27. Love Is Like a Butterfly, Dolly Parton
Queen Dolly Parton is known for surrounding herself with butterflies, and this song reveals some of her deep bond to the symbol. On this album title track from 1974, she compares the “rare and gentle” nature of a butterfly to the act of falling in love. attempts to describe what love looks like by using — you guessed it — a butterfly as an example.
In her 2020 book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics she shares this insight: “I think Love is Like a Butterfly is a very poetic, very descriptive, very innocent, and very flowery song. It talks about being soft and gentle as a sigh, just like it feels when you are newly in love.”
28. The Gate, Björk
One of Björk’s less-talked-about songs, The Gate is about loving someone so much your chest opens up to all of the feelings that come with it. Give this one a listen if you need to get a good cry out to the tune of ethereal bird noises.
29. Everywhere, Fleetwood Mac
Seven words manage to describe an entire chest-bursting feeling of love: “I want to be with you everywhere.”
30. Dog Years, Maggie Rogers
This is a song you could add to any anniversary or Valentine’s Day playlist. “And if you had a bad week, just let me touch your cheek. Oh, and I’ll be there waiting when you get frustrated. I know things are changing, but, darling, I’m saying I’ll be singing you in all of my songs.” Say no more.
31. Home, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The conversation breaks in this song make it feel like you’re eavesdropping on the couple you wish you could be a part of at your local coffee shop.
32. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, Aerosmith
This song has evolved into “catchy grocery store tunes,” but the appeal is undeniable.
33. The Way You Look Tonight, Fred Astaire
It’s the small things about a person you really fall in love with — a laugh, a nose wrinkle, a smile. And Fred agrees.
34. Everywhere, Michelle Branch
Every angsty in-love teen was blasting this song in 2001.
35. My Girl, The Temptations
“I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame, I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim. Well I guess you’d say, what can make me feel this way — my girl, my girl, my girl.” It’s an earworm, not to mention rosy and wholesome.
36. Come Away With Me, Norah Jones
The idea of escaping the daily monotony, jetting off with someone you love with no responsibilities or worries… it’s the total dream, and Norah Jones thinks so, too.
37. Perfect, Ed Sheeran
If the song title didn’t give it away, Ed Sheeran waxes poetic about the beauty of falling in love at a young age: “Cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was. I will not give you up this time.”
