America’s greatest record label and global music icon---MOTOWN. Who would have thought back in ’59, when Barrett Strong sang “Money (That’s What I Want)”, that Hitsville U.S.A., our beloved Motown, would become one of the most renowned, groundbreaking record labels in modern music history -- and that we would be celebrating with great affection its 50th Anniversary in 2009. From their incredible team of staff writers, producers and studio musicians, to the amazing galaxy of artists — Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Jackson 5, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Mary Wells, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and many more — Motown was, and still is, The Sound of Young America. The Motown Sound went worldwide in the 60s, and that sound still resonates today. With nearly 200 #1 songs worldwide, Motown’s hits continue to appear worldwide in commercials, TV shows and movies and remain an influence on today’s biggest pop and R&B stars. Imagine the musical landscape without the songs such as “My Girl”, “The Tracks of My Tears”, “You Are The Sunshine of My Life” and “What’s Going On”. These are the new standards. They represent the best of American culture worldwide. But Motown stands for more than just the music: it is a reflection of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve great success. Berry Gordy Jr., a young African American man, founded Motown Records with a loan of $800 from his family. Through determination and support of the Motown family of artists, Gordy forged new grounds for minorities and made the “Motown Sound” a worldwide phenomenon adored by millions. It’s an “only in America” story. And everyone can sing along.
I Want You Back
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just let me tell you now
Uh-huh
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms, uh-huh
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
(I want you back)
Forget what happened then (I want you back)
Let me live again
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cause
Get back what I lost
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
Baby (oh), baby (oh), baby (oh)
I want you back, ha
I want you back
In the opening lines of the song, the singer is regretting ignoring someone he had in his life, but took for granted. The person had a unique beauty that made them stand out in a crowd, and he didn’t appreciate their worth until they were out of his life. The singer is asking for another chance to show his love for the person and prove how much he needs them in his life, by begging for them to let him back in their heart.
In the second verse, the singer emphasizes the pain he is going through as a result of losing this person, stating that trying to live without them is one long, sleepless night. He goes on to say that he has left tear stains on the ground following the person because he now sees that he needs them, even though he didn’t want them before. The song concludes with the repetition of his plea for another chance to show his love, and the phrase “I want you back” repeated several times as the climax of his passionate begging.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh-huh, huh, huh
An emphatic sound indicating agreement or affirmation
Just let me tell you now
I want to share this information with you immediately
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
I didn't appreciate you when you were mine exclusively
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
Others were attracted to you because of your attractive appearance
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
However, someone recognized your worth and took you away with a single glance
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
It's too late for me to reconsider my decision to let you go
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
I am imploring you to grant me another opportunity to prove my affection for you
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Can you allow me to restore your love for me?
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
I see now how foolish I was to let you leave me
But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Seeing you with someone else has made me realize that I still want you
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
I am certain that I want to be with you again
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
My desire to be with you is strong
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
I am definitely sure that I want to be with you once again
Na, na, na, na
A rhythmic utterance with no particular meaning
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
I found it impossible to cope with life after we broke up
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
I want to demonstrate that I have the judgement to make good decisions
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Seeing you makes me so emotional that I leave visible signs of my distress
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Ironically, I find myself pursuing the same girl that I once ignored
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
I am asking for the opportunity to convince you that I am sincere
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
A nonsensical vocalization with a rhythmic pattern
All I want
My desire for you is singular
Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
I am begging for another opportunity to express my affection
Baby (baby)
An affectionate term of address
Forget what happened then (I want you back)
I am willing to overlook our past issues in the hope of being reunited
Let me live again
I feel like I am reawakening now that I see the possibility of a future with you
Spare me of this cause
I hope you will show me mercy and give me a break
Get back what I lost
I want to reclaim what I foolishly let slip away
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I truly require another opportunity to make things right
I tell ya that I love you
I am confessing my love for you
Ha
An exclamation of emotion
I want you back, ha
I want to be in a relationship with you again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
Hlo
@Aircronix
Imagine a 10 year old sounding better than most artist today
@philmstud2k
And dressing better
@micahbell3029
@@philmstud2k agreed
@Free5tarr
Dogged
@daliuslannister7821
True
@randomgamingstuff506
Because he's Michael Jackson lol
@unclegametheslimecat
This dude came out the womb spinning and singing like an angel. What an absolute ICON.
@milesjohnson5487
Ew !
@ToxPhy
Moonwalked into the world.