What Is Love: An Exploration of Haddaway’s Iconic Song

Love is an emotion that humans experience in a variety of forms and depth. Without it, we struggle to truly understand and connect with others. Haddaway’s 1995 hit “What Is Love?” is widely considered to be a classic love song, and its lyrics can provide insight into the many dimensions of love and its place in our lives.

Lyrics: An Exploration

The song starts off with the question: “What is love? Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more.” This line speaks to the deep emotional bonds that can be formed when we fall in love with someone. It calls to mind the uncertainty and vulnerability that can come when we open ourselves up to another person and are in turn hurt. As the chorus progresses, the singer invests more strength into providing an answer to the initial query:
“What is love? / Is it some kind of game? / There’s a sayin’ love is blind / All I know is that to me / You’re a mystery”

The second two lines of the refrain open up a dialogue about uncertainty and unknowingness, which is a common and oftentimes challenging part of falling in love. The third and fourth lines suggest that love is more than a game—instead, it is a mystery that can draw us in and keep us enraptured. We may never have all of the answers to understanding love, but that won’t stop us from exploring its depths.

The Meaning Behind the Song

The message behind the lyrics of this song is clear—love is both a mystery and a game. It can, at times, entail uncertainty and vulnerability, while at other times it can be an enthralling roller coaster of emotion. Love can take us to beautiful and unexpected heights, and it can be both thrilling and terrifying. All of these feelings are captured within the song, making it an enduring anthem for the ages.

“What Is Love?” is ultimately a song of hope, but also of caution. It acknowledges the power of love and the risks that come with it. We must go into relationships with our eyes open and understand that there will be growing pains, bad days, and moments of fear. But if we choose to open our hearts and venture forth, we can reap immense rewards and experience a love that transcends all understanding.