Meaning of "Once You Love Somebody" by Journey

The lyrics of "Once You Love Somebody" by Journey explore the complexities of love and the struggles that can arise when lovers part ways. The song begins by describing a young couple who are "lost in love" and make a vow to stay together. They are filled with hope and believe that they have found a way to make their love last forever. The girl is portrayed as someone who truly understands and accepts the protagonist, giving him a sense of security. The lyrics emphasize the strength of their bond and their determination to hold on to each other.

However, as the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the inherent difficulty in maintaining love. The line "How can lovers just turn and walk away" suggests that love can sometimes be fragile and easily broken. Loneliness is described as an "edge that cuts both ways," indicating that the pain of being alone can affect both partners in a relationship. While it may be easy to fall in love, the lyrics emphasize that it is much harder to move on and let go after love ends.

The chorus repeats the sentiment that once you love somebody, there is no turning back. Love has the power to leave a lasting impact on an individual, both in positive and negative ways. It can "burn forever" and continue to haunt a person, even in the darkest nights.

The final lines of the song touch on the difficulty of letting go. The lyrics acknowledge that love can break hearts and that the hardest part is the act of letting go. This suggests that even when a relationship ends, the emotional attachment can make it challenging to move forward and overcome the pain of lost love.