The Taxpayers’ song, “I Love You Like an Alcoholic,” is a heartfelt track that has gained significant attention for its poignant lyrics. The song was released in 2012 on the album “God, Forgive These Bastards: Songs from the Forgotten Life of Henry Turner.”
The song’s lyrics describe a late-night encounter between two people, with the protagonist expressing their love for the other person in a passionate and slightly self-destructive way.
Whether you are a fan of The Taxpayers or simply interested in exploring the meaning behind this song, this guide here has everything you need to know.
Artist Background
The Band’s History
The Taxpayers is an American punk rock band from Portland, Oregon. The band was formed in 2007 and consisted of Rob Taxpayer, Noah Taxpayer, Kevin Taxpayer, and Andrew Link.
They released their first album, “Exhilarating News,” in 2008. They followed up with several more albums, including “God, Forgive These Bastards: Songs from the Forgotten Life of Henry Turner” in 2012, which features the song “I Love You Like an Alcoholic”.
The band’s music is characterized by its political and social commentary and its unique blend of punk, folk, and jazz influences. They are known for their energetic live performances and DIY approach to music production.
Lead Singer’s Influence
Rob Taxpayer, the lead singer of The Taxpayers, has cited various influences in his songwriting, including Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Woody Guthrie. His lyrics often deal with themes of social justice, anti-capitalism, and the struggles of everyday people.
“I Love You Like an Alcoholic” is a prime example of Rob’s songwriting style, using vivid metaphors and imagery to convey the intensity and complexity of love.
The song’s lyrics explore the idea of love as an addiction, with lines like
“I need you like a needle needs a vein”
and
“I love you like an alcoholic, I need you like a drunk needs a drink”.
The Taxpayers’ music is a reflection of their commitment to social and political change, as well as their love of punk rock and folk music.
Song’s Release and Reception
“I Love You Like an Alcoholic” has been described as a love song that explores love’s complex and often toxic nature. The song’s lyrics use metaphors, allusions, and repetition to convey the narrator’s passion and fury.
The song has received critical acclaim for its raw emotion and poetic lyrics. Many critics have praised the song’s ability to capture the nuances and complexities of love. It has also been praised for its unique sound and style, blending punk rock with folk and country music elements.
Despite its critical acclaim, “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” has not achieved mainstream success. The Taxpayers are a relatively unknown band, and the song has not received significant airplay on radio or television. However, the song has developed a cult following among fans of punk rock and alternative music.
Lyrics Analysis
Metaphorical Interpretation
The lyrics of “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” by The Taxpayers are filled with metaphors that convey the narrator’s love for their partner. The title itself is a metaphor, suggesting that the narrator’s love is addictive and uncontrollable, much like alcoholism. The line
“We’re singin’ ‘I Love You Like An Alcoholic’/ Til our throats are dry”
reinforces this idea, implying that the narrator’s love is all-consuming and overwhelming.
The lyrics also use imagery to describe the intensity of the narrator’s feelings. For example, in the line,
“And then the rain opened up the sky to get/ One last kiss,”
the rain is a metaphor for the narrator’s emotions, which are so intense that they seem to manifest in the physical world. Similarly, the line
“I need you like I need a broken leg”
uses the metaphor of a broken leg to convey that the narrator’s love is painful and all-consuming.
Emotional Connection
The lyrics of “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” also convey a deep emotional connection between the narrator and their partner. The line
“Kissed that first night”
suggests that the couple’s relationship began with a powerful physical attraction, but the lyrics also suggest that their connection goes deeper than that. Likewise, the line
“I love you like a statuette”
indicates that the narrator’s love is not just physical but also emotional and intellectual.
We also see a sense of urgency and desperation in the narrator’s feelings. The line
“Attempting to recover”
suggests that the narrator is struggling with something, perhaps a previous relationship or addiction, and their partner is helping them through it. The line
“Crumpled up the bus pass”
indicates that the narrator is willing to give up everything for their partner, even their job or their means of transportation.
“I Love You Like an Alcoholic” conveys a complex and intense emotional connection between the narrator and their partner, using metaphors and imagery to describe the depth of their feelings.
Implications of Alcoholism in Lyrics
The Taxpayers song uses the metaphor of alcoholism to describe the intensity of the narrator’s love. The lyrics suggest that the narrator’s love is addictive and uncontrollable, much like alcoholism. This comparison raises questions about the nature of love and addiction and the implications of using alcoholism as a metaphor for love.
Alcoholism is a severe disease that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterized by a compulsive need to consume alcohol despite its negative consequences on one’s health, relationships, and work. Thus, using alcoholism as a metaphor for love can be problematic, as it may trivialize the severity of the disease and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
But the lyrics of “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” do not glorify alcoholism or make light of its consequences. Instead, they use the metaphor to convey the intensity and all-consuming nature of the narrator’s love. The lyrics suggest that the narrator’s love is beautiful and toxic and can take over their body and mind in the same way alcoholism can.
Societal Impact of the Song
“I Love You Like an Alcoholic,” while not an overly popular song, significantly impacted society.
One of the most significant impacts of the song is that it has raised awareness of the dangers of addiction and the destructive nature of toxic relationships. The song’s lyrics show how love can be both beautiful and toxic and how it can virtually take over our bodies. The song’s title metaphorically compares love to alcoholism.
The song has also had an impact on the music industry. The Taxpayers are known for their unique sound and unconventional lyrics, and “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” is no exception. The song inspired other artists to experiment with unconventional songwriting styles and to tackle complex subjects in their music.
Conclusion
The Taxpayers’ “I Love You Like an Alcoholic” is a powerful and intense love song that explores the complexities of love. It uses metaphors, allusions, and repetition to convey the narrator’s deep feelings of love and how it can be beautiful and toxic.
The song also depicts a passionate and intense love between two individuals drawn to each other despite their reckless and spontaneous nature. The narrator’s love for their partner is addictive and uncontrollable, much like alcoholism.
“I Love You Like an Alcoholic” beautifully captures the nuances and passion of love. The Taxpayers do an excellent job of conveying the complexity of love and how it can impact our lives in both positive and negative ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning behind the lyrics of ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’?
The song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ by The Taxpayers depicts a passionate and intense love between two individuals, both of whom seem reckless and spontaneous. The lyrics describe two chance encounters on the street, where the couple is immediately drawn to each other. The first verse suggests that their attraction is so strong that it is almost addictive, hence the comparison to alcoholism.
What are the six steps mentioned in the song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’?
The six steps mentioned in the song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ are as follows: “good bars”, “better towns than this one”, “kissed that first night”, “then the rain opened up the sky to get”, “one last kiss, I love you like an alcoholic,” and “one last kiss, I love you like a statuette.”
When was the song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ released?
The song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ was released on The Taxpayers’ album “To Risk So Much for One Damn Meal” in 2009.
What is the genre of the song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’?
The genre of the song ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ is folk punk.
What are the chords for ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’?
The chords for ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ are G, D, Am, and C.
What is the Roblox ID for ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’?
There is no official Roblox ID for ‘I Love You Like an Alcoholic’ by The Taxpayers.
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