Maroon 5: She Will Be Loved Meaning
Song Released: 2004
She Will Be Loved Lyrics
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:Super long, sorry don’t read it if you want something short…this song is pretty self explanatory anyways. :)
This is a story about a guy who has a girl friend but he likes her more than a friend, so that’s why he calls her “beauty queen” at the beginning. The trouble she had with herself was that she had a boyfriend (thus the line “she always belonged to someone else”) that always hurt her, whether physically, emotionally, verbally, or by cheating with someone, whatever the reason, he always would hurt her. So this guy friend of hers would always be there for her when her boyfriend would hurt her. (thus the line, “he was always there to help her”)
When it says “I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door”, it’s saying that he would do anything for her, drive a million miles if he has to because he cares for her so much. That’s why he says “I don't mind spending everyday Out on your corner in the pouring rain”. When it says, “Look for the girl with the broken smile” it means that she is sad and hurt by her boyfriend so all she wants at that point is to feel loved, and she will be loved by him. (thus the line “And she will be loved She will be loved”)
When the song says “Tap on my window knock on my door I want to make you feel beautiful” it’s the guy telling her she can go to him whenever because he wants to make her feel beautiful and loved because he loves her. When it says “I know I tend to get so insecure It doesn't matter anymore” It means that he is insecure around her because he loves her so much but he knows that she doesn’t see him in the same way so he feels vulnerable around her but it doesn’t matter how he feels because he will always be there to help her.
I’m not really sure what he means when he says “It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along” but I think it may mean that he knows he can’t be with her (that’s why he says its not always rainbows and butterflies because those are symbols of happiness/good things) so he will compromise his happiness to help her with her relationship problems because that’s what gets her through her pain
When he says “My heart is full and my door's always open
you can come anytime you want”, he is telling that to her because his heart is always full of love for her and she can come to him whenever she wants because he will always be there for her.
When he says “I know where you hide Alone in your car” I think he is referring to that after her boyfriend hurts her she goes to her car and sits there alone crying. And when it says “ Know all of the things that make you who you are” he knows her perfectly and he knows that when she tells her boyfriend that it’s over between them because he keeps hurting her, it’s really not true because she will keep going back to him like she always does. (thus the line “ I know that goodbye means nothing at all”) And after she goes back to her boyfriend he will hurt her once again and then she will go back crying to her guy friend. (thus the line “Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls”)
That’s what I think this song is about and I can really relate since I am the “beauty queen” to my best guy friend who likes me but I don’t feel the same way because I am still in love with my on again/off again boyfriend who constantly hurts me emotionally and I am always crying back to my guy friend and he is always there for me even when I say I will never get back with my ex but he knows that it’s a lie because I ALWAYS DO. -
2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:A lot of people think they know what this song I all about, but they don't. I see that the top rated meaning is completely oblivious to the real meaning, and chooses to rely solely on all the cliche sob-stories for it's information. Don't get me wrong, the song is somewhat a sob-story. But it's not as obvious of a story as some people think.
Everyone always sums this song up to practically the same thing: young girl who's in a lot of pain is doted upon by lovestruck boy. This is wrong!
The person who is "trying to make her feel beautiful, and waiting for her in the rain is not a person in love with our "beauty queen". The real meaning behind the song is much grittier....
The truth is, "She Will Be Loved" is about a prostitute. That's right, a hooker.
This fact is pointed out by a very blatant line in the song: "I don't mind spending every day out on your corner in the pouring rain." the keyword here is 'corner'.
This song is about a father or maybe brother figure to this prostitute who waits for her, and takes her home at the end of everyday. This figure is trying to help her. He is not a pimp, simply a man who feels like this girl needs some help.
The line that says "beauty queen of only 18 she had some trouble with herself"
Does not talk about a breakup, or a boyfriend cheating on her. This is clear by the word 'herself'.
Obviously, she was in some trouble (probably financial) and had to turn to prostitution.
This father or brother figure, through the song, is telling her that he will always be there to help her, no matter what the world thinks of her and her profession.
