It was 1985. Big hair was mandatory, neon was everywhere, and Heart—a band that had already survived the seventies—was about to reinvent itself with a power ballad that felt like a punch to the gut. If you’ve ever found yourself screaming the what about love by heart lyrics while driving alone at night, you aren’t just indulging in nostalgia. You're participating in a masterclass of emotional songwriting.
The song wasn't just a hit; it was a pivot point. Ann and Nancy Wilson were transitioning from their folk-rock roots into the high-gloss world of eighties arena rock. "What About Love" became the lead single for their self-titled album, and honestly, it changed everything for them. It wasn't written by the sisters, though. This is a common misconception. The track was actually penned by Brian Allen, Sheron Alton, and Jim Vallance. Vallance is a name you might recognize if you're a geek for eighties credits—he was Bryan Adams' primary songwriting partner for years.
The Raw Desperation in the What About Love by Heart Lyrics
The song opens with a synth line that feels like a cold morning. Then Ann Wilson’s voice drops in. It’s low, controlled, almost a whisper. She’s talking about how we get used to living without the "magic." We settle. We stop looking for that spark because we’re tired or maybe just scared of getting burned again.
The lyrics ask a question that feels uncomfortable. What about love? It isn't a soft question. It’s an accusation. The song suggests that we spend so much time building walls and pretending we’re fine being "self-sufficient" that we forget the core human need for connection. When the chorus kicks in, the dynamics shift violently. This is where the power of the what about love by heart lyrics really shines. Ann’s vocal range is legendary, and she uses every bit of it to demand an answer to why we’ve let the fire go out.
"Don't you want someone to care about you?"
That line is simple. It's almost too simple. But in the context of the heavy production and the soaring melody, it feels like a universal truth. The lyrics aren't trying to be poetic or abstract; they are desperate. They are pleading.
Why the 1980s Production Actually Worked
Usually, people complain about eighties "cheese." You know the drill—over-processed drums and too much reverb. But for this specific track, the gloss actually highlights the loneliness in the lyrics. The vast, empty space created by the production mimics the emotional isolation the song describes.
💡 You might also like: Black Bear by Andrew Belle: Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas from Starship actually provided backing vocals on this track. It’s a "who’s who" of eighties rock royalty hidden in the mix. Their voices add this choral, almost religious weight to the chorus. It makes the plea for love feel less like a personal diary entry and more like a collective anthem for everyone who feels forgotten.
Deconstructing the Verses: A Study in Emotional Isolation
Let’s look at that first verse. "I've been lonely, I've been waiting for you."
Standard stuff, right? But then it moves into: "I'm pretending and that's all I can do."
That’s the hook. The song acknowledges the performance of "being okay." We all do it. We go to work, we smile, we tell people we’re doing great, but the what about love by heart lyrics cut through that facade. They suggest that "only love can break your heart," and yet, it’s the only thing worth having. It’s a classic Catch-22.
The second verse gets even darker. It talks about how "the shadows of the night" are the only things that feel real. There’s a sense of exhaustion here. The narrator is tired of the games. They’re tired of the distance.
Heart was taking a huge risk here. Their earlier fans loved the "Magic Man" and "Barracuda" era—the hard-driving, riff-heavy rock. Moving into this melodic, synth-heavy territory could have backfired. Instead, it gave them their first Top 10 hit in years, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It proved that people weren't just looking for riffs; they were looking for a way to voice their own loneliness.
📖 Related: Billie Eilish Therefore I Am Explained: The Philosophy Behind the Mall Raid
The Contrast Between Ann and Nancy
While Ann provides the powerhouse vocals, Nancy’s presence on the guitar and her backing harmonies provide the "heart" of Heart. In the music video—which, let's be honest, is peak 1985—you see that contrast visually. The dramatic lighting, the flowing clothes, the intense stares. It was all designed to sell the emotion of the what about love by heart lyrics.
Interestingly, Jim Vallance originally wrote the song for a band called Toronto. It didn't do much for them. It took the specific chemistry of the Wilson sisters to turn it into a powerhouse. They added a layer of soulful desperation that wasn't there in the original demo. It’s a reminder that a song is often only as good as the person interpreting it.
The Cultural Impact of "What About Love"
Why does this song still pop up in movies and TV shows? Why do we still care?
Because the central question of the what about love by heart lyrics hasn't aged. We are arguably more "connected" now than we were in 1985, yet the feeling of being "only lonely" is at an all-time high. The song taps into a primal fear of being forgotten.
It’s also a vocal benchmark. If you go on any singing competition show—Idol, The Voice, whatever—you’ll eventually hear someone try to cover this. Most fail. Why? Because they hit the notes but miss the "why." You can't just sing the words; you have to sound like you're losing your mind because no one is listening.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Meaning
A lot of people think this is a breakup song. It’s not.
👉 See also: Bad For Me Lyrics Kevin Gates: The Messy Truth Behind the Song
Or at least, it’s not just a breakup song. It’s a song about the state of being closed off. It’s about the walls we build to protect ourselves from the very thing that would actually save us. It’s about the tragedy of self-protection. When the lyrics ask "What about love?", they aren't asking a specific partner. They are asking the world. They are asking the listener.
"Don't let it slip away."
That’s the warning. It’s a call to action.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Songwriters
If you’re looking at these lyrics through the lens of a creator or just a deep-diver into music history, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Study the Dynamic Shift: Notice how the song moves from a "closed" sound in the verses to an "open" sound in the chorus. This mimics the emotional journey of the song—from isolation to a desperate cry for help.
- Vocal Texture Matters: Ann Wilson doesn't just sing loud; she sings with different textures. Use the breathy quality of the verses to build tension before the explosion of the chorus.
- Check the Songwriting Credits: Always look at who wrote your favorite tracks. Finding out Jim Vallance was involved opens up a whole web of eighties rock connections, from Bryan Adams to Aerosmith.
- The Power of Simplicity: The lyrics don't use big words. They use "care," "love," "lonely," and "heart." These are universal "power words" that resonate because they are fundamental.
- Revisit the 'Heart' Album: If you only know this song, go back and listen to "Never" and "These Dreams." The 1985 Heart album is a masterclass in how a legacy act can successfully rebrand without losing their soul.
The what about love by heart lyrics remind us that no matter how much technology changes or how much the music industry shifts, the basic human desire to be seen and valued remains the same. It's a loud, messy, beautiful song that refuses to be ignored. It’s a reminder to keep your heart open, even when it’s easier to shut it tight.
Next time you hear that opening synth line, don't just listen. Feel the weight of the question being asked. Because, honestly, what about love? It’s still the only thing that matters in the end.
To truly appreciate the song's construction, try listening to the isolated vocal tracks if you can find them. Hearing Ann Wilson's raw delivery without the massive eighties production reveals the sheer technical skill required to make those lyrics land. It wasn't just studio magic; it was a once-in-a-generation talent meeting the perfect piece of material at exactly the right time in pop culture history.