I've watched your face for a long time
It's always the same
I've studied the cracks and the wrinkles
You were always so vain
Well, now you live your life like a shadow
In the pouring rain
Oh, it's called love
Yes, it's called love
Oh, it's called love
And it belongs to us
Oh, it dies so quickly
It grows so slowly
But when it dies, it dies for good
It's called love
And it belongs to everyone but us

I've lived my life in the valleys
I've lived my life on the hills
I've lived my life on alcohol
I've lived my life on pills
But it's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love
And it's the only thing that's worth living for
It's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love
Yes it's called love

Oh, love is found in the east and west
But when love is at home, it's the best
Love is the cure for every evil
Love is the air that supports the eagle
It's called love
And it's so un-cool
It's called love
And somehow it's become unmentionable
It's called love
And it belongs to every one of us
It's called love
And it cuts your life like a broken knife

Oh love, love, love, love, love
It's called love
And it belongs to us
It's called love, love, love, love, love
It's called love
And it belongs to everyone of us


Lyrics submitted by numb

Thieves Like Us [Bonus Track] Lyrics as written by Peter Hook Gillian Lesley Gilbert

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing

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Thieves Like Us song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Man I cannot listen to this song without seeing Molly Ringwald making her dress.

    cheren28on March 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i always thought it was ego too

    Girgoon October 07, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Love transcends all.

    There was love in the east, love in the west. Love was found on the hills, in the valleys, and even alcoholics found love.

    "It cuts through life like a broken knife"

    There is the inevitable contradicting lyric to be found in every New Order song. If it truly transcends all, it'd cut through life like a very sharp knife or a bowie knife (a knife sharp on both sides)

    That's my take.

    ejownz6on August 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have to absolutely agree that is the most beautiful lyrical gentle innocent New Order song. Its in my top 10. I believe it goes beautifully with Kyoto Song from the Cure. These are two raw songs clearly coming from the dazed confused heart of two great song writers who open up their hearts and tortured souls to us. In Thieves Like Us its about young urban English love, referencing gay lovers.

    marinerxon November 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hmmm...im just guessing here, but I think this one isnt really about anything (like a lotta new order songs)..they just came up with a great jam and wrote some afterthought lyrics around it.....

    hangwire13on February 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love it, in my opinion it is the most beautiful New Order song!

    missvanillaon December 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always thought it was "love is the id that supports the ego..."

    I agree with marinerx that the song references gay love ("and somehow it's become unmentionable" = a love that dare not speak its name).

    jrs67on December 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, I can't stop thinking about the movie "Pretty in Pink" when I listen to this song.

    Julzy20032000on April 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it IS "love is the id that supports the ego" songmeanings tends to get occasional lyrics wrong.

    DigitalVaporon August 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe this song is like, about thieves like us.

    The music is brilliant... it paints a landscape in my mind. Really great song.

    [inactive account]on September 06, 2008   Link

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