Love Is

Album: Another Country (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • At age 70, Stewart released this song, where he shares his reflections on love. He is something of an expert on the subject, having been in and out of love some many times (he was married and divorced three times) and documenting these experiences in a lifetime of songs. However, as Stewart points out, he is still mystified. He told Rolling Stone: "This is me passing along, to anyone who will listen, a few nuggets of wisdom acquired from my dippings into life's chocolate box down the years. Believe me, though, I still don't understand the chemistry of love and why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."
  • In the second verse, Stewart sings about his first love, a girl "I dreamed I would wed" but told him "We're far too young for that."

    This alludes to an art student Stewart met when he was 17 named Susannah Boffey. They had a daughter together, who they gave up for adoption because the couple was in no condition to raise a child. Stewart and Boffey split up, but she remained entrenched in his memory. Their daughter, Sarah, later established a relationship with Stewart.

    In his 2013 song "Brighton Beach," Stewart also sings about this relationship.
  • This was the first single from Stewart's Another Country album. Before the album was issued, a video was released where Stewart is seen performing this song with a full band at the famous Capitol Records building in Los Angeles (Stewart was signed to the label).
  • This song has a Celtic sound, with fiddles and a hammered dulcimer among the instruments.

Comments: 1

  • Miranda from AustraliaPretty sure he wrote this about my mother
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.