Do Men Really Fall Harder in Love?

Men are very complex yet fragile human beings especially when it comes to the male ego. I will never fully understand the challenges of manhood nor will I try to pretend to have some out of body experience to do so. However, I can try to discover small bits of what it truly means to find and fall in love from a male perspective. The question remains, "Do men fall harder in love than women do and if so what exactly does that mean?" The following is a list of songs that musically shed some light on men in love, falling out of love or feeling the obsessive/possessive nature of love.

1. Every breathe you take by The Police- This song has a daunting chorus that speaks of a man obsessed in love although the relationship has ended. The male further contends that he will watch every move, step and breathe his former lover takes.

The lyrics that further confirm his unwillingness to let this love go are the following:
"Since you've gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but its you I can't replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please."

2. Who is he and what is he to you? By Bill Withers- This song is about a man suspecting that his woman has caught the attention of another man. He outlines the exact nature of his suspicions throughout the song including a close encounter with the other man.

The lyrics that shed the most light about his reservations about his relationship are the following:
"Now when I add the sum of you and me
I get confused and I keep coming up with three
You're too much for one man but not enough for two
Dag gummit dag
Who is he and what is he to you?"

3. Sara Smile by Hall and Oates- This is a beautiful song about a male catering to the needs of his woman and adoring her smile.

The lyrics that profess his innermost feelings are:
"And when you feel cold, I'll warm you
And when you feel you can't go on, I'll come and hold you
it's you... And me forever
Sara Smile
Won't you smile a while for me."

4. Unchain my Heart by Ray Charles- This song is about a man who is completely head over heels in love and asks for his heart to be released from the spell he has fallen under.

The lyrics that help the listener understand a man struggling with love taking over his heart are the following:
"I'm under your spell (I'm under your spell) like a man in a trance (like a man in a trance)
but I know darn well (but I know darn well) that I don't stand a chance (that I don't stand a chance)
So Unchain my heart (unchain my heart) let me go my way (unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (unchain my heart) you worry me night and day (unchain my heart)."

5. The Beauty of who you are by Marc Broussard- This is a romantic song about a man expressing his admiration for the beauty of his lover.

The lyrics that outline a man passionately in love are the following:
"Baby I'm so into you
Every whisper from your soul to my heart
Baby I know its true
You're a sweet little mystery sent to me from the stars
And that's the beauty of who you are."

6. I've been loving you for too long by Otis Redding- This is a song about a man deeply committed to supplying unconditional love.

The lyrics that confirm his commitment and dedication are the following:
"There were times and you want to be free
My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me
Oh I've been loving you a little too long
I don't wanna stop now, oh."

7. In too deep by Genesis- This is a song about a man who is deeply in love but realizes that its time to let it go.

The lyrics that express a man loving someone but recognizing it's time to move on are the following:
"Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep."

8. She's out of my life by Michael Jackson- This is a song about a man reflecting on the aftermath of losing his love.

The introspective lyrics about a man reflecting on love that is lost are the following:
"She's out of my life
She's out of my life
And I don't know whether to laugh or cry
I don't know whether to live or die
And it cuts like a knife
She's out of my life."

9. Just to keep you satisfied by Marvin Gaye- This is a song about a man reflecting on unsuccessfully satisfying his wife who was the object of all his hopes and dreams.

The lyrics that express the true nature of his sentiments are the following:
"Oh and when we, woo, stopped the hands of time
you set my soul on fire, my one desire
is to love you and think of you with pride
and keep you satisfied, oh baby oh baby."

10. Foolish Heart by Steve Perry- This is an honest declaration of a male seeking to find true love.

The lyrics that explain a man's frustration with dealing the unpleasant decisions of his heart are the following:
"Foolish heart
Hear me callin'
Stop before
You start fallin'
Foolish heart
Heed my warnin'
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong anymore."

11. Lost without you by Robin Thicke- This is a song about a man acknowledging all the ways that a woman can compliment him.

The lyrics that recognize a male's willingness to express his vulnerability in love are the following:
"I'm lost without u
Can't help myself
How does it feel?
To know that I love u baby."

12. Hands to heaven by Breathe- This is a song about man losing his love but hoping and praying that he will get back with that person someday.

The lyrics that best describe the last physical yet emotional encounter between a male and his lover are the following:
"As we move to embrace, tears run down your face
I whisper words of love, so softly
I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane
Without your touch, life will be lonely"

13. Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer- This is a song about facing the fact you are in love despite how much you try to fight it.

The lyrics that openly state truly being in love despite initial resistance are the following:
"Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh
Yeah its closer to the truth to say you can't get enough, you
Know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love

14. Wait for you by Elliot Yamin- This is a song about a man willing to wait on love until his desired mate is ready for them to be together.

The lyrics that profess his dedication to the one he loves are the following:
"Baby I will wait for you
If you think I find it just ain't true
I really need you in my life
No matter what I have to do
I'll wait for you."

15. Until the End of Time by Justin Timberlake- This is a song about a man who feels the love of one woman is all he'll ever need in his life.

The lyrics that speak openly of a man's need for companionship by his side are the following:
"Cause if your love was all I had
In this life
That would be enough
Until the end of time."

The songs highlighted here all convey the many ways men are affected by love. Growing up I was told many things about love but nothing remotely close to understanding it from a male's point of view. I initially thought that all men were hard, emotionless and did not care about loving someone unconditionally. This may seem like rather harsh generalizations but I am sure I am not the only woman who was conditioned to feel this way. I hear from men all the time that women do not understand that although a man appears to be tough he still likes to feel appreciated by his significant other. I now understand that although a male and female's approach to love may be different in the end both are seeking true love. I now treat every encounter I have with a man differently instead of placing them inside of a box of categories. It is so refreshing to allow a man to reveal who he is instead of making uneducated guesses based on my assumptions alone. So do men fall harder in love? The answer is when a man loves a woman he will stand without a doubt by his commitment to her. Overall, regardless of gender relationships are like flowing rivers when unhealthy things gather inside of them truly committed people must work together to purify them.

Supporting Links:
www.lyrics.com
http://www.marcbroussard.com/