{"id":4714,"date":"2022-06-24T20:09:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T20:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4714"},"modified":"2022-06-24T20:09:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T20:09:58","slug":"if-music-be-the-food-of-love-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/if-music-be-the-food-of-love-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"If Music be the Food of Love \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that a song reminds you of someone you love and makes you feel heartsore for them? You could use the saying \u201cif music be the food of love, play on<\/em>\u201d to describe your emotional state. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cif music be the food of love, play on<\/em>\u201d means that the sound of music reminds you of love in a heartbreaking way. The best way to get over lost love is to embrace the heartache and overcome it by listening to music that spurs the emotion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cIt hurts me every time I hear that track. It was my ex\u2019s favorite song. You know what they say. If music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the song we had our first dance to all those years ago. If music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to ask you to turn that song off, but it doesn\u2019t bother me as much anymore. I think I\u2019m getting over my ex. If music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why this song makes me think of my ex so much. I always get teary and start thinking of him while it plays. Oh well, if music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis song is the worst ever. It reminds me of my ex-boyfriend, and I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll ever get over him sometimes. If music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this track makes you feel down, but you need to get over him sooner or later. If music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the only way to get over someone is to numb yourself to the pain, then, if music be the food of love, play on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cIf music be the food of love, play on\u201d originates from the English playwright William Shakespeare. The line opens his iconic play, \u201cThe Twelfth Night,\u201d and it\u2019s one of Shakespeare\u2019s most-quoted lines.<\/p>\n

The Twelfth Night is a play about love and being in love. It starts with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, being in love. He\u2019s listening to music being played in his garden, and the musicians pause due to his display of emotion. Orsino tells the band to play on until he becomes sick of it so that he can forget about the woman he loves.<\/p>\n