Love Has No Pride
Linda Ronstadt
The Vulnerability of Unrequited Love in Linda Ronstadt's 'Love Has No Pride'
Linda Ronstadt's 'Love Has No Pride' is a poignant exploration of the depths of unrequited love and the vulnerability that accompanies it. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who has experienced repeated heartbreak and loneliness, yet remains deeply attached to a past lover. The opening lines, 'I've had bad dreams too many times / To think that they don't mean much anymore,' suggest a history of emotional turmoil and disappointment. This sets the stage for the central theme of the song: the enduring pain of lost love and the longing for reconciliation.
The chorus, 'But love has no pride when I call out your name / And love has no pride when there's no one to blame,' underscores the idea that true love often involves a loss of ego and self-respect. The narrator is willing to sacrifice their pride and dignity in the hope of rekindling the relationship. This sentiment is further emphasized in the lines, 'If I could buy your love / Then I'd surely try my friend / And if I could pray / My prayers would never end.' These lyrics highlight the desperation and willingness to do anything to regain the lost love, even if it means begging or pleading.
Linda Ronstadt's soulful delivery adds an extra layer of emotion to the song, making the listener feel the raw pain and longing expressed in the lyrics. The song captures the universal experience of heartache and the often irrational hope that love can be restored, despite the odds. It speaks to the human condition of yearning for connection and the lengths to which one might go to achieve it, even at the cost of personal pride.