I hope I have ended a lot of confusion, and brought to the surface, the true meaning of the great song "She Will Be Loved". -
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:Wow, I lived this song. I had an abusive husband and it robbed me of my worth, dignity, and spirit. I also had a much younger male friend, an old soul wise beyond his years. He was the only one I could confide in about my situation. He did all the things in this song--picked me up when I fell, made me feel beautiful on my worst day. He was always there for me. He saw the things that make me what I am and embraced them. And the part about hiding in my car--I would leave and just drive around to get away from my husband's tirades. The broken smile? I had lost the ability to be able to really smile from the heart, and that's what it means to me. He gave that back to me. He confessed he loved me and said he thought he could be the person I deserved to have. My heart belongs to him now. The rainbows and butterflies? No, it's true, for all that we share it still can't always be like that. We've gone through times in our lives when we weren't together, but our hearts always find their way back to each other. That's why goodbye means nothimg at all.
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I think the song refers to a girl that is unhappy in her relationship, she always looks for the guy who sings because she feels better with him in a kind-of-affair deal ("I've had you so many times but somehow I want more"). He loves her and knows who she really is, she goes back to her relationship and says bye to the singer BUT she always comes back to him ("Good bye means nothing at all").
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I think it’s the song came to maroon 5, but it’s type of the same genre to this fun styles, and even it was about eighteen or nineteen years old. I told Bethany to recorded her song she will be loved. Her vocals are completely beautiful. And Patrick and Shawn sing the song with her. It’s very special.
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ok so it's about a prostitute, but if he loves her why does he say "I've had you so many times" like she's a side item on a menu, probably doesn't love her just wants her to himself and all the sex for himself.
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I think its all about his ex..although he is with his new/younger girlfriend now, but he is always there for that ex and he still loves her..
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No doubt. A prostitute. Life is a compromise.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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He was with a young prostitute. He had her many times, but he wants more than just sex. She always belonged to someone else. I think he's stalked her before, because he knows all of the things that make her who she is, and that she likes to hide alone in her car. He doesn't mind waiting for her, in her corner. He's in love with her. She always comes back to him and he's ok with that. He'll be patient for their love.
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The young girl is 18 "Beauty queen of only eighteen". She is in a relationship with Adam. They have a good relationship. The mother sees this and gets jealous, as she isn't being shown affection the way her daughter is. The mother is trying to get attention at the side of the pool, I think to make her husband jealous by dirty dancing, as guys are looking at her. Her husband doesn't like this and thinks that this behaviour is innappropriate, they have a fight and that is why the mother is on the floor. Adam sees this all happening and comforts her through this tough time, only to get close and make the mother fall in love with him. The last scene when everyone is around the pool, Adam and his girlfriend (the mothers daughter) are cuddling and showing affection. The mother is jealous as she wants this but she doesn't have it. She tries to get her husbands attention and runs off in a rage. Adam sees this and runs after her followed by his girlfriend. Adam comforts the mother again and for the daughter everything fits into place, as it shows her walking in on them snogging and kissing. I think this is why the chorus is "look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay a while", as he knows the daughter (18) deserves more than himself (Adam) , as he was having an affair with her mother. Sorry this was so long I hope this helps! xx
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It seems that the music video and the song don't correlate together very well.
First off, the song talks about the "beauty queen of only 18" while having troubles with her boyfriend, always going to the friend for help. In the music video, the "beauty queen" is much older~she is in fact the mom in the story. If the "beauty queen" was the younger woman you see Adam with, the entire story doesn't piece together, as you then ask yourself what the mom's role is supposed to be in all of this, and why is she the one facing the troubles and going to the "friend" for help~and not the daughter of 18 that you see Adam dating. The song and video aren't supposed to go together 100%. Adam strays the video away from the narration of the lyrics in some ways, and that will be explained in a second.
