Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Journey
The Heartache of Betrayal in Journey's Classic Rock Ballad
Journey's 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'' is a song that delves into the emotional turmoil of betrayal and the anticipation of karmic retribution. The lyrics express the pain of someone who has been cheated on, highlighting the intense feelings of sadness and the desire for the unfaithful partner to experience the same heartache. The song's narrator is deeply hurt by their lover's infidelity, as evidenced by the opening lines where the emotional weight is so heavy that it leads to thoughts of wanting to die.
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of 'lovin', touchin', squeezin'', emphasizes the physical intimacy that the narrator's partner is sharing with someone else, which adds to the sense of betrayal. The song's structure, with its build-up to the chorus, mirrors the crescendo of emotions the narrator is experiencing. The use of direct address to the partner who is causing the pain makes the song feel personal and relatable to listeners who may have experienced similar situations.
Towards the end of the song, there is a shift in perspective. The narrator predicts that the tables will turn and the unfaithful partner will eventually find themselves in the same position—alone and betrayed. This sense of poetic justice provides a bittersweet resolution to the song, as the narrator finds some solace in the idea that karma will come around. The repeated 'na na na' outro can be interpreted as a scornful, almost mocking farewell to the partner, signifying the narrator's attempt to move on from the pain.