River Black – NOT IN LOVE Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I wake up with the morning sun
And think about you
I flip the radio to on
And think about you
This song is going ’round my head
It’s all about you
I’m acting like a lovesick kid
With nothing to do
[Pre-Chorus]
I dream of love, what’d you do to me?
I’m inside out this obsession
Holding on to reason while my grip is slipping
My mind is sailing on, but my heart is dripping
[Chorus]
I’m not in love (In love)
So how come I can’t breathe without you?
I’m not in love (In love)
So how come I am twisting ’round you?
Go on now, get out of my head
Let me be myself again
Don’t want you, don’t crave you
I swear I’m not, I’m really not in love
[Verse 2]
The moon is starting to ascend
I think about you
I’m almost tempted to confess
But there’s so much to lose
My independence, my sanity, too
If I tell myself, “Enough”
Maybe it’ll be true
[Pre-Chorus]
Ain’t no big thing, take it or leave it, yeah
They don’t come true, my emotions
I’m hanging on to reason while my grip is slipping
I’m all strung up, I just keep repeating
[Chorus]
“I’m not in love” (In love)
So how come I can’t breathe without you?
I’m not in love (In love)
So how come I am twisting ’round you?
Go on now, get out of my head
Let me be myself again
Don’t want you, don’t crave you
I swear I’m not, I’m really not in love
[Bridge]
Oh, oh, oh
It’s all an illusion
Oh, oh, oh
Wrapped up in confusion
But who am I fooling?
[Breakdown]
I’m not in love (In love)
I’m not in love (In love)
[Chorus]
But I’m not in love (In love) (I’m not in love)
So how come I can’t breathe without you?
I’m not in love (In love)
So how come I am twisting ’round you?
Go on now, get out of my head
Let me be myself again
Don’t want you, don’t crave you
I swear I’m not, I’m really not in love
[Outro]
And I’m not in love (In love)
I’m not in love (In love)
Go on now, get out of my head
Let me be myself again
Don’t want you, don’t crave you
I swear I’m not, I’m really not in love
“NOT IN LOVE” by River Black
Song Details
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Song Title | NOT IN LOVE |
| Artist | River Black |
| Genre | Pop Rock / Alternative |
| Language | English |
| Themes | Denial, Love, Obsession, Identity |
| Mood | Melancholic, Emotional, Reflective |
| Length | ~3–4 minutes |
| Release Date | Unknown (independent release) |
Themes & Symbolism
- Denial of Love
- Emotional Conflict
vs 
- Internal Struggle
- Obsession vs Freedom
- Illusion and Confusion
Step-by-Step Lyric Breakdown
[Verse 1]
“I wake up with the morning sun / And think about you…”
- Analysis: The day begins, and the first thought is of this person. Love, or the denial of it, is consuming the speaker’s daily life.
- Meaning: Subconscious attachment — a love that the speaker won’t admit but can’t avoid.
[Pre-Chorus]
“I dream of love, what’d you do to me?…”
- Analysis: The emotional chaos begins. The speaker is trying to hold onto logic, but the heart is clearly running the show.
- Metaphor: “My mind is sailing on, but my heart is dripping.” → The mind wants to move forward, but the heart is stuck, bleeding, emotionally entangled.
[Chorus]
“I’m not in love… So how come I can’t breathe without you?”
- Irony: The speaker insists they’re not in love, yet shows textbook signs of emotional dependency.
- Repetition: Reinforces denial — the more it’s said, the less convincing it becomes.
[Verse 2]
“The moon is starting to ascend / I think about you…”
- Time Progression: From morning to night — the thoughts persist, symbolizing inescapability.
- Fear of Vulnerability: “There’s so much to lose…” speaks to the emotional cost of confession: sanity, independence.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
“Ain’t no big thing, take it or leave it…”
- Tone: Sarcastic self-talk. Trying to minimize emotions that are clearly overwhelming.
- Strung Up: Mentally and emotionally entangled — lost in a loop.
[Bridge]
“It’s all an illusion… But who am I fooling?”
- Realization: The mask of denial is slipping. The speaker questions their own narrative.
- Self-awareness: Cracks in the wall of emotional denial begin to show.
[Breakdown & Outro]
“I’m not in love (In love)…”
- Contradiction: The chorus is repeated again and again, but each time it sounds more like a confession than denial.
- Begging for Freedom: “Let me be myself again.” → The speaker feels imprisoned by their own emotions.
FAQs
Q1: Is the speaker actually in love?
A: Yes — despite their denial, the emotional intensity and dependency reveal deep feelings of love.
Q2: Why does the speaker repeat “I’m not in love”?
A: It’s a defense mechanism — by repeating it, they’re trying to convince themselves and resist vulnerability.
Q3: What does “twisting ‘round you” mean?
A: It symbolizes being emotionally entangled and disoriented by love.
Q4: What is the “illusion” in the bridge?
A: The illusion is the speaker’s claim of not being in love. Deep down, they know it’s a lie.
Overall Meaning
This is a song of contradiction — a battle between the head and the heart. While the speaker fiercely denies being in love, their thoughts, actions, and emotional breakdown betray the truth. It’s a poetic depiction of emotional denial and the way love can quietly consume someone who’s afraid to feel it.
Conclusion
River Black’s “NOT IN LOVE” is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. The singer tries to maintain control and detachment, but the lyrics slowly peel back the layers of self-deception. It’s not just a song about love — it’s about the fear of love, the craving for autonomy, and the quiet suffering of unspoken emotions.
Despite the repeated “I’m not in love”, every line whispers:
You are. Deeply. Hopelessly. Secretly. Tragically. 
Emojis
— Mind vs Heart- — Emotional denial
- — Repetition of feelings
- — Confusion
- — Trapped yet yearning for freedom
- — Heartbreak hiding under defiance