So you have the meaning of the song itself. The song is about an 18 year old who's beautiful, probably popular--if not desired greatly by many guys, and is dating someone who she's not happy with. Meanwhile, the friend strolls the sidelines, always looking out for her, always picking her up, and always being what the boyfriend is supposed to be. She may or may not like the friend in a lingering way, but what it's come down to is that the friend has come to believe over time that it's unlikely he'll ever be with her. Still, he's willing to make up everything that the boyfriend lacks, and that's where the hint of upbeat tone is heard in the music; he feels that in a way he has won her, and will always be able to be that better man she deserves. Even if in reality she's with someone else and she might or might not like him that way, he will still show her that "she will be loved" by the person she deserves.
Now for the music video. A twist is added as another element is put into the story. The 18 year old girl is actually the girlfriend of the protagonist(we'll call him boyfriend), and the person in trouble is the girlfriend's mom who is being abused and neglected by her husband. The boyfriend loves his girlfriend, but has seen the wife in trouble many times and has helped her through her troubles. Each time the boyfriend helps the wife, he becomes a bit more attached to her until he starts to question where his love lies more. He still loves his girlfriend, but he sees himself building a romantic attachment to the wife that they both desire. As he continues to help her, he's contemplating an affair with the wife. The final scene is the most important in my thoughts. All people in the story are in the scene; the boyfriend and girlfriend are going about their relationship how they're happy with it being, and the wife is sitting upset at what she lacks from the husband who is contributing nothing towards her. What you're actually seeing is the boyfriend trying to show the wife that what he has with the girlfriend is what she needs from her husband. He's hinting to her to search for that, either by trying to get the husband to give her affection or however else is necessary to make her happy. In a rage, the wife runs out off to show that she's through. The boyfriend had not anticipated the wife making such a dramatic move so instantly and in the moment, and worries how she's going to accommodate towards the change she might not be prepared for. He chases after her to assist (naturally), and ironically they find that they've both ran towards what they need--each other. As the boyfriend goes about comforting the wife this last time, she desires him as the solution, and two things can be the following outcome:
1. He's becomes hesitant on having to choose the wife or his girlfriend, who is now watching this secret love unfold. It ends with you unsure who the boyfriend picks.
2. This is his way of choosing the wife, and you see that when clips are cut in of the scene where the girlfriend walks in on the wife and boyfriend kissing. Each of their eyes tell the truth; the boyfriend and wife confessing their love to the girlfriend, and the girlfriend upset and unraveling the situation in her mind. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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OK, so this is going to be quite long but hopefully useful.
(Verse 1)
"Beauty queen of only 18, she had some trouble with herself."
By the person saying "beauty queen" this shows that the girl is attractive and is maybe attracted to her. "trouble" could indicate that she got into something that she didn't mean to get into and the fact that it's "with herself" means that she's maybe got some decisions to make, or has made some bad ones through her life.
"He was always there to help her she always belonged to someone else."
This shows that "he" maybe being him or another guy was always there for her (romantic feelings) but she was meant for "someone else" this could suggest there was a "someone else" that she was romantically linked to.
"I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door."
Well first, the fact now that Adam is saying "I" instead of "he" can give us the idea that "he" was himself.
The fact that he'd drive such a long way for her shows how much he cares for her. And out of all the places in the world, he went to her. Also, you can keep in mind that there must be a reason why he was driving for miles. Though he might live far away from her, maybe he was driving around because he was pacing on a decision or a thought.
"I've had you so many times but somehow I want more."
This is showing that this "beauty queen" and himself have been involved somehow. He says, "Had you so many times," a sexual relationship most probably. "somehow I want more." Maybe it was a casual "friends, but more" relationship but he never thought he'd fall in love with her.
(Chorus)
"I don't mind spending everyday out on your corner in the pouring rain."
Someone who would stand out in the rain for someone is a form of dedication. The word "Rain" could actually mean more than just the weather as when we think of rain we think of the words "horrible" and "messy" and that in general not many people like the rain. He may have been waiting for her in a "horrible" or "messy" situation. Also it was her corner he was waiting on, showing how much he waits for her. Maybe because he's waiting for her to love him back.
