"May I?" - Trading Yesterday
There you stand, opened heart, opened doors
There you stand, opened heart, opened doors
Full of life with a world that's wanting more
But I can see when the lights start to fade
The day is done and your smile has gone away
Let me raise you up
Let me be your love
May I hold you as you fall to sleep
When the world is closing in
And you can't breathe?
May I love you? May I be your shield
When no one can be found?
May I lay you down?
All I want is to keep you safe from the cold
To give you all that your heart needs the most
Let me raise you up
Let me be your love
May I hold you as you fall to sleep
When the world is closing in
And you can't breathe?
May I love you? May I be your shield
When no one can be found?
May I lay you down?
All that's made me is all worth trading
Just to have one moment with you
So I will let go with all that I know
Knowing that you're here with me
For your love is changing me
May I hold you as you fall to sleep
When the world is closing in
And you can't breathe?
May I love you? May I be your shield
When no one can be found?
May I lay you down?
For some time, I have listened to this song and loved these lyrics. Not only do they express a selfless, protective, true love, but they also express lovely, insightful messages - that to love someone is a privilege, that you can only truly love someone if they let you in, and you can only help them if they let you. Love should not be a self-centered emotion forced upon an unwilling recipient. Rather, it should be the selfless pursuit of the good of the other based on a mutual understanding and the willingness of the recipient. The question "May I love you?" may sound odd to us, but it is an honor to receive. After all, love is sometimes painful. When you love someone, you often have to sacrifice for them and be the one to tell them the painfully honest truth at times. And, especially when an individual is independent, it can be difficult to let others truly and actively love us, yet that is what someone who truly loves you desires - to be allowed to love fully. This does not always mean that you are pledging to love them in return at that moment. All that this question asks is if you will let them love you, not necessarily if you will love them. This love that they offer gives without taking.
Often, when someone asks us if they can do anything for us, we say no because we do not want to impose or cause them any inconvenience. While some people desire this response, because their offer was not sincere, for those whose offer was sincere, you will not be imposing or an annoyance. They are asking you to let them help you, to let them in. As a result, saying "yes" is not being selfish, but rather letting them have the privilege they have asked for - that of being able to stand by you when you need someone there. You have to use discretion to differentiate between those who are offering without sincerity and those who are truly asking, in order to respond appropriately. However, those who truly love you will see you letting them love you and letting them in as a privilege. For letting the one you love love you and being allowed to truly love the one you love is actually an incredible feeling, one that is often misunderstood or unappreciated. If both people in a relationship are engaging in it in this manner, it will truly be a mutually loving and humble relationship in which each individual is loving and being loved, caring and being cared for, protecting and being protected.
Many may not see these things in this way, but I do and, as such, I understand and deeply appreciate these lyrics.
