Is it possible to consider that the words “I love you” have lost their meaning due to overuse? This is probably too harsh a statement, but hardly anyone will argue that this phrase is not particularly valuable if it is not supported by actions that prove its sincerity. The acoustic ballad “More Than Words” by the American rock band Extreme is dedicated to similar reasoning.
It is performed on behalf of a guy who does not have enough words about love. He wants his girlfriend not to be limited to banal expressions in the manifestation of feelings. This is how guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, who co-wrote the song with vocalist Gary Cerone, explained the main idea of the song “More Than Words”:
People just think that once you’re dating, you should fall in love with each other, but often that’s not the case. People are using it [фразу «я тебя люблю»] so lightly and so frivolously that they feel like you can say it and everything will be fine, or you can say it and everything will be all right. Sometimes you have to do something more and you have to show it – there are other ways to say “I love you.”
Albany Herald, 1991
“More Than Words” was one of the tracks on the album “Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale)”. It was released as a single in March 1991, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the charts in Holland, Canada and New Zealand. In the British hit parade, the composition reached the second line.
“More Than Words” has been covered by Westlife, BBMak and many other musicians. She has also been frequently parodied and included on the soundtracks of feature films and television series.
The black and white music video for “More Than Words” was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
Interesting Facts
- “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted” became the most successful tracks from “Extreme II: Pornograffitti”. Both songs are acoustic ballads that deviate from the overall concept of the album.
More Than Words lyrics by Extreme
Saying I love you
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It’s not that I want you
Not to say, but if you only knew
How easy it would be to show me how you feel
More than words is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me
‘Cause I’d already know
What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn’t make things new
Just by saying I love you
These are not the words that I want to hear from you
I do not want you to
I didn’t say it, but if you only knew
How easy would you be to show me how you feel
For this you need more than words
But then you wouldn’t have to say you love me
‘Cause I’d already know that
What would you do if my heart was torn apart
It takes more than words to show what you think
Your true love for me
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you wouldn’t be able to freshen everything up
Just saying “I love you” More than words Now that I’ve tried to talk to you and make you understand
All you have to do is close your eyes
And just reach out your hands and touch me
Hold me close don’t ever let me go
More than words is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me
‘Cause I’d already know
What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn’t make things new
Just by saying I love you Now that I tried to talk to you and explain everything to you
You just need to close your eyes
Reach out and touch me
Hold me tight and never let go
I need more from you than words
Then you wouldn’t have to say you love me
‘Cause I’d already know that
What would you do if my heart was torn apart
It takes more than words to show what you think
Your true love for me
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you wouldn’t be able to freshen everything up
Just saying “I love you” More than words