"Look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay a while."
If someone has a broken smile, then they obviously heartbroken somehow. It may be because of that "someone else" that she's meant to be with. It's interesting that he says, "ask her" as in us, the listeners. This could mean that he can't ask her for some reason. If he is asking someone to ask her to stay a while, then she needs company, someone to love.
"And she will be loved."
This is the title of the song, so this must be a very important message in the song. From him saying she "will" be loved this shows that she's not being loved right now, and he can't love her. (Assuming that because he loves her, and we have no evidence that she loves him.) He repeated the words as well, so this shows that it is important. He wants someone to love her and her to love that person back, and it seems that he is pretty sure she will find someone because he says, "She WILL be loved" he's saying it like it's a fact.
"Tap on my window, knock on my door I want to make you feel beautiful."
This is a very beautiful way of him saying, "i'm here for you when you need me. The fact that he "wants" to make her feel beautiful suggests that she's insecure, and that he wants her to feel her best.
"I know I tend to get so insecure, doesn't matter anymore."
He's putting aside his worries and insecurities just to make her feel better herself. (we assume this from the previous line.) "It doesn't matter anymore." He will forget any problems of his own for her.
"It's not always rainbows and butterflies, it's compromise that moves us along."
I think this line if really effective and sums up the song in a way because that is how a good working relationship should work. And he is bringing this up because this song is talking about a relationship that isn't quite a relationship and it isn't working out. He has also brought this up because she is taking more than she is giving. So he must know that he is doing much more than she is for their feelings.
"My heart is full and my doors always open, you can come anytime you want."
This shows how much he loves her. We know he knows that she isn't feeling as much as he's feeling for her but still he would keep his door open for her (metaphorically, he will always keep his mind open for her whenever she needs him), and will have his heart full, (metaphorically, he will love her).
Already analyzed the chorus, but note that he repeats "she will be loved" more in this chorus.
(Bridge)
"I know where you hide, alone in your car. Know all of the things that make you who you are."
This lyrics show how much he knows her. He knows she hides away, and wants to be alone. And that he knows what makes her unique and special. The fact tat she ides away in her car confirms that she is unhappy or heartbroken. And as she wants to be in her car "alone" shows that she doesn't want to be with him, who loves her and should really know it as her does so much for her.
"I know that goodbye means nothing at all, comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls."
One of them must say goodbye, probably the girl. And he doesn't worry because she will come running back to him. From the song we get the idea that maybe she is quite desperate for love. And she obviously must feel something towards him as she's running back to him. She "begs" him must mean that she knows she not treating him right, and needs to beg him to forgive her, go back to the way they were and not to leave her. She's falling for some reason, bringing back the idea that she can't pick herself up and take care of herself. She needs someone else to do it for her.
Notice that the dynamics in the song gets louder after the bridge going into the chorus, which means that it is the climax of the song, and is a significant moment in the song.
"Please don't try so hard to say goodbye."
We assume that she is saying goodbye to him, but we know that she'll come running back so that's he say's not to try so hard. Or as it is left for the end of the song, this could mean that this goodbye is the real goodbye, they are really going to move on in life and leave. And maybe he thinks that through it all, don't try so hard to say goodbye because they will see each other again someday or it is meant for them to say goodbye. Almost like it feels right to finally be leaving.
Overall, I think this song is such a meaningful song and shows how much one would do for another who doesn't love them. And how good they must be not to leave them, and how in love they really are. A lot of people in life are in that situation where they feel like they can't live without them, so they stay. It's heartbreaking, but it does happen to so many people.
I praise Maroon 5 for such good songwriting and the secrecy of words they use. I do music GCSE and English literature, so i am very interested in songs and music and love to analyze the lyrics.
I hope you found this useful, and I praise you for reading the entire thing. Sorry if I have used a lot of the same words throughout the analysis. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This song is about a prostitute. The whole album is.
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