Does Love Make Us Damaged Goods?

Gang of Four - Damaged Goods (1979)

These hurt

• Desire
• Longing
• Grieving
  
• Wanting
• Loving
• Hunger
  
• Missing
• Craving
  

But without pain can there be meaning?
.
Damaged Goods
- Gang of Four -

The change will do you good
I always knew it would
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour

Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The sins of the flesh
Are simply sins of lust
Sweat's running down your back
Sweat's running down your neck
Heated couplings in the sun
(Or is that untrue?)
Colder couplings in the night
(Never saw your body)
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The change will do you good
I always knew it would
You know the change will do you good
You know the change will do you good

Damaged goods
Send them back
I can't work
I can't achieve
Send me back
Open the till
Give me the change
You said would do me good
Refund the cost
You said you're cheap but you're too much
Your kiss so sweet
Your sweat so sour
Sometimes I'm thinking that I love you
But I know it's only lust
The change will do you good
I always knew it would
You know the change will do you good
You know the change will do you good

I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
I'm kissing you goodbye
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
Bye...
(Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)
.
.

Gang of Four - Damaged Goods (2006)

Here's a link to their USA website.
Here's a link to their UK website.

They have been on tour - which I find amazing considering just how many years this band has been in existence. It they were playing folk music it might make sense, but Gang of Four's style demands ear plugs, and it's a wonder the band isn't completely deaf by now.

I caught Gang of Four's performance with a good buddy of mine (a college roommate) many years ago down at Southern Illinois University's Shryock Auditorium. Gang of Four put on an amazing performance.

The fog machine, the pulsating lights, the incredibly (incredibly) loud music, the simple almost automated rhythmic beat, and the simple nearly nonsensical lyrics were very impressive to me at the time.

I look for more out of band today, I guess I've grown bored with style oriented bands which were all the rage back in the nineteen eighties, and demand a greater level of emotive, and lyrical substance from a band. Having said that, if Gang of Four were ever to come to Springfield, Illinois, which they never would, I'd sell whatever I would have to sell of what few belongs I have worth buying, and I would go - it would be worth every dollar.

As far as the relationship between love, lust, and addiction I believe it is pretty obvious that there's a difference between real love, and being in love. Being in love is very much an experience based upon a cocktail of neurochemicals, and hormones which feel great at the time, and then leave you wondering what you saw in that person a few years after the wedding. If you have any doubt about this just consider the divorce rate, which is truly a shame considering how much harm divorce causes.