When You Love Someone

Alexander Stewart's song "When You Love Someone" delves into the enduring and often painful nature of first love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a young romance that, despite its end, continues to leave a lasting impact on the narrator. The song opens with a sense of ambivalence, highlighting the all-or-nothing nature of young love. Stewart reflects on how people change over time, yet some feelings remain constant, especially when it comes to love.

The song's narrative takes us back to a specific memory in Toronto, in the basement of the lover's parent's house. This setting is symbolic of the innocence and secrecy often associated with young love. The mention of trying not to wake the parents and having a few too many beers adds a layer of nostalgia and realism to the story. The pivotal moment comes when the narrator confesses their love, leading to a significant change in the relationship. This confession, while heartfelt, seems to have complicated things, leaving the narrator with lingering feelings of regret and longing.

The chorus emphasizes the song's central theme: the enduring nature of love. Despite the passage of time and the end of the relationship, the feelings never truly fade. The narrator grapples with the pain of unreciprocated love and the realization that their feelings for the other person will never change. The lyrics also touch on the idea of 'make-believe,' suggesting that the narrator once held onto an idealized version of the relationship, only to be confronted with the harsh reality that their love was not reciprocated in the way they had hoped. This unfulfilled longing and the inability to move on from the past are poignantly captured in the repeated lines, "Cause loving you is never gonna change."