by Jessica Shelton·Published · Updated
Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain” illustrates her love for a guy as one that consumes her thoughts. Though she admits that this lover enjoys it when she falls apart and beats her black and blue, she can’t seem to stop thinking about him.
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You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Rihanna's Love On The Brain at Lyrics.org.
The narrator clearly puts in a lot more effort by fighting with fire and running for miles just to get a bit of his love. She is aware that her efforts have been in vain. However, her brains have lost control to her emotions and all she expects is for the other person to love her in return.
Speculations are rife that the lyrics of the song reference a physically abusive unstable relationship, similar to what she had with Chris Brown.
Ultimately, the song covers the pain of a harmful-yet-undying love.
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Facts about “Love on the Brain”
- Rihanna recorded and released this track as asingle in 2016.
- She wrote this song together with Joseph Angeland Fred Ball, with the latter co-producing the tune with Kuk Harrell.
- Songwriter, Ball revealed that the inspirationbehind this track came from the late American singer Prince and soul hitsinger, The Reverend Al Green.
- “Love on the Brain” is included on Rihanna’s 8thstudio album, entitled,Anti. It is the eleventh song on the album.
- Several music critics have drawn similaritiesbetween Rihanna’s vocals on this song to those of the late singers, Sam Cookeand Amy Winehouse.
- Rihanna received favorable commentaries for hervocals on this song. A columnist forSlate magazinepraised her vocal flexibility, describing the songas one “designed as a showcase for [her] vocal versatility”.
Are there any covers of this song?
On August 2016, Los Angeles based singer, Maggie Lindemannreleaseda cover of “Love on the Brain”. Thesong has been covered by several other singers, including Rafferty and JasmineAh.
How did “Love on the Brain” perform on the charts?
Chart-wise, this tune’s performance can be considered okay. It peaked at #1 in Poland and #5 in the United States. It also chartered in the top 40 of several nation’s chart lists including Canada, Australia, and Belgium.
| Country | Position |
| United States | #5 |
| Austria | #7 |
| Belgium | #8 |
| Greece | #5 |
| Iceland | #2 |
| Netherlands | #6 |
| Slovakia | #5 |
Notable Appearances
Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain” has appeared in several American TV shows. Some of the prominent ones include:
- Season finale of the 12thseason of American medical drama series, “Grey’s Anatomy”. It appeared in the episode, titled “Family Affair”.
- 2018 American sitcom “Grown-ish”, Season 1, Episode 13. The song was played when Zoey was making the decision of who she wants to be with.
- Season 5, episode 10 of American drama series, “Empire”. The episode aired on 13thMarch, 2019. “Love On the Brain” plays while Andre (Trai Byers) and Tery (Meta Golding) are in the car.
- American supernatural-horror TV series, “Chambers” in its pilot episode aired on 26thApril, 2019.
- American musical comedy-drama series, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”.
- 2021 American drama miniseries, “Nine Perfect Strangers”. The song was featured in its 6thepisode, “Motherlode”, when Tony (Bobby Cannavale) and Frances (Melissa McCarthy) kiss in the woods.
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18 Responses
- Comments18
- Pingbacks0
Dignity says:
April 14, 2021 at 4:31 pm
I HATE this song so much. The filthy language and images it brings up is disgraceful. If censorship could be a thing, this song would need to be on it. Young girls that listen to this song, what positive message would they get from it. Shame on Rihanna and the writers, producers etc.
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aLe says:
April 19, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Yes. The song has filthy language and the images that brings up the song are disgraceful but is a thing about taste. If you don’t like it that its okay. And if young girls listen to songs that should have censorship that its not on Rihanna, the writers or the producers. Its on the parents for letting their kids listen to it. The song has a Explicit Content warning meaning that the song is for a specific audience. What i want to say with this is that YES you can say the song has filthy language and all that but you cant blame Rihanna, the writers or the producers of little kids listen to it. Its on the parent. Every parent is responsible for what their kid listens. That said… i hope you have a nice day
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Nanad says:
October 4, 2021 at 4:19 am
such a spot on comment. We cant limit artists on their creativity just to a specific safe margin because parents are not able to supervised their children. Artist should be able to make arts out of any thing – even if they talk about their cars or their cats. who cares. freedom of creativity should not be limited.
