Whitesnake | Spotify

About the Song

In the realm of hard rock and heavy metal, there are power ballads that stand the test of time, becoming anthems for generations of listeners. “Is This Love” by Whitesnake is one such ballad, a timeless classic that has captivated audiences since its release in 1987.

The song opens with a slow, melancholic piano riff, setting the stage for David Coverdale’s soulful vocals. Coverdale’s voice, at once powerful and emotive, conveys the raw emotions of love, loss, and longing that are at the heart of the song.

The lyrics of “Is This Love” are simple yet profound, exploring the complexities of love and relationships. The song’s narrator questions whether the love they share with their partner is real or fleeting, capturing the universal fear of heartbreak and the desire for true connection.

As the song progresses, the instrumentation builds, adding layers of guitar, drums, and keyboards that create a powerful crescendo. John Sykes’s soaring guitar solo is a particular highlight, adding a touch of rock and roll grit to the otherwise ballad-esque track.

Despite its heavy rock leanings, “Is This Love” never loses sight of its emotional core. The song’s power lies in its ability to connect with listeners on a deeply personal level, speaking to the universal experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning in relationships.

“Is This Love” is more than just a rock song; it’s an emotional journey that has resonated with listeners for over three decades. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the song’s power to connect with people on a profound level, making it a true classic of hard rock and beyond.

Key takeaways:

  • “Is This Love” is a timeless power ballad by Whitesnake that has captivated audiences for over three decades.

  • The song’s melancholic piano riff, soulful vocals, and emotive lyrics explore the complexities of love and relationships.

  • The song’s instrumentation builds to a powerful crescendo, featuring a soaring guitar solo by John Sykes.

  • “Is This Love” is a classic rock anthem that has resonated with listeners for generations due to its ability to connect with people on an emotional level.

Whitesnake - Whitesnake Lyrics and Tracklist | Genius

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Lyrics: Is This Love

I should have known better
Than to let you go alone,
It’s times like these
I can’t make it on my own
Wasted days, and sleepless nights
And I can’t wait to see you again

I find I spend my time
Waiting on your call,
How can I tell you, baby
My back’s against the wall
I need you by my side
To tell me it’s alright,
‘Cos I don’t think I can take anymore

Is this love that I’m feeling,
Is this the love, that I’ve been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming,
This must be love,
‘Cos it’s really got a hold on me,
A hold on me…

I can’t stop the feeling
I’ve been this way before
But, with you I’ve found the key
To open any door
I can feel my love for you
Growing stronger day by day,
An’ I can’t wait to see you again
So I can hold you in my arms

Is this love that I’m feeling,
Is this the love, that I’ve been searching for
Is this love or am I dreaming,
This must be love,
‘Cos it’s really got a hold on me,
A hold on me…

Is this love that I’m feeling,
Is this the love, that I’ve been searching for…
Is this love or am I dreaming,
Is this the love, that I’ve been searching for…

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The ink was barely dry on Whitey Shafer’s latest divorce papers when he sat down to map out the fictional geography of his own heartbreak. Sanger D. Whitey Shafer sat in a Nashville room contemplating his mounting legal bills and a life of complicated romantic exits. He found a bitter sort of comedy in the mess, mapping out a fictional geographic gauntlet across Texas where every town held a woman he owed something to. He did not write this map alone; he penned the lyrics alongside his wife at the time, Lyndia. It was a domestic collaboration built on the foundation of their own fraying reality, documenting a man terrified to cross the state line because of the ghosts waiting in Houston, Lubbock, and Texarkana. When George Strait took the song into the studio, he did not lean into the desperation. He treated the lyrics with a cool, detached resignation that turned a personal wreck into a standard. The fiddle kicked in, clean and bright, masking the reality that the man writing the words was essentially charting his own ruin. There was a profound, quiet irony in how perfectly the arrangement clicked into place while Shafer’s own life was busy unraveling in the background. Years later, the song remains a fixture in every bar from Abilene to Amarillo, a perfect piece of Western swing engineering. History eventually caught up to the lyrics, as Lyndia herself became just another name on the long list of Shafer’s former wives. The upbeat tempo masks the alimony, and the steel guitar rings out over the wreckage of a life turned into a chorus.