A pesar de que la potente voz de Tina Turner influye bastante en el peso emocional de la canción, la lírica cuenta también con elementos valiosos que permiten que el oyente pueda sentirse identificado con la situación que está siendo narrada. A grandes rasgos, esta composición habla de una mujer que está a punto de comenzar una nueva relación amorosa; sin embargo, sufrió bastante \"amorosamente hablando\" anteriormente y teme aceptar este nuevo comienzo por el daño que puede ocasionarle.
You must understand Though the touch of your hand Makes my pulse react That it's only the thrill Of boy meeting girl Opposites attract It's physical Only logical You must try to ignore That it means more than that [Chorus:] What's love got to do, got to do with it What's love, but a second-hand emotion What's love got to do, got to do with it Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken It may seem to you That I'm acting confused When you're close to me If I tend to look dazed I read it some place I've got cause to be There's a name for it There's a phrase fits But whatever the reason You do it for me [Chorus] I've been taking on a new direction And I have to say I've been thinking 'bout my own protection It scares me to feel this way [Chorus] What's love got to do, got to do with it What's love, but a sweet old fashioned notion What's love got to do, got to do with it Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken