Poison and Wine is the very first single of the famous musical duo Joy Williams the vocalist and John Paul White the guitarist and songwriter. They co-wrote this song with Chris Lindsey, a Nashville writer. This very song narrates the love-hate relationship between two people. John Paul White once shared the poison and wine lyrics meaning in an American newspaper that it is parallel to their band. And it does justify the name of their band which is The Civil Wars.
It describes the torturous relationship between the marital couple. He also said that it could also be about addiction or someone’s job. It depends on individuals. He said that they discussed with each other what is the thing they suppressed in their chest about their spouses. And they want to say it out loud but at the same time without hurting them much. In the course of this, they come out with this very song.
What does the title mean
About the title, the co-writer Lindsey shared a funny story about how his fight with his wife worked for him to come up with the title Poison and Wine. Not only the title but a few lines of the songs are indebted to his wife. These have been directly coming out of her mouth while fighting. Lindsey just directly put them in the song. The title suggests the torturous or poisonous relationship between the marital couple. They know they shared a toxic relationship but somehow they can’t get out or rather don’t want to get out of their relationship because they love each other. Poison suggests the toxicity of their relationship and wine suggests the love they have for each other.
Verse 1 – What does it mean
“You only know what I want you to
I know everything you don’t want me to
Oh your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine
You think your dreams are the same as mine”
Poison and wine lyrics meaning reveals the torturous version of a relationship in its very first verse. Here the guy thinks that she only knows the things which he shows her and tells her. But the girl is not that naive. She can’t understand the hidden signs behind his every act or his words. They share a lack of communication. She even sometimes tries to avoid the truth because she feels it is better not to torture herself with the truth.
Sometimes they hate each other and don’t want to be around them. They fight with each other and the words that come out of their mouth may be poisonous yet they drink that. Because it also nurtures them at times. They know their relationship is like a bad addiction which indeed is bad for their peace of mind. However, they can’t escape from this, rather they don’t want to escape. And about the same dream-sharing thing, he believes she has no dream and her world revolves around him. So they are different persons because he is a dreamer whereas she is not one. But in reality, she does have dreams but always has sacrificed them because of him. She always gave priority to him and to do so, she had to kill her dreams from time to time. She has done it willingly because she loves him more, probably more than herself than her dreams. And it proves how strong she is because it takes too much courage to sacrifice one’s dreams for others.
What does the chorus mean
“Oh I don’t love you but I always will
Oh I don’t love you but I always will
Oh I don’t love you but I always will
I always will”
Poison and Wine Lyrics meaning goes more in-depth in its chorus portion. Here the wholesomeness of the song is depicted in the chorus. Where it is completely visible that these two people can’t lead a happy life together and they knowingly or unknowingly torture each other emotionally. However, they can’t live without each other.
They indeed hate each other but they love each other more. It is hard to be together but it’s like they are oxygen for each other which is the sole need for living. It is a toxic love that they have no control of. She knows his manipulation and she has accepted it because she loves him. And imagining living without him would be more torturous than living with him.
Verse 2 – What does it mean
“I wish you’d hold me when I turn my back
The less I give, the more I get back
Oh, your hands can heal, your hands can bruise
I don’t have a choice, but I still choose you”
Poison and Wine lyrics meaning in verse 2, depict each other’s secret desire and helplessness. She is saying she would have liked his efforts of stopping her when she wanted to leave. When she felt like giving up on them, she wanted him to fight for the relationship. She wanted him to comfort her anger but he didn’t. He never put good effort into their relationship. He has always been privileged by giving less and getting more. He takes her for granted. He feels no matter how he behaves she will always be there for him because she loves him. It shows that he is the one who has always been pleased no matter how little he contributes to their relationship.
She is saying he is the one who hurts her but at the end of the day, he also comes and fixes it. So basically he is the one who applies medicine to her bruises which he has given her. She understands everything but the heart indeed wants what it wants. People do not have control over their feelings. They can’t decide to whom they should fall; it just happens unknowingly. She feels like she doesn’t have any choice but to choose him because she loves him.
What does the chorus mean
“Oh, I don’t love you, but I always will
Oh, I don’t love you, but I always will
I don’t love you, but I always will
Oh, I don’t love you, but I always will
I don’t love you, but I always will
I don’t love you, but I always will
I don’t love you, but I always will
I always will”
Poison and Wine lyrics meaning in chorus, reveals the core meaning of the song again. No matter how painful and dissatisfied they are with each other, they just can’t simply let go of each other. They just love each other way more than they hate each other.
Conclusion
The singers have complemented each other well in singing this song. Even the famous American singer/songwriter Taylor Swift said that this song is her favorite duet song and it took a special place in her iTunes. And, probably that’s why people got their amazing collaboration in her song, safe and sound. Poison & Wine has been featured in various TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Vampire Diaries. It’s a pity that this amazing duo has disbanded in 2014 but at least they have left us with this beauty and many other songs. It is the bittersweet kind of song that people will cherish lifelong.
