Anything But Love is an early Libertines song named after “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” a popular standard first published in 1928 and most famously sung by Billie Holliday - one of Doherty’s favourite female vocalists. Doherty included Holliday's rendition in a list of the songs he would choose to be on his ideal compilation CD (NME 2002).
The track was recorded by The Libertines, as part of their Odessa Studio Recordings, in 1997, and the recording was chosen by Barat to be included on their compilation album, Legs XI.
Whitechapel Demonstrations | Peter Doherty | Session | 2004-04-06 |
Legs 11 | The Libertines | Demo | 2001-09 |
Odessa Studio Recordings (2) | The Libertines | Session | Unknown |
12 Bar Club | The Libertines | London, UK | 2001-02-26 |
You put your love upon me, though I was but poor
We lived a twisted little fairy story up on the fifth floor
I said you can have my love for this song go right
But don't hold it up to the light
Oh loveless, my loveless love
I can't give you anything but love
(Love for loves own sake)
It's like a message from above
(All the love we made)
Watch out for those foreign girls
(They never seem to make much sense)
Mistake my plastic beads for pearls
(Couldn't be more like pretence)
Don't you walk down lonely streets under darkened skies
Come on up with me to my lonely retreat, I will sing you lullabies
We'll string it up, string it along
And listen to those old time songs
And make believe, that they were written for you and me
I can't give you anything but love
(Love for loves own sake)
It came like a message from above
(All the love we made)
Watch out for those foreign girls
(They never seem to make much sense)
Mistake my plastic beads for pearls
(Couldn't be more like pretence)
If you still love me by morning
Oh you'll find me waiting in the garden by the cherry blossom tree
Bring ten cups of wine and cigarettes
Come to me in pirouettes, my darling
Save all your love for me
I can't give you anything but love
(Love for loves own sake)
It came like a message from above
(All the love we made)
You watch out for those modern girls
(They never seem to make much sense)
Mistake my plastic beads for pearls
(In a world of innocence)
I will sing you lullabies in all your dreams
(If you tell me that you will)
I've seen those dirty magazines
(And I've had my cheap thrills)
I can't give you anything but love
But was that that sweet old song
That you sung when I held you in my arms, oh
I can't give you anything but love
I can't give you anything but love
NameAnything But Love
BandThe Libertines
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