I tried to defy the cold hand of fate
I tried to keep my faith strong
But time marched past and I couldn't wait
And this is only a love song
I'd like to take back every line I wrote
But we know the hand moves on
I wish we could hold hands and jump from the boat
But this is only a love song
I know true love’s patient and kind and insane
But truth's brief and life is long
I wish we could spare ourselves all the false pain
But this is only a love song
Maybe years from now, when life is fine
We'll figure out what went wrong
With you and me and the party line
But this is only a love song
I wish I could be your clinging vine
Instead, you're getting a love song
The smell of roses in turpentine
Yeah, this is only a love song.