You Choose by the Pet Shop Boys

First time I heard this song, it struck me how mature and true it was. At that time the lyrics were oh so relevant to me because I was just coming out of a bad case of unrequited love, with me doing the “he-doesn’t-love-me!” drama queen part. When I heard the line “you won’t get drunk by accident, you’ll choose,” I knew that Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have indeed learned their lessons well.

I like how they linked love with personal responsibility. It is love not as a noun but a verb, not just an emotion but also a decision.

He’s gone.
You’ve lost.
Stay behind
and count the cost.
You try.
You lose.
You don’t fall in love by chance.
You choose.

It’s a decision
made over time.
Should you take a risk
and start to climb
the steepest hill—
only to find
halfway there
you’ve been left behind?

Choosing to love
is risking a lot,
and trying to change
and to give all you’ve got.
But don’t pretend
it comes out of the blue.
You take a chance
and see it through,
and if it’s refused—
what can you do?
Continue hopefully?
Start anew?

Lick your wounds.
Buy your booze.
You won’t get drunk by accident,
you’ll choose.
Don’t blame him
for refusing your bid.
He didn’t decide to love—
you did.

Learn the lesson.
Take the blows.
You didn’t fall in love by chance,
you chose.
Play the sad songs.
Sing the blues.
You don’t fall in love by chance—
you choose.