Meaning of "Stubborn Love" by The Lumineers

The lyrics of "Stubborn Love" delve into the complexities of a troubled relationship. The narrator describes a partner who lies, steals, and cheats, using manipulation to make the narrator believe their sincerity. Despite the damage inflicted, the narrator confesses their unwavering love, seemingly indifferent to the toxic behavior. This highlights the theme of love's stubbornness, where emotional investment can blind individuals to the harm they endure. The line "It's better to feel pain than nothing at all" encapsulates the idea that even amid suffering, the emotional intensity is preferable to apathy. It suggests that the protagonist finds a twisted comfort in the turmoil, fearing an absence of feeling more than staying in a destructive relationship. The repeated refrain of "Keep your head up, my love" and "Keep your love" is both a plea to the partner to stay resilient and an affirmation to the narrator themselves. They are desperate for the partner to acknowledge their pain and come downstairs, refusing to leave until they do. In the second verse, the narrator acknowledges the driving force behind the partner's actions, understanding that they would have done the same if they were in their shoes. This empathy hints at a shared cycle of hurt, where both individuals are wounded and repeating harmful patterns. The reference to not trusting their own eyes suggests the narrator's awareness of the deceptive nature of the relationship and the difficulty in deciphering truth from falsehood. Despite recognizing the signs that they are close to finding a resolution, the narrator admits to no longer relying on external markers. This could symbolize the loss of hope in the relationship or the realization that the only way forward is personal growth and learning to trust oneself. Overall, "Stubborn Love" delves into the complexity of a hazardous love affair, exploring themes of resilience, emotional turmoil, self-deception, and the hope for redemption.