You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on, you've got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don't forget, it's me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too

Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh

I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
That much is true
But even then, I knew I'd find a much better place
Either with or without you
The five years we have had have been such good times
I still love you
But now, I think it's time I live my life on my own
I guess it's just what I must do

Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me? Oh
Don't you want me, baby?

Overall Meaning

The Human League's song "Don't You Want Me" is a tale of a power struggle in a romantic relationship. The song tells the story of a man who meets a woman while she was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, and he turns her into someone new. Five years later, the woman has become successful, but the man doesn't want her to forget that he's the one who put her where she is now, and he threatens to take her back down. The woman, however, has found her independence and decides that it's time for her to live her life on her own, even if that means leaving the man behind.

Line by Line Meaning

You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar
You occupied a job as a waitress in a cocktail bar

When I met you
That's the moment when we first crossed paths

I picked you out, I shook you up and turned you around
I helped you take control of your life and turn it around

Turned you into someone new
I contributed to this new version of yourself

Now five years later on, you've got the world at your feet
You're now very successful

Success has been so easy for you
You achieved this success with seemingly little effort

But don't forget, it's me who put you where you are now
You reached this success thanks to my contribution

And I can put you back down too
I also have the power to bring you back down

Don't, don't you want me?
Don't you still have feelings for me?

You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
I can't imagine that you don't want to see me

You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
I don't buy it when you claim you don't need me

It's much too late to find
It's too far along now to turn back time

You think you've changed your mind
You believe you've made a change in perspective

You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
You need to reverse that change or we both may regret it

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you desire me anymore, dear?

I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
I used to have a job as a waitress in a cocktail bar

That much is true
That's an accurate statement

But even then, I knew I'd find a much better place
At that time, I already knew that a better situation awaited me

Either with or without you
I could achieve that without relying on you

The five years we have had have been such good times
We had a great time together for the past 5 years

I still love you
Even now, I still have feelings for you

But now, I think it's time I live my life on my own
However, it's time for me to start living my life independently

I guess it's just what I must do
I have no choice but to do so

Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you still want to be with me, my love?

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