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Anonymous says:
June 30, 2021 at 4:11 pm
lol go away
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Anonymous says:
December 29, 2021 at 11:19 pm
Well, don’t listen to it.
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Lilli says:
March 30, 2022 at 10:14 pm
This setting literally talks about her and Chris brown. If u weren’t alive at that time your comment would makes sense, but since you’re inconsiderate, you would write something like that. The song talks about her abusive relationship with Chris Brown that’s why she’s so “vulgar” (and all of that vulgarity is passion and flavor) in this masterpiece. Young girls like myself LOVEEEEEEE this song and we get the message behind it too. You should learn the message behind this song before you ever say something like this.
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da duppy conqueror says:
August 23, 2022 at 5:17 am
girl shut up and go to hell. aint nobody worried about/ need your commentary. you couldn’t write a song like this if the letters were spelled out and already on the page. shame on you for being a bitter harlot
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Srg says:
October 29, 2022 at 12:40 am
b–ch please
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Anonymous says:
May 25, 2023 at 8:13 am
VOETSEK WENA
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Anonymous says:
July 31, 2021 at 6:36 pm
Love, love, LOVE this song!
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Diggity says:
October 17, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Pimp Daddy hits his girl. Without love he feeds his ego with a marathon between the sheets. His eyes never open. Girl thinks this is love. It’s a common illness with both men & women. It’s a sickness that never ends well. Whoever wrote it lives it?. Impressionable young women will justify this kind of behavior with this song. Shame
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James says:
April 21, 2022 at 7:23 pm
So. My oldest sister loved to write music. 5 years after her divorce – from a VERY abusive marriage – I heard her sing this song in the studio. She swore several times, and it really caught me off guard. (I think I was about 11 at the time)
Afterwards, when she realized that I heard the recording, she asked what I thought.
“Well Betty, it sounded like you were being very judgemental”
Her response, :James. I wasn’t being judgemental. That song was just my way of saying how I felt after Dave and I split up. Music gives me a chance to express that.
Bottom line – ya. This is definetly Rihannas way of expressing her good-bad- very bad relationship with Chris.
If you wanna judge her for that, please reevaluate and don’t think like the 11 year old boy mind that I did.Reply
gaga says:
June 11, 2022 at 1:53 am
Hahaha don’t listen to this song if your not comfortable,
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Ah-ah-ah-OW says:
July 18, 2022 at 3:26 am
Hate has physical side effects. Be careful. And f*ck your censorship
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Daniel says:
October 8, 2022 at 9:13 am
.. those first few comments are broke, uneducated bi-ches, who probably get called, “Karen,” by their neighbors, smh .. I’m a writer, and you’re having difficulties posted your unwanted thoughts .. the song is dope, -and I think it’s also dope that she is comfortable with herself and her voice to throw in words like, “F–k,” -I mean sh-t, I love that f—ing word .. I bet you go to church every Sunday and then sit at the dinner table Sunday evening talking sh-t and spreading hate and negativity .. dumb a– bi–hes, smh .. I’ve got nothing more to say besides this, “F— outta here,” broke hoe, and B.I.G. up to Rihanna for this dope track with a classy ass feel .. I’m done, -and you’re welcome ..
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Rox says:
November 5, 2022 at 9:21 pm
My daughter’s and I love this song! There’s nothing wrong by letting then listen to it either. It’s a really good song, she has a beautiful voice. Dignity you’re probably just one of those people who get offended by every little thing and has to complain for every little reason. It’s simple you don’t like the song then don’t listen to it And move on.
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Anonymous says:
June 24, 2023 at 7:08 am
Love, love this song. For those who don’t like it, then don’t listen to it. Rihanna…she’s the best!!!
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