"Love the Way You Lie"

"Love the Way You Lie" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his seventh studio album, Recovery (2010). It was released as the album's second single on August 9, 2010, by Interscope-Geffen-A&M. The song features vocals by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. According to her, the song's theme, domestic violence, is one that few people are conscious of, making it effective. In the mid-tempohardcore hip hop song, Eminem raps over an acoustic guitar and a piano as one half of an unstable love–hate relationship. Journalists have suggested that he references his ex-wife Kimberly Scott.

Eminem and his manager considered Rihanna after listening to a track that Alex da Kid produced, noting her to be ideal; Rihanna appreciated the song's theme, claiming it to be one she can reflect on. Eminem and Skylar Grey wrote the song with da Kid, who collaborated with Makeba Riddick for production. The recording sessions took place at Effigy Studios in Ferndale, Michigan and Sun Studios in Dublin. A multitude of recording artists have covered or remixed the song, including The Pretty Reckless, Cher Lloyd, Ariana Grande, Alex Feather Akimov and Rudiger. Rihanna recorded and released a sequel of the song for her album Loud, titled "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"; it is mostly narrated from the female perspective, unlike the original.

Critics commended "Love the Way You Lie" for Eminem's lyrics, da Kid's production and Rihanna's vocal performance. Publications listed the song among the best of 2010 and Eminem's work. The song peaked at number one on 25 charts worldwide, including the US BillboardHot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. It sold over five million copies in the United States and became the best-selling single of 2010 in the United Kingdom. "Love the Way You Lie" charted at number one on the year-end charts of Australia and the UK. It has earned Eminem six awards from 30 nominations around the world, including nominations for Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards and others.

In July 2010 Joseph Kahn directed the song's accompanying music video, for which Los Angeles was selected as the setting. He hired thespians Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox to play the starring roles of a love–hate relationship. The video also depicts Eminem and Rihanna in front of a burning house. Although Kahn commended Fox's acting and appearance, explicit imagery that suggests domestic violence sparked controversy. Speculation initially arose from fans and critics that the video is based on the relationships of Eminem and Rihanna with Scott and Chris Brown, respectively. "Love the Way You Lie" has been performed on eight occasions, including Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010, the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and Lollapalloza, among others.

[Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that’s alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
 
[Eminem]
I can’t tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now there’s a steel knife in my windpipe
I can’t breathe but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right it’s like I’m in flight
High off of love, drunk from my hate
Its like I’m huffing paint
And I love it the more that I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I’m about to drown she resuscitates me
She fucking hates me and I love it, wait
Where you going, I’m leaving you
No you ain’t, come back
We’re running right back
Here we go again, it’s so insane
Cause when it’s going good it’s going great
I’m superman with the wind at his back, she’s Lois Lane
But when it’s bad it’s awful I feel so ashamed, I snapped
Who’s that dude I don’t even know his name
I laid hands on her, I’ll never stoop so low again
I guess I don’t know my own strength
 
[Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that’s alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie
 
[Eminem]
You ever love somebody so much
You can barely breathe when you’re with ‘em
You meet and neither one of you even know what hit ‘em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah them chills used to get ‘em
Now you’re getting fucking sick at lookin at ‘em
You swore you’d never hit ‘em
Never do nothing to hurt ‘em
Now you’re in each others face
Spewing venom in your words when you spit ‘em
You push, pull each other’s hair, scratch, claw
Bit ‘em, throw ‘em down, pin ‘em
So lost in the moments when you’re in them
It’s the craze that the corporate controls you both
So they say it’s best to go your seperate ways
Guess they don’t know you
Cause today, that was yesterday
Yesterday is over, it’s a different day
Silent broken records playing over
But you promised her next time you’ll show restrain
You don’t get another chance
Life is no nintendo game, but you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave out the window
I guess that’s why they call it window pane
 
[Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that’s alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie
 
[Eminem]
Now I know we said things
Did things that we didn’t mean
And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine
But your temper is just as bad is mine is
You’re the same as me
When it comes to love you’re just as blinded
Baby, please come back it wasn’t you maybe it was me
Maybe our relationship isn’t as crazy as it seems
Maybe that’s what happens when a tornado meets a valcano
All I know is I love you too much to walk away though
Come inside, pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don’t you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk?
Told you this is my fault, look in the eyeball
Next time I’m pissed I’ll aim my fist at the drywall
Next time, there won’t be no next time
I apologize even though I know it’s lies
I’m tired of the games I just wan

[Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that’s alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you liet her back
I know I’m a liar if she ever tries to fucking leave again
I’mma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire