Is That Love
"Is That Love" was the first single released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story.
Background
Chris Difford said "[t]his was written around the time [he] got married. I remember being in the bathroom and seeing Cindy's wedding ring next to the soap, which inspired me to write the lyric. I don't think it was particularly about our marriage, but it started off a sequence of ideas in my head." Difford also went on to say, "I'm not strapped to the song emotionally but it was a great live number and sums up being on the road and having fun. It's a comfortable pair of jeans as a song."
Glenn Tillbrook stated that the track was originally recorded in mid-tempo, "so we sped it up and it made more sense like that[.]" Tillbrook also said, "I was influenced quite consiously by The Beatles here." Tillbrook noted that the "ending was [Elvis Costello's] idea, and he played the piano part accompanying it."
Reception
Critical reception
AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Squeeze's "barbed, bouncy pop" is "best heard on the single "Is That Love," and he cited the track as a highlight from East Side Story.
Is That Love?
(Difford/Tilbrook)
You've left my ring by the soap,
Now is that love?
You cleaned me out you could say broke,
Now is that love?
The better better better it gets
The more these girls forget
That that is love.
You won't get dressed you walk about,
Now is that, is that
A teasing glance has pushed me out,
Now is that, is that
The tougher tougher tougher it gets
The more my lips frequent
Now that is love.
Beat me up with your letters, your walk out notes,
Funny how you still find me right here at home.
Legs up with a book and a drink,
Now is that love that's making you think. You've called my bluff I'm not so hot,
Now is that love
My assets froze while yours have dropped,
Now is that, is that
It's the cupid cupid cupid disguise
That more or less survived
Now that is love.
Beat me up with your letters, your walk out notes,
Funny how you still find me right here at home.
Legs up with a book and a drink,
Now is that love that's making you think.
You've made my bed the finger points
Now is that, is that love
The more you more you more you cool down
The easier love is found
Now that is love.