☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a painful love and the emotions associated with it.
- The singer confesses to having broken the heart of his beloved and reflects on his own misconduct in the relationship.
- The loneliness and hurt feelings of the singer are depicted on the streets of love.
- The lyrics end with the singer admitting that his partner was smart and skilled, while he himself was 'terribly bad'.
- The song reflects on regret, pain, and awareness of one's own misconduct in a relationship.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Streets of Love' by the
Rolling Stones are about a painful love and the emotions associated with it. The singer describes his feelings and reflects on his own behavior in the relationship. He confesses to having broken his lover's heart and that the truth is very sad.
The lyrics begin with the singer admitting that his partner is smart and has broken his heart. He regrets his own bad behavior and admits that he was 'terribly bad'. While other couples laugh and enjoy the music, he continues on alone with his own pain. The streets are lit up, the moon has disappeared, and he feels like he has reached a point of no return ('Rubicon' is a metaphor for a point where one makes an irreversible decision).
The singer describes how he walks along the streets of love and they are full of tears. Music from passing cars and observing a couple from above accompany him. He sees a chapel playing the wedding march and a little shop healing broken hearts. A woman pays off her debts and gets another chance without having to pay for it.
The lyrics end with the singer admitting that his partner was smart and clever, while he himself was 'terribly bad'. He recognizes that the truth is sad. He has walked the streets of love for a thousand years, soaked in tears.
Overall, the song lyrics are about regret, pain, and awareness of one's own bad behavior in a relationship. It portrays the loneliness and hurt feelings of the singer on the streets of love.