To Make You Love Me
Alexander O´Neal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

No I didn't write the book on love
But I try my best to read it everyday
To learn the way to a good girls heart
By being a gentleman

So, I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me
So won't you please tell me

What can I say to make you love me girl?

Playin' games of hide and seek
The answer keeps evading me
I don't know where to look and to find
The answer, oh wee baby

I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me
So won't you please tell me
What can I say to make you love me girl?
What can I say?

What should I do?
What should I be?
What should I say to make you love me?

From the day that answer comes
Baby you'll be the one
Girl gonna be the one I love, the one I love

To find a way to make you love me girl
I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me

I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me
So won't you please tell me
What can I say to make you love me girl?

I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me
So won't you please tell me
What can I say to make you love me

Need a way to make you love me
A way to make it right
Girl I know you need me
It's got to be alright

I don't know where to look and to find
The answer

I am lookin' high and low
To find a way to make you love me

So won't you please tell me
What can I say to make you love me

Overall Meaning

In "To Make You Love Me," Alexander O'Neal sings about his attempts to win over a girl's heart. He admits to not being an expert on love but claims to learn every day by being a gentleman. Despite his efforts to find a way to make her love him, the answer eludes him, and he continues to search high and low. O'Neal's plea for guidance on what to say or do to make her love him highlights his desperation to win her heart.

The song's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. O'Neal humbly admits that he is not a love expert, but he tries his best to read about it every day. This acknowledgment suggests that he is willing to put in the necessary work to win over this girl. However, the song's chorus reveals that his efforts have not been successful, and he is still looking for a way to make her love him. The verse where O'Neal says, "From the day that answer comes, baby you'll be the one / Girl gonna be the one I love, the one I love" reveals that he is committed to finding a way to win her over, no matter how long it takes.

Despite his unrelenting efforts, the answer continues to evade him, and he does not know where to look to find it. The phrase "playin' games of hide and seek" suggests that he is searching for the solution but is unable to find it. The repetition of the line "what can I say to make you love me, girl?" throughout the song emphasizes O'Neal's desperation for guidance on how to win her over.

Line by Line Meaning

No I didn't write the book on love
I'm not an expert in love

But I try my best to read it everyday
But I'm doing my best to learn more about it

To learn the way to a good girls heart
To understand what good girls like and what makes them happy

By being a gentleman
By treating them with kindness, respect and chivalry

So, I am lookin' high and low
I am searching everywhere

To find a way to make you love me
To figure out how to make you feel romantic feelings towards me

So won't you please tell me
Please give me a hint or a clue

What can I say to make you love me girl?
What words can I use to make you have feelings of love and attraction towards me?

Playin' games of hide and seek
It feels like the answer is hiding from me

The answer keeps evading me
The solution keeps escaping me

I don't know where to look and to find
I'm not sure where to search for the answer

The answer, oh wee baby
The solution, my dear

What should I do?
What actions should I take?

What should I be?
What kind of person should I be?

What should I say to make you love me?
What words or phrases should I use to make you feel romantic love towards me?

From the day that answer comes
Once I figure that out

Baby you'll be the one
You'll be the one that I am in love with

Girl gonna be the one I love, the one I love
You'll be the one I'm in love with

Need a way to make you love me
I need a method or a strategy to make you feel love towards me

A way to make it right
A solution to fix what's wrong

Girl I know you need me
I understand that you need me in your life

It's got to be alright
Everything will turn out fine in the end

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, JAMES HARRIS III, TERRY LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Shaund1978

3y↑29

Such a feel good song, big love for this guy. 80’s legend. Music that will last a lifetime 🙏🏽💙

CHARLES BUCKNER

7y↑138

Alexander O'Neal one of the all-time greatest

Bluenose 47

Yes it was a great album and helped shape the 80s but to say one of the greatest is way off the mark. I did love this album but sorry mate don't agree with your comment

Jane Oxford

3y↑3

@Bluenose 47 why come and comment then , my man is r and b

ANTHONY HAWKINS

@Jane Oxford get stuffed

Michele Bethel

I believe it's the 1 of the few. I hear you. 👂😇

4 More Replies...

Bev P

9y↑47

I am 34 and I remember my parents listening to Alexander O'Neal and I still love him!!

Dominic Mabia

1y↑1

wow, youre 42 now, classic

Capri

11y↑25

Song always puts me in a good mood. The horns, the chorus, and Jam & Lewis in general are all top-notch here.

MICHAEL WOOTEN

7y↑243

I want the 80's to come back sooooo badly. Just about everything was so much better back then.

Sidney Atkins

7y↑18

MICHAEL WOOTEN Bruno Mars is a close as we going to get to the 80s playa

325iaddict

7y↑5

INDEED! No matter if you look at music, cars or clothing: EVERYTHING was better those days... I want them back also!!

