CRITICAL CUT: Love Gets You Twisted
by Tom Lifer, August 8, 2020
Even at age 14 , I totally got it. “ Love Gets You Twisted” by Graham Parker and The Rumor – on the ‘Squeezing Out Sparks’ LP confirmed what I already felt at that young age. It confirmed that desire completely messes you up, and the song was cathartic to me. A truth confirmed. Graham Parker squeezes out even more emotion and snark with his lead vocal. The band is groovy and melodic.
Love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted all the way
The hearts are enlisted
The hearts are enlisted to break each day
I try to straighten out
But I’m too wrapped up to see
I don’t know how it’s supposed to be
Love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted inside out
I knew that it existed
I knew that it existed, I had no doubt
When she’s in my arms
I get tangled up, it’s true
I can’t see the other point of view
When love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted
Screw yourself up
Screw yourself up
Screw yourself, screw yourself up
I try to straighten out
But I’m tangled up, it’s true
I can’t see the other point of view
When love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted
Love gets you twisted
Screw yourself up
Screw yourself up
Screw yourself, screw yourself
When love gets you twisted
When love gets you twisted
When love gets you twisted
When love gets you twisted, twisted
When love gets you twisted
When love gets you twisted, twisted, twisted
When love gets you twisted, twisted, twisted
When love gets you twisted
There isn’t even a story. This is a meditation on a feeling, a belief. Parker was a full grown English man who spoke volumes to many teenage American boys about Love. He influenced a generation.
