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Is This What You Call Love? Lyrics by Norm Lewis

Sondheim on Sondheim (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

2010

[GIORGIO]
Is this what you call love?
This endless and insatiable
Smothering
Pursuit of me
You think that this is love?
I'm sorry that you're lonely
I'm sorry that you want me as you do
I'm sorry that I fail to feel
The way you wish me to feel
I'm sorry that you're ill
I'm sorry you're in pain
I'm sorry that you aren't beautiful
But yes, I wish you'd go away
And leave me alone!
Everywhere I turn
There you are
This is not love
But some kind of obsession
Will you never learn
When too far is too far?
Have you no concern
For what I feel
What I want?
Love is what you earn
And return
When you care for another
So much that thе other's
Set free
Don't you see?
Can't you understand?
Lovе's not a constant demand
It's a gift you bestow
Love isn't sudden surrender
It's tender and slow
It must grow
Yet everywhere I go
You appear
Or I know
You are near
This is not love
Just a need for possession
Call it what you will
This is not love
This is the reverse
Like a curse
Something out of control
I've begun to fear
For my soul...
[STEPHEN SONDHEIM, spoken]
We had a very difficult time during previews with Passion because the audience would not buy the idea that this good-looking guy would, would fall in love with this obsessive, grasping, difficult, unpleasant woman. So I wrote a song called "Loving You" which is very simple but which is very heartfelt. It's a very Oscar Hammerstein-like song. And by the end of that song, the audience was softened enough towards her and realized that her love was pure even though her behavior was not. And it sort of, um, turned the corner of the show.
Credits
Norm Lewis

Norm Lewis

About “Is This What You Call Love?” by Norm Lewis

Read the complete lyrics to "Is This What You Call Love?" by Norm Lewis from the album "Sondheim on Sondheim (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2010. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Musicals, Pop.

"Is This What You Call Love?" is performed by Norm Lewis. from the album "Sondheim on Sondheim (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2010 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Is This What You Call Love?", explore more songs by Norm Lewis using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Is This What You Call Love?" is credited to Norm Lewis. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Is This What You Call Love?" appears on "Sondheim on Sondheim (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" in 2010.

Visit the Norm Lewis artist page at /artist/norm-lewis for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.