Elia Gottardi

6y↑1

MICHAEL WOOTEN yeah I want the 80 s !!!!!!

Johan Zel

100% truth

19 More Replies...

Mortis xx

10y↑91

One of the best albums ever. Staring with this classic, moving into two growers (Hearsay and The Lovers) before exploding into Fake. All tied togethe with dialogues and bridgesr. It's an absolute masterpiece.

OjosAzules 88

10y↑44

Absolute legend, this for me sums up the quality of the 80s and early 90s music scene compared to the absolute junk coming out of of "x factor" type shows today

Michael Sinski

Absolutely 🙏

KeithofRoss

11y↑21

The "Hearsay" album was a masterpiece! I liked the "skits" in-between songs that made it seem as thought the whole album took place during one night at a party. It was kinda like watching a movie. Awesome!

StarX81

12y↑12

"Hearsay" is the #1 R&B album of 1987. It was all over the place back then!

FetishMan2012

11y↑19

This was the " Thriller" album of Alex's career !

Albano

eu definitivamente adoro essa música e
esse som, é tudo de bom, viajo em meus pensamentos, imaginando a realização de sonhos impossíveis 😄 essa música me alegra, me inspira e me faz felíz, Alexander Oneal é sem dúvidas um dos meus cantores preferidos 🏝 suas músicas são especiais 💙

Dave Robinson

7y↑27

I saw Alexander o neal in Wrexham at the age of 63 and is still a phenomenal singer

JPM

6y↑1

Was there too M8!.🎤💿

Jan Thomson

5y↑1

Saw him at Indigo 02 last night. Just fab.

Marie Sims

Yes Is

Joannie Trotter

7y↑22

One of my fave albums of the 80's. Memories!

musiclover3928

11y↑14

A very good album?!! The album "Hearsay" is a masterpiece!!

Flamingo

2y↑3

So manny memories..such a great time. This fantastic album brings it all back!! 🖤

dolphinated

11y↑9

My freshman year in college....man this cd was so well done and this song didn't receive the love it deserved.

Robert Mckee

8y↑54

The perfect Sunday afternoon jam...accompanied with a special beverage.

Sidney Atkins

8y↑3

that's the vibe Im on playa

Rosana Davila

Absolutely, I danced to it this Sunday… Class Reunion! 💃

westeyes1111

7y↑4

JJ & TL brought the heat for this one. One of the best LPs of the 80's

Jade Deveraux

5y↑4

This album reminds me of my senior year in high school. Good times, good music. Nothing compares to old school jams

Tinsby

9y↑25

One of so many kick ass club tunes from Alexander! Love it!

Jay Harris

5y↑5

what a song from a brilliant uplifting album always makes me feel good, still sounds amazing today as it did 30 years ago 👌

Bee Vee

4y↑3

One of my favorite songs from the album Hearsay

Buzz Davis

8y↑34

Monster kick ass groove from a superior album. A-Game Alex.

Dan 1

7y↑3

Right one , Shit these days do not compare!!!

Jan Thomson

9y↑11

I never tire of seeing him perform live! He the man.

Howard Radford

13y

I was stationed in Germany; and I played his whole cd to death. Saw him in concert in Fayetteville North Crolina, loved it all. Deep respect for him and Jimmy Jamm and Terry Lewis. Their music helped shape my life

Travis Wooten

Such a classic album from the 80's. Alex, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis crushed this, every song a hit.

KRISTIAN KANE ASHFORD

10y↑17

Alexander and Luther smashed it all over the place in the 80's. no doubt I even have their albums now, you cant make it like this any more, if it happens I will gladly listen and expand my horizons..

Lord Papi Darkwing

Can anyone deny the 70s through to the late 90s was entirely black folks era. If you find any bad tunes I guarantee the other side of the scale would bring down the entire house

Darren Lockyer

KRISTIAN ASHFORD it won't happen mate

Hold This L. Debarge

7y↑2

White people had some monster tunes too in those eras..Im Black & know this much

Jarrel Ely

KRISTIAN ASHFORD Alexander O'Neal vs the gap band?

jannine Owen

8y↑7

Can't beat the 80's for real music!

Sidney Atkins

8y↑1

you can say dat 2wice

Arpen Tucker

5y↑1

man - can't
recall how many times I had this on repeat in the 80s !

StarSTORM

9y↑59

Don't have to hit the skip button unless I want to hear a specific song; I like Every track on this album.

MM's iPhone Vinyls

5y↑6

StarSTORM im very picky, and i think its the only album in the world where i can listen to every track without wanting to skip

Jan Thomson

5y↑3

Me too.

