Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clover conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

Overall Meaning

In Cleo Laine's "Just the Way You Are," she sings about accepting someone exactly as they are, flaws and all. In the first verse, she pleads with her partner not to change in order to please her. She assures him that he has never let her down before and that she wouldn't leave him in times of trouble. She is happy to take the good times with the bad, as long as he remains himself.

In the second verse, she continues to implore him not to change. She tells him that she doesn't want him to try new fashion or change his hair color because she loves him just the way he is. She doesn't want to put in too much effort to understand or converse with him; she simply wants someone to talk to, and that someone is him.

In the final verse, Laine emphasizes the importance of the consistency of their relationship. She needs to know that he will always be the same person she fell in love with. She also expresses her unwavering love for him, promising that she couldn't love him any better than she already does.

Overall, "Just the Way You Are" is a testament to the power of unconditional love and acceptance. Laine sings passionately about the beauty of loving someone exactly as they are, without trying to change them.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't go changing, to try and please me
I don't want you to change to make me happy

You never let me down before
I have always been able to count on you

Don't imagine you're too familiar
Don't assume you know everything about me

And I don't see you anymore
I don't see you as often as I would like

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
I will always be there for you when things get tough

We never could have come this far
Our relationship has lasted this long because we accept each other as we are

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I love you no matter what happens in our lives

I'll take you just the way you are
I love you for who you are, not who you could be

Don't go trying some new fashion
You don't have to change your style to impress me

Don't change the color of your hair
I love your hair color just the way it is

You always have my unspoken passion
I have a deep love for you that I may not always express

Although I might not seem to care
Just because I don't always show it, doesn't mean I don't care

I don't want clover conversation
I want to have meaningful conversations with you

I never want to work that hard
I don't want our conversations to be a struggle

I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you to be the person I can always confide in

I want you just the way you are.
I love you for exactly who you are

I need to know that you will always be
I need to know that you will always be there for me

The same old someone that I knew
I love the person you are and don't want you to change

What will it take till you believe in me
I want you to trust me and my love for you

The way that I believe in you.
I wholeheartedly believe in your love and trust for me

I said I love you and that's forever
My love for you will never fade

And this I promise from the heart
I promise you this from the deepest part of my being

I could not love you any better
I love you with all that I have and nothing could be better than that

I love you just the way you are.
I love you for who you are and wouldn't want you to change a thing

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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