Then You'd Love Me

Lady Gaga's song "Then You'd Love Me" delves into the painful experience of unrequited love and the longing for reciprocation. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who is deeply attached to someone who doesn't return their feelings. The repeated question, "How could you ever let me go?" underscores the singer's disbelief and heartbreak over the end of the relationship. This sentiment is further emphasized by the imagery of screaming the loved one's name across a bar and carrying pictures of their Neil Young guitar, symbolizing the lingering attachment and the difficulty of moving on.

The chorus introduces a hypothetical scenario where the singer imagines that only in the most extreme circumstances—such as being the last girl and boy on Earth during an earthquake—would the object of their affection finally love them. This hyperbolic situation highlights the singer's desperation and the extent to which they feel ignored or undervalued. The earthquake metaphor suggests a world-shaking event, something drastic and life-altering, as the only way to make the other person realize their love. It speaks to the futility and frustration of loving someone who remains emotionally distant.

Lady Gaga's poignant delivery and the repetitive structure of the song amplify the sense of yearning and unresolved emotion. The song captures the universal theme of unrequited love, where one person's deep feelings are not matched by the other. It also touches on the idea of self-worth and the painful realization that sometimes, no matter how much one loves or how much effort one puts in, it may never be enough to change the other person's heart.