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https://songmeaning.ai/songs/Sade-is-it-a-crime
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Sade's 'Is It a Crime?' from her album 'Promise' captures the essence of unrequited love and the pain of desiring someone who is not solely devoted to the protagonist. The lyrics express a profound yearning for mutual affection and a struggle with the feeling that this deep love is now shared with another person. Despite the betrayal and the entanglement in a love triangle, the singer questions if her persistent longing for the shared love is itself a wrongdoing. The song contemplates the complexities of love, fidelity, and the emotional perseverance in the face of romantic adversity.
The journey of the song 'Is It a Crime?' takes the listener through the deep-seated emotions of longing and confusion that accompany loving someone who is entwined with another. Initially, we sense a revelation as the protagonist, Sade, comes to terms with her lover's infidelity, yet her attachment to him persists despite his dishonesty. She acknowledges that the kisses and love shared between her lover and the other person lack the uniqueness of what they had, which leads to a feeling of betrayal but also to the realization of her irreplaceable love.
In the stunning metaphorical description of her love as 'wider than Victoria Lake' and 'taller than the Empire State,' there is a portrayal of her love's grandeur and a comparison with geographical marvels. This imagery symbolizes the vastness and intense depth of her feelings, making it clear that the magnitude of what she feels is beyond ordinary expression and can't easily be replicated. The chorus punctuates the narrative with the recurring question 'Is it a crime?', highlighting the internal conflict between what the heart wants and what logic dictates after a betrayal.
The emotional state evolves into defiance as Sade affirms the greatness of her love and seems to implicitly weigh it against the flawed nature of her beloved. There is a mix of pride in her love's ability to persevere and an underlying hope that such a magnificent sentiment couldn't go unreciprocated. She seems to edge towards a certainty that her lover would inevitably see the value in their unique connection, thereby elevating her love as something worth returning to.
As the song builds towards its conclusion, the emotions sway between resilience and vulnerability. The repetition of her love's dimensions—a love that dives, jumps, and ripples—suggests a dynamic, living force that is capable of great heights and depths. Despite this strength, there is a palpable longing for reciprocation that lingers with the repeated refrain. The track leaves listeners in the uncertainty and anguish of a heart that, despite reason and the pain of rejection, cannot help but desire to be desired in return.
"He tastes her kiss, her kisses are not mine, they're not mine"
This line touches on the agonizing awareness that Sade's lover is being intimate with someone else, and that no matter how similar, those experiences can never be truly hers.
"My love is wider, wider than Victoria Lake"
The metaphor used here compares the protagonist’s love to the expansive waters of Lake Victoria, inferring that her love is boundless and immense.
"Tell me, is it a crime?"
This rhetorical question poses a moral conundrum about the nature of her feelings, as she is grappling with the desire for someone who has wronged her.
"I can't give you more than that; surely you want it back"
Sade conveys the magnitude of her love and its incomparable value, supposing that its loss is deeply felt and will eventually draw her beloved back.