If Love Ain't There
King Crimson · Other Songs - King Crimson
Better face the facts, ol' buddy,
And be prepared to take the blow.
You don't have to sit and study,
It's something anyone should know.
Shake hands... get your hat...
And go.
You can praise her eyes,
And adore her hair.
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
And you can walk her home
In the warm spring air,
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
And you can look
With a longing in your look,
And try every method in the book
And worship the smile that kind of
Took you unaware.
And you can weep and sigh,
You can say, "unfair".
You can almost die of despair.
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
And be prepared to take the blow.
You don't have to sit and study,
It's something anyone should know.
Shake hands... get your hat...
And go.
You can praise her eyes,
And adore her hair.
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
And you can walk her home
In the warm spring air,
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
And you can look
With a longing in your look,
And try every method in the book
And worship the smile that kind of
Took you unaware.
And you can weep and sigh,
You can say, "unfair".
You can almost die of despair.
But if love ain't there,
It ain't there.
King Crimson - If Love Ain't There
Released in 1983, "If Love Ain't There" stands as a defining track on King Crimson's final studio album, *Discipline*. The song exemplifies the band's late-period synthesis of progressive rock complexity with a more direct, blues-inflected rock sensibility. Featuring the distinctive, soaring vocals of Greg Lake, the recording captures the emotional intensity and melodic sophistication that characterized the group's work during the 1980s. As one of the band's last significant contributions before their hiatus, the track serves as a poignant reflection on themes of affection and loss, delivered through the band's signature multi-layered instrumentation and dynamic shifts.