☝️ Key Points
- The song is about an intense, possibly toxic love that causes both joy and pain.
- Rihanna fights for this relationship, even if it hurts her physically or emotionally.
- She pleads for continued love from the person she sees as the cause of her suffering.
- Love dominates her thoughts and actions ('Love on the brain'), even if it is harmful to her.
- Despite the frustration and self-damage, she can't stop loving her partner, highlighting the power of this love.
Interpretation
The song 'Love on the Brain' by
Rihanna is about an intense, almost obsessive love that causes both joy and pain.
In the first part of the song, Rihanna asks her partner what he wants from her and notices that he loves it when she falls apart ('You love when I fall apart'), only to then put her back together and throw her against the wall. This could be a metaphor for a toxic relationship where her partner emotionally manipulates her.
The lines 'And baby I'm fist fighting with fire / Just to get close to you' show how much Rihanna is fighting for this love, even if it is harmful to her. She is willing to take risks and put herself in danger just to be close to her partner.
'Don't you stop loving me / Don't quit loving me' are pleas for continued affection, despite the pain the relationship causes. She can't get enough of this love ('And I can't get enough'), even if it beats her 'black and blue', which could indicate emotional or physical abuse.
The chorus 'Must be love on the brain' describes the overwhelming feeling of love that dominates her thoughts and actions. Despite the negative aspects of the relationship, she can't live without her partner ('I'm no good without you').
In the last part of the song, Rihanna expresses frustration about the way she is treated ('I'm tired of being played like a violin'). She wonders what she needs to do to get into her partner's heart. Despite all the pain and struggles, she can't stop loving him, highlighting the power and paradox of this 'Love on the Brain'.