It hurts to be in love

Dan Hartman's song "It hurts to be in love" delves deep into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love. The lyrics poignantly capture the pain of loving someone who does not reciprocate those feelings. The repeated refrain, "It hurts to be in love," underscores the persistent and inescapable nature of this heartache. The song's protagonist is trapped in a cycle of longing and despair, knowing that no matter what he does, the object of his affection will never love him back.

The lyrics also explore the internal conflict of maintaining a facade of friendship while harboring deeper feelings. The line, "She thinks I'm just a friend, though it hurts I must pretend," highlights the protagonist's struggle to keep his true emotions hidden. This pretense is a double-edged sword; it allows him to stay close to the person he loves, but it also intensifies his suffering. The metaphor of "crying a little bit" and "dying a little bit" each day vividly illustrates the slow, emotional erosion caused by unrequited love.

Hartman's song resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of loving someone who cannot or will not love them back. The universal theme of unrequited love is timeless, and the song's emotional depth is amplified by its simple yet powerful lyrics. The repetition of phrases like "day and night, night and day" emphasizes the relentless nature of this emotional pain, making it clear that the protagonist's suffering is a constant, unending cycle. Through this song, Hartman captures the essence of a love that is both beautiful and devastating, offering a poignant reflection on the complexities of human emotions.