The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Who are we to be emotional
Who are we to play with hearts
And throw away it all
Who are we to turn each others heads
Who are we to find ourselves in other people's beds
I don't like the way I never listen to myself
I feel like I'm on fire, I'm too shy to cry for help
I don't think you know me much at all
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
I'm feeling down about this love
Who are you to make me feel so good
Who are we to tell ourselves that we're misunderstood
Oh who am I to say I'm always yours
Who am I to choose the boy that everyone adores
Oh I don't see a reason why we can't just be apart
Now we're falling on each other like we're always in the dark
Oh I don't think you warned me much at all
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is not what you want
This heart will never be yours
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
Who are we to play with hearts
And throw away it all
Who are we to turn each others heads
Who are we to find ourselves in other people's beds
I don't like the way I never listen to myself
I feel like I'm on fire, I'm too shy to cry for help
I don't think you know me much at all
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
I'm feeling down about this love
Who are you to make me feel so good
Who are we to tell ourselves that we're misunderstood
Oh who am I to say I'm always yours
Who am I to choose the boy that everyone adores
Oh I don't see a reason why we can't just be apart
Now we're falling on each other like we're always in the dark
Oh I don't think you warned me much at all
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is not what you want
This heart will never be yours
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
This love is be and end all
This love will be your downfall
Lyrics submitted by romanceisdead
This Love (Will Be Your Downfall) Lyrics as written by Finlay Graham Dow Smith Ellie Goulding
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I think it's about her being irritated with herself for falling in love with someone that she shouldn't. She knows there will be no happy ending and that it will be her 'downfall', and she's constantly trying to convince herself that the person she wants isn't hers, and owes her nothing, so she shouldn't be feeling so 'emotional' about it. She's basically fighting her own feelings. X
ellie has stated in an interview that the song is aout people cheating on each other.."who are we to find ourselves in other peoples beds" the person has been cheated on and it will be the end of them if they stay in this relationship
Ellie Goulding is incredible.
I think this isn't about herrr getting hurt but her being worried because she knows that she'll hurt. Not everyone is the victim I think she is worried about being the one who causes the hurt.
"Who are we to play with hearts and throw it all away?" She can feel herself playing with this persons emotions.
"I'm feeling down about this love" She's noticing a lack of interest and knows things are going wrong
"Who am I to say Im always yours" She can't promise that she'll always be there for this person because "always yours" is a big promise to keep.
I think the line is actually "I feel like I'm on fire and too shy to cry for help"
I thought that too!! But its not because she does something with her voice that makes words sound like other words :D x
Who said it wasn´t?
Well everyone else seems to believe it's about her hurting someone else, and not about someone else hurting her. Well, I think it's about falling in love with someone, and all of the past is "who are we to sleep in other people's beds?" because they should be sleeping in their beds, because they're in love. And everything is the past, because it says "this love is be and end-all, this love will be your downfall" and end-all means ultimate goal, and their ultimate goal is to be in love with each other. And downfall means a loss of power, so they have no control over not falling in love with each other, so it's all just a happy ending.
Personally I believe the song is about cheating on others. 'Who are you to make me feel so good?' could mean that the person hates the fact she is enjoying something she knows she shouldn't be. It feels too good to leave even though they know the end of the relationship will be terrible.
This is a wonderful, unique song because of the depth it conveys. I understand that there are different opinions but I was truly disappointed that this site has no comments that really explain the song. I dunno if I am full right but for me it is quite clear AND NOT JUST THAT - this song is wise, saying very much about love.
It is about our delusions when we start liking someone. Not about true feelings, but about "rather trivial emotions" that we for some time believe are really true because at first the crush really is strong. But there is some very subtle difference. Of course, a short love story has its small charm and has the right to be but true deep feelings are really the ones we should find.
The lyrics show this really. And it sounds true. We think we love and we take these feelings very seriously, pour our soul into them, and then... something changes, things are not as they seemed. We all want to be happy and not alone and we draw an imaginary picture of a deep relationship with the person we don't even know that much.
And the real great feeling perhaps, can be found with someone who is not our "type" so much and is a bit more difficult. This inner intuition must help us to find the best choice. At least, as long as I don't lose my faith in love, i hope i'll find him or create deeper feelings with the person I already have and value
?
So about the chorus, I'm thinking that she's speaking to herself. As in: this will be my downfall.
It's the only thing that makes sense..