IF THOU MUST LOVE ME (slow version) WORDS & MUSIC:   Earl P. Reinhalter CHORUS: if thou must love me, if thou must love me, if thou must love me, just love me. (repeat chorus) I. don't say you love me for my smile. I can't be smiling all the while. don't say you love me for my eyes. when I'm asleep, your love will fly. (repeat chorus) II. don't say you love my train of thought. what if the rail should come unwrought? don't say my touch is your desire. when I'm away, where goes the fire? oh-------- III. don't say you want to mother me. when I grow up, you will flee. don't say you need me to lean on. you will leave me when you're strong. (repeat chorus twice) ENDING: love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me. © Copyright 1985 Earl P. Reinhalter.   All Rights Reserved. The title and basic concept are from the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: . IF THOU MUST LOVE ME If thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say, "I love her for her smile--her look--her way Of speaking gently--for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"-- For these things in themselves, Beloved, may Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,-- A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love's sake, that evermore Thou mayest love on, through love's eternity.