…if one considers, finally that to the
lover himself the whole rest of the world appears indifferent,
pale. and worthless, and he is prepared to make any sacrifice,
to disturb any order, to subordinate all other interests-then
one comes to feel genuine amazement that this wild avarice and
injustice of sexual love has been glorified and deified so much
in all ages-indeed, that this love has furnished the concept of
love as the opposite of egoism while it actually may be the most
ingenuous expression of egoism.

At this point linguistic usage has evidently been formed by
those who did not possess but desired. Probably, there have
always been too many of these…

–excerpt The Gay Science, Book 1, Section 14 by Friedrich Nietzsche

For as long as I remember, I’ve been entranced by love songs.  From Elvis’ Love Me Tender to Meatloaf’s I Would Do Anything For Love, I’ve long felt the storytelling approaches the apex of life, to love, to be loved, to “be in love,” etc.

Could Nietzsche be closer to the truth?

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What tune can I offer for this day after Easter?  This one by The Box Tops, Soul Deep, released in 1969.

Soul Deep

By The Box Tops

Darlin’ I don’t know much
I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch

And my love is a river runnin’ soul deep
Way down inside me it’s a-soul deep
It’s too big to hide and it can’t be deni-ie-ed
My love is a river runnin’ soul de-ee-ee-ep

I work myself to death for ya
Just to show I adore ya
Nothing I wouldn’t do for ya

Cause my love is a river runnin’ soul deep
Way down inside me it’s a-soul deep
It’s too big to hide and it can’t be deni-ie-ed
My love is a river runnin’ soul de-ee-ee-ep

All I ever ever hope to be
Depends on your love for me
Baby believe me, if you should leave me
I’d be nothing but an empty shell
I know darn well, I can tell now

I don’t know much
But I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch

And my love is a river runnin’ soul deep
Way down inside me it’s a-soul deep
It’s too big to hide and it can’t be deni-ie-ed
My love is a river runnin’ soul de-ee-ee-ep

My love is a river runnin’ soul deep
Way down inside me it’s a-soul deep
My love is a river runnin’ soul deep
Way down inside me it’s a-soul deep…

Lyrics by Wayne Carson Thompson