Music Review: John Newman "Love Me Again"

John Newman

Love Me Again

Album: Tribute

Year:  2013

     As soon as I catch up more on 2013 songs, I would like to do a 80s weird song title week.

      John Newman asks for a second chance from his ex-girlfriend in the self-loathing   “Love Me Again.”

        A weighty synth opens the single, setting an uncompromising tone. Her mouth is a thin line, parting only to sip her coffee. He scratches the side of his head. With his hand pressed against his cheek, he apologizes for lying to her and then putting her on the spot. He tells her she was right to question her trust in him. He took advantage of it and manipulated the situation to favor him, humiliating her in the process. He’s an awful person and disillusioned her. It’s as though he’s been dead inside and looking for something to make him alive again. However, he realizes it’s her that makes him feel.   (“Know I've done wrong, left your heart torn/Is that what devils do?/Took you so low, where only fools go/I shook the angel in you.”)

           In the pre-chorus, he says he’s an awful person for disillusioning her. He’s the reason why her expression is hard.. It’s as though he’s been dead inside and looking for something to make him alive again. However, he realizes it’s her that makes him feel.  (“Now I'm rising from the ground/Rising up to you/Filled with all the strength I found/There’s nothing I can't do!”)

         In the chorus, he says he would like her to consider dating him again. They could start over. (“I need to know now, know now/Can you love me again?/I need to know now, know now/Can you love me again?/I need to know now, know now/Can you love me again?/I need to know now, know now/Can you love me again?/I need to know now, know now/Can you love me again?”)

         He can’t take back what he did. She’s a sweet, wonderful person and he used her to make himself look good to others. He lets his selfishness determine what’s best. He says he’ll talk his friends and own up to what he did. They won’t speak her and think she’s making everything up. She deserves better than a guy like him. (“It's unforgivable/I stole and burnt your soul/Is that what demons do, hey?/They rule the worst of me/Destroy everything,/They bring down angels like you, hey.”)

          The pre-chorus is sung again.

         The chorus is sung again.

         In the bridge, he really missed her and was miserable. He needs her in his life. She shakes her head, replying she she doesn’t believe him. They’ve had the discussion before and nothing has changed.  (“I told you once again/Do this again, do this again, oh lord/I told you once again/Do this again, do this again, oh no.”)

           The chorus is sung again to end the single.

      Newman’s pleading vocals are blistered from holding onto too tight. He has to try to get through to her and make her understand it won’t happen again. He loses her and whatever hope he has left is gone.

            The bruised “Love Me Again” fights for what it wants.