Two Kinds of Love interpretation

[twinmatrix]

Hey guys,

I'm surprised that I'm not able to find an interpretation of the song in regards to drug abuse. Especially considering the whole album's underlying theme is rehab. I keep listening to the song in that way, but then when I looked online, everyone only sees it as a simple love song.

I'm not good at writing song interpretations, but this is how I see it:

Who in the world do you think that you are fooling?
Well, I've already done everything that you are doing
This reminded me of a guy I dated. We were doing drugs together and he said that people always explain to him how to do it as if it's his first time. He lets them explain politely and thinks "I've already done everything that you are doing".

Well, don't you know, as you walk on by
That great temptations never really die
Drugs = a great temptation that never really dies.

Well, I talked to my famous friend last night
My third day up...well, his second nighter
This is obvious, you stay up for days & nights in a row when you're high.

He says, "I don't know how you do what you do
How do you let the world in?"
Well, I say, "Well, there's no way out"
Then I just play out the game

How do you let the world in when you live the way you do? (Being high all the time.)
She replies, there's nothing to do about it, you just keep on using.

And in general, I think "Two Kinds of Love" refers to love for another person, and love for a drug.

Anyway, curious to hear if anyone else has looked at this song in a way of love vs coke. You can read most lines in the song from these two different points of view.

It reminds me of a song by Dido called "Don't Leave Home", which is actually written from the perspective of the drug. It's really interesting:

"Don't Leave Home"

Like a ghost don't need a key
Your best friend I've come to be
Please don't think of getting up for me
You don't even need to speak
When I've been here for just one day
You'll already miss me if I go away
So close the blinds and shut the door
You won't need other friends anymore

Oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home

If you're cold I'll keep you warm
If you're low just hold on
Cause I will be your safety
Oh don't leave home

I arrived when you were weak
I'll make you weaker, like a child
Now all your love you give to me

When your heart is all I need

Oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home

If you're cold I'll keep you warm
If you're low just hold on
Cause I will be your safety
Oh don't leave home

Oh how quiet, quiet the world can be
When it's just you and little me
Everything is clear and everything is new
So you won't be leaving will you

Oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home

If you're cold I'll keep you warm
If you're low just hold on
Cause I will be your safety
Oh don't leave home

[Macfan4life]

You are correct with TOSOTM having many drug related connections. Besides Escape from Berlin, Long way to go really hits hard "High in my life... obsession was my love... worth it was my time..oh no you are fading out." Have fun tell the world

Two Kinds of Love is purely about love. During Stevie's appearance on Rockline in 1989 she perfectly described the song. The two kinds of love are.....the love you have for someone and the sexual way you love someone. The part of the song "one for the way that you walk" is Stevie describing the sexual lust of how her man walks. When she was describing this... it made perfect sense to me. Stevie is usually never so suggestive in any of her songs which makes me really think its about Joe and her lust for him. When she says "when you walk on by, the temptations never really die. She is really talking about her man walking by.

The question is WHO is two kinds of love about? Long Way To Go was also about Joe Walsh. He was the love of her life and I see Two Kinds of Love about him too.
"My third day up, his second nighter" is about staying up all night and partying. I see Joe Walsh in this song.

[bwboy]

Wow, twinmatrix- great analysis of Two Kinds of Love. Your interpretation of the lyrics makes a lot of sense. I firmly believe that a lot of songs can have or take on different meanings, based on the songwriter's experiences. Stevie may have consciously written TKOL about one thing, but clearly it has more layers to it than what's on the surface. And if it really is about Joe Walsh, the drug references actually make even more sense nose.

[Macfan4life]

Wow, twinmatrix- great analysis of Two Kinds of Love. Your interpretation of the lyrics makes a lot of sense. I firmly believe that a lot of songs can have or take on different meanings, based on the songwriter's experiences. Stevie may have consciously written TKOL about one thing, but clearly it has more layers to it than what's on the surface. And if it really is about Joe Walsh, the drug references actually make even more sense nose.
Yes some of Stevie's most epic songs are layered with multiple meanings or created by several different experiences. Edge of 17 is about the passing of her grandfather, the death of John Lennon, and the bird of Arizona. Sara is a little about Mick, Don Henley, and the abortion.

Two Kinds of Love is a sweet love and lust song but does make reference to drugs. Just like Long Way To Go is about breaking up with Joe Walsh its also about heavy drug addiction.

[SisterNightroad]

I know she said that most of Two Kinds of Love was written when she was touring in Australia with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.

[twinmatrix]

You are correct with TOSOTM having many drug related connections. Besides Escape from Berlin, Long way to go really hits hard "High in my life... obsession was my love... worth it was my time..oh no you are fading out." Have fun tell the world

Two Kinds of Love is purely about love. During Stevie's appearance on Rockline in 1989 she perfectly described the song. The two kinds of love are.....the love you have for someone and the sexual way you love someone. The part of the song "one for the way that you walk" is Stevie describing the sexual lust of how her man walks. When she was describing this... it made perfect sense to me. Stevie is usually never so suggestive in any of her songs which makes me really think its about Joe and her lust for him. When she says "when you walk on by, the temptations never really die. She is really talking about her man walking by.

The question is WHO is two kinds of love about? Long Way To Go was also about Joe Walsh. He was the love of her life and I see Two Kinds of Love about him too.
"My third day up, his second nighter" is about staying up all night and partying. I see Joe Walsh in this song.

That's cool to know! I didn't know the two kinds of love were sex & love. Like you said, Stevie is almost never suggestive, so it hadn't come to mind. I love how this song can have different meanings. :) (BTW, am I the only one who thinks Blue Water could be a really sexual song...? Haha.)

I firmly believe that a lot of songs can have or take on different meanings, based on the songwriter's experiences.

Thanks! Yeah, that's very true. I wonder if she consciously wrote this song to have multiple meanings. Now I have to listen to Long Way To Go again. :)