You Don't Know What Love Is

Written by: 
Gene de Paul, Don Raye
23 Nov 1999

You don't know what love is
Until you know the meaning of the blues.
Till you love the love you had to lose,
You don't know what love is.

You don't know how lips hurt
Until you've kissed and had to pay the cost;
Until you flipped your heart and found you were lost,
You don't know what love is.

Do you know how a lost heart fears
The very thought of reminiscing.
And how loved lips that taste of tears
Soon lose their taste for kissing.

You don't know how hearts burn
The love that cannot live but never dies;
Until you greet each dawn with sleepless eyes,
You don't know what love is.

[trumpet solo]

Do you know how a lost heart fears
The very thought of reminiscing.
And how loved lips that taste of tears
Soon lose the taste for kissing.

You don't know how hearts burn
The love that cannot live but never dies;
Until you face each dawn with sleepless eyes,
You don't know what love is.

You don't know what love is...
You don't know
What love is...
You don't know
What love is...

sitenote:
Cover of blues classic; Billie Holiday/ Chet Baker style. First featured on the soundtrack of 1999 Anthony Minghella film The Talented Mr. Ripley (though at the end of endless production credits). Song was put on album after Sergeant, Sergeant had been kicked off; which was probably the last time a marketing professional interfered with John's musical output.

First release: