The Guitarist Tunes Up Love Quotes

When we get to this simile comparing the guitar player and his guitar to a couple in love, it's pretty easy to start imagining the couple and kind of forget about that guy with the guitar. The lovers, in a sense, take over the poem. Let's face it. Romantic love is just way more interesting than guitar tuning. If you don't believe Shmoop try this: how many reality television shows can you name that are directly or indirectly about love (or at least hooking up)? Just about all of them, right? Now, how many are about tuning instruments? Case closed. Love wins.

Okay. It's honesty time. Have you ever, in the noble pursuit of love, pretended that what someone had to say was far more interesting or funnier than it actually was? Why do we do that? Well, Shmoop thinks it's because we want that other person to like us and to know we like them. It gives the relationship a chance to get to the next step. Sound familiar? That's basically what's going down in lines 6 and 7. She is saying "slight," or trivial, small things and he is acting as if they are "essential." He is just delighted to be there, talking to her, hoping that if he hangs on every word, he might have the chance to take things to the next level.

Looks like all that careful listening, hanging on every word, pays off. The lovers, "he and she," start "to play." You can read this "play" lots of different ways. It could be the game of courtship and flirting, or it could be something more, well, physical. But wait! Don't forget that guitar player and his guitar (see, Shmoop was right, you did forget, didn't you?). The she and he literally refer to the guitar player and his guitar, and what they "play" is, duh, music. Don't feel bad if you kind of forgot that the whole lovers thing was just a simile. After all, love is blind, and forgetful.