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Verse-By-Verse Breakdown of “Guilty Love” and Analysis

I was chatting with some folks in the AA Discord about the official lyrics to “Guilty Love” and how it’s low-key a love song about Apollo, and I wanted to offer some meta analysis.

(You can listen here if wanted).

The first verse:

I found you in a stunning dress, I held you

You put your glass down and looked me in the eyes

“Where she we go now? JUST YOU AND ME”

But I can’t... I’m on my way to court.

Right off the bat, we’re introduced to a woman that Klavier is presumably dating. It’s worth noting that this probably isn’t a REAL woman — Klavier has mentioned in canon that his songs aren’t based in experiences — rather, she is a metaphorical girlfriend who represents his musical career, his fans, and, yes, his previous romantic relationships rolled into one. This girlfriend — that rockstar life — is stunning, but Klavier can’t give her the time she wants because he has court.

The second verse:

Turn the wheel left at the corner and there it is.

Your honor!

SO! Let’s get drunk on the thrill that’s about to start

Courthouse show!

I was going to have a SALTY DOG with you

But now I’m thristy for a glass of GUILTY DOG

Where’s the truth? To find your answer…

Go ask the wind!

This explains WHY Klavier is willing to leave behind his girlfriend. Court is a thrill for him. He addresses his girlfriend, saying he was going to have a “Salty Dog” (probably a reference to the popular alcoholic drink, which contextually makes the most sense) with her, but now he’s thirsty for a “Guilty Dog” — meaning, he wants to get a guilty verdict for criminals.

The last two lines in this verse are significant for reasons I’ll get more into later, but basically, this is the start of a repetition in which Klavier suggests they have to “ask the wind” for answers. There could be several interpretations for this, but regardless, asking “the wind” suggests there’s not going to be a clear answer. The truth is hard to find, after all!

The third verse:

This evening, I held a guitar in one hand

And took your hand with mine

Now I’ll sing you a love ballad JUST SONG FOR YOU

But I can’t… I’m on my way to a crime scene

This is a thematic repetition of the first verse. Again, Klavier chooses to leave behind romancing his girlfriend in favor of his judicial responsibilities.

The fourth verse:

Go down the stairs to the dance floor, and there’s…

A crime scene investigation!

SO! The Evidence, testimony, and dead body

Looks like they’ll start dancing!

Gazing up at the MILKY WAY with you

I’m praying for a GUILTY BREAK

What is the truth?

To find your answer… Go ask the wind!

The beginning of this verse is basically Klavier’s artistic manner of describing a crime scene at a dance club, with all the evidence and testimony and the body itself coming together in a “dance” as they try to uncover the truth. Then, Klavier sings about stargazing with his girlfriend; except, rather than thinking of her, he’s thinking of how he can get a guilty verdict for the criminal. Finally, Klavier repeats the wind lyrics from the second verse.

The fifth verse:

In the depths of darkness (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

Reveal the truth behind the crime (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

The journey to the next world is so far (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

And the shadow is wandering (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

I’ll search for the light, for the sake of your future

All this speaks to Klavier’s values as a prosecutor. Klavier is unique in the games in that, from the very beginning, he’s only concerned with the truth rather than win records, and that’s emphasized here with the phrase “reveal the truth.” He also talks about searching “for the light” (i.e. “truth”) “for the sake of your future.” This indicates that law is also important to Klavier, simply, because he wants to protect the innocent from having their futures cut short — whether by murder, false accusations, etc.

We also have the song title drop (at least in the Japanese version, which is “Love Love Guilty”). The main interpretation here in the context of the bridge is that Klavier is in love with the law and his job as a prosecutor versus his actual girlfriend.

The sixth verse:

Even those tears look beautiful on you

The day we part will come eventually

Let’s do it over if we can JUST YOU AND ME

But I can’t… I’m on my way to court

Klavier’s girlfriend is crying because he’s going to break up with her (“the day we part will come eventually”). Taking into account that the girlfriend is actually a partial metaphorical representation of his musical career and fans, this part also foreshadows Klavier breaking up the band to prosecute full-time. Even when he does suggest that maybe they could try the relationship over again later, he falls back on the exception that he can’t because he’s too dedicated to the law.

The seventh verse:

Turn the wheel left at the corner and there it is.

Your honor!

SO! Let’s get drunk on the thrill that’s about to start Courthouse show!

I was going to have a SALTY DOG with you

But now I’m thristy for a glass of GUILTY DOG

Where’s this love headed? To find your answer…

Go ask the wind…

... Or better yet, go ask Herr Forehead!

[Apollo] OBJECTION!

This is a verbatim repetition of the second verse — with a key difference. Instead of posing the question “What is the truth?” Like he did in V2 and V4, he asks, “Where is this love headed?”

Klavier suggests asking the wind again... and then adds, “Or better yet, go ask Herr Forehead!”

This part is entirely why I say “Guilty Love” is a love song about Apollo when taking the context into account. It’s telling that Klavier doesn’t suggest Apollo has the answers to the truth (which would make sense if he did — the two “discover” the truth in court together). No, instead, he suggests Apollo has the answer to where Klavier’s relationship with his girlfriend is headed.

Klavier already implied in the previous verse that his relationship with his girlfriend is ending — and why? Because he’s in love with Apollo Justice. So, “Herr Forehead” doesn’t so much have the answer as to “where this love” between Klavier and his girlfriend is headed as much as he IS the answer. Klavier’s basically telling his girlfriend it’s not going to work out because there is someone else.

The inclusion of Apollo’s OBJECTION voice clip is probably just a little easter egg (both in meta and in-universe), but Klavier could also be using it to suggest Apollo’s answer to the question of where “this love [between Klavier and his girlfriend] is headed” would be to “object” to Klavier being in love with said girlfriend. (Knowing Apollo, this probably wouldn’t be the case, but it’s important to remember it’s KLAVIER writing the lyrics and weaving this story together).

The final verse:

No one can predict it (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

Which way the ruling will go (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

The sins people commit (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

Who will judge them? (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

In the depths of darkness (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

Reveal the truth behind the crime (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

The journey to the next world is so far (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

A shadow is wandering (LOVE LOVE GUILTY)

I’ll search for the light

LOVE LOVE GUILTY!

Klavier ends the song by returning to the song’s bridge and again stating his resolve to find the truth, in spite of the difficulties, cementing that he is in a love affair with the law (and Apollo) rather than his music (and his girlfriend).

Final Thoughts: Overall, “Guilty Love” is about Klavier’s internal conflict whether he should choose between his life as a rockstar or his job as a prosecutor — and ultimately, he does chose the law, and this is true in canon as well.

Yet, Klavier’s choice to represent that rockstar lifestyle through a symbolic girlfriend is interesting and would be entirely unnecessary if it was just a song about how much Klavier loves the law. It’s not, though. By bringing Apollo into the equation, he brings the romantic metaphor full circle, and the song also becomes about a love-triangle between Klavier, his girlfriend, and Apollo.

He chooses Apollo.

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honestly, cutest thing ever

Yesterday my little brother told me something very sweet and touching, that when he was a kid and had nightmares about monsters chasing him or whatever he would be able to end the nightmare by finding me in the dream and I would protect him by fighting off the zombies, or carrying him away. This is adorable, and makes me feel like the greatest older sibling in the world, but the hilarious thing is that when I was a kid I had nightmares of needing to save him from zombies and such. so many dreams where he was in trouble and I needed to save him. Like my nightmares began where his ended. Low key I think he mastered the ability to psychically transfer his nightmare to me as a child and I'm kind of annoyed with him.

“I am afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it – and that’s all I’ve got.”

— Sabrina Ward Harrison