind of relationship (love, family, friend.) but one of them has an addiction, and they are hurting the other person with it.

    "Are you hurting the one you love? And was it something you could not stop."

    I think it ties with the religious them too, with Gluttony (having too much of something) being one of the seven deadly sins, and how she repeats that things aren't enough, or you can't get enough because with an addiction you cannot.

    Jesikalandon December 17, 2010   Link

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