"LoveNotWar"

[XAtlantic]

^ Amended

Love Not War
Every time I try to walk away, something strange takes over me
I need a soldier in my life, need the strength inside me

<Prechorus:>
<So you> brought your bombs, <so> you brought your guns
Now we're in a war
Where did we go wrong?
Can we get it back to where it used to be?

We got our hearts like flames to the wind
We're worth the fight

<Chorus:>
For tonight we don't care if we're right
Lay down our guns, show <our scars>
<Run> for the shelter in your arms
We need love, not war

Sweet nothings like letters inside of my head
<Whisper you still love me>
We crashed and we burned, we thought that we learned
Now I know we're all we need

<Prechorus>
<Chorus>
Na nah na, Na nah na na (x3)
Na nah na
<Amended Chorus, drop "not war">
<Chorus>

--
First run through the chorus may be "wars" or "words"?

I hear:
need the strength inside me --> need the strength inside OF me (could actually even be: need HIS strength inside of me?)

Can we get it back to where it used to be? --> Can we get it back to where WE used to be?

I think these two changes give the text an even more consistent meaning: she needs him "a soldier" close to her ("inside of me"), but they get to fighting quickly, when what the need is love, not war, so they need to lay down their arms ... a beautiful anti-war theme transposed at the same time to an intimate personal level (peace is peace is peace, large or small ...).

Then I think that "SEE you brought your bombs" makes sense: it is going the way of war and fighting again when all they need is to be close, so the need to "lay down our guns, show our scars" (scars I hear, too, makes sense) - I like it how here it says "our guns" and not just "your guns". So I would go for "see" rather than "so", even though I admit it could be so, too. "So" is more dismissive, "see" more pleading the argument, so I think "see" fits better with the idea of the text.

Words/wars in 1st chorus: wars, I say. "Words" would make sense, too, but I think she's going straight for the core of things.

Finally, "Sweet nothings like letters inside of my head" could also be "Sweet nothing's like letters inside of my head", both are a bit mysterious, which I like. Personally I read the nothing as the oblivion in love, when you just feel, not think. But then "letters inside of my head"? Are there multiple nothings like letters or IS nothing in her head like letters? Can't be decided, but is somewhat different. I would go with "nothing's" because the plural makes less sense and maybe the letters she is seeing is a bright glowing lettering of L.O.V.E.

Just some thoughts!