About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
I LOVED YOU IN MY LANGUAGE lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Five hands hit the table: "I loved you. I got proof." Two-twelve by Biscayne, July leaning on the roof Five phones face-down, five chairs circling the wood One voice said, "Set down what you gave." I said I wish I could
Chorus
I loved you in my language I swear I made it plain Five witnesses, five kinds of proof Five fingers pointing blame I loved you in my language Why call it not enough? I gave the thing I begged to get You gave a different love
Verse 1
I loved you in my language Blue ink by the bathroom sink: "You're built for this" I called your gift by name when doubt made it feel small Spoke you up in crowded rooms, put courage in your calls But when I asked, "What am I to you?" your answer was a kiss I needed one clear sentence; you thought the kiss wouldn't miss I gave the kind of language I was starving to receive Praise built a crowded house with no room left for me
Verse 2
I loved you in my language Socket set at two in Allapattah, AC breathing Changed your tire in work clothes, filed your claim by noon Reset the breaker, cleared the mold, made rent stretch through June You said, "Sit down and ask me why I barely talk at dinner" I heard a list of failing parts and hunted for the splinter Your car ran, sink drained, front door closed like it should I fixed each thing that came with parts; our distance never would
Chorus
I loved you in my language I swear I made it plain Five witnesses, five kinds of proof Five fingers pointing blame I loved you in my language Why call it not enough? I gave the thing I begged to get You gave a different love
Verse 3
I loved you in my language Shoebox full of things you almost chose Saved the shell from Crandon, shook the sand out of your clothes Found the green glass earrings from the window near the Grove Framed the orange ticket from our cheapest upper row Kept your sizes, favorite scents, the snacks you could not find Turned your passing wishes into objects you could hold, be mine You said, "I need you here tonight"; I sent a box instead Now your closet knows my heart; you missed what ribbons said
Verse 4
I loved you in my language Screen off, keys dropped in the bowl Kept Friday circled red and gave you hours I could not owe Brought two chairs to South Pointe, watched the freighters cross the sky Learned the kind of silence where your shoulder answered mine You sent dinner to my doorstep; I wanted you at mine Sent a pin across the city; I wanted you here in my time line Your voice note filled the kitchen, but the second chair stayed bare I asked for your attention; your calendar said, "Not there."
Bridge
Four exhibits touched the wood; the fifth chair changed its claim Words, work, boxes, hours - four dialects for one name I loved you in my language
Verse 5
I loved you in my language Palm open, waiting by your knee A thumb across your knuckles when your breath forgot to leave When language broke at dinner, I moved one inch, not three Left the final inch to you; you closed it into me You asked me what I felt; I pulled your hand across my chest You needed me to name it; I thought my heartbeat said it best I crossed the silence reaching; you were waiting on a phrase Two bodies close as shoreline, two meanings miles away
Chorus
I loved you in my language I swear I made it plain Five witnesses, five kinds of proof Five fingers dropped the blame I loved you in my language You loved me in your own Nobody here went unloved We needed subtitles at home
Inside the recording
Five hands hit the table: "I loved you. I got proof." Two-twelve by Biscayne, July leaning on the roof
I loved you in my language I swear I made it plain
I loved you in my language I swear I made it plain
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.