Jane Oxford

Proper album x

Jane Oxford

3y↑1

Alicia Hale Saturday night x

Sophie Durndell

sitting on the deck inOz a long way from myUK hometown,looking out over the ocean with this banging thru my headphones, cucumber vodka&a ton of memories-my dad blasted this before takin my mum out on Sat nites💘

ChicanoGodfather

12y

easily 1 of the best albums of all time!!! Alex has always been underrated. 1 of my favorite 3 singers of all time.

Annette Ross

11y

This was definitely music in the 80s. I love all of Alexander O'Neal's songs.

Lynette Miller

3y↑2

Almost forgot how GOOD this album is!

Curtis Brown

8y↑8

Love this type of music
better than todays' music

Anita De Vries

4y↑2

I have this album on vinyl since it came out. Still love it, and this is my favorite song

Colin Stenning

15y

Wow!!! What a brilliant song this was by Alexander. Another 80s classic.

knick fan

11y↑2

I love this brother. Everytime I'm in my truck I jam to this brother all day long this is music you can enjoy

Gail Brown

3y↑6

No I didn't write the book on love but I try to read it everyday love this man and this song

Mike Curtis

8y↑12

Alexander appeared at a time - and what a time it was !

The great 80s, and he had as his contemporaries names like Barry, Freddie, Kashif, Luther and Teddy - ALL great fantastic singers who forever leave their own special mark on this very special time and genre. However, he eclipsed them all !

In a comparatively few number of works, his personal MAGIC put him as the king of the era. It was an era of the male singer, the wonderful ladies of the time were paired with the great men as the men were the powerhouses.
It was a VERY special time in my life, to be forever cherished. Thank you Alexander, as you have impacted my life beyond words, and I know my voice is not alone. You are the greatest of a very great era. Thank you.

Pamela Green

7y↑1

Mike Curtis

Mark Rees

Very much indeed Sir.

joel7279

3y↑6

Here in Coronavirus 2020, this album still rocks

Frayed Ends

2y↑3

It wouldn't be the 80's without AO!! Awesome era!!

JONNOG88

15y

You can never have to much of Alexander He is so underated.

Loran Frank

3y↑3

Also this showed how versatile Jimmy & Terry sound production techniques were SOS Band, Change New Edition Herb Alpert Janet Jackson etc they are the blues Brothers of funk soul R&B

Ms. V

4y↑6

Still jamming to this in 2020!

Joelson Fonseca Mathias Joelson

I'm always listening to this,yet or better,i haven't stopped listening !!!!!

Martin Rosin

5y↑1

Still one of the best Dance Records 🕺

alkzu kilic

Alex is one of the greatest of all the time ! The Music in the 80s was sooo much better than today ! Many Songs for eternity !

Michelle Sinda

such a fine song...memories of my youth justified...King of Soul....outstanding artist

markyhitch

11y

Alex is, and always will be, my fave soul singer.

frankgarrettness

3y↑8

This song needs to be in Beverly Hills Cop 4. During the ritual scene of Axel driving through neighborhoods after touching down. Except this time he's coming back to Detroit after years out west. This song could help make that movie and Alexander Oneal has always needed to be on a Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack!!!

Galaxy🤣 Has Fleas

6y↑7

Alexander's best.. Soooo miss the 80s

MrBbw69

11y

alexander and charelle were and still are my favorites of all time along with the sos band i could listen to them no stop for hours and never get tired of it. just simple good music

Kevin Prater

3y↑5

He was in beast mode here! He beasted the sh*t out of this song!

Love Peace Prosperity

7y↑2

Great jam! A classic! The quality and creativity of music production in the 80s was amazing! Be blessed my 80s music lovers!

lovely1

7y↑6

One of my top 10 hits...Go Alex💃💃

Ron C

15y

I applaud your ear for music, oh God what can I say I was a couple of years out of high school when this came out and I must tell you I lived the best years of my young life during the 70's and 80's cause of great music like this. The radio stations would play nothing but jams but all of a sudden things just faded away, but the good thing is you have youtube and your able to hear all these classic jams.

Anthony

This dude is so underrated, how is that possible

Marcelo Fiorin

4y↑3

Música de qualidade forte abraço Deus abençoe sempre nossas vidas

Estevao Silva

Parabenz pelo bom gosto

Emily Guzman

6y↑1

I love this album. I was 12yrs. Old when I got Hearsay tape an the who tape was good... Alexander is unique 1 of a kind. All his music is good. #Thetime #JimmyJam&TerryLewisgotthemidastouch.

maria adele

11y↑2

I go to sleep listening to this; when I am stressed out; it is great to listen too. Too get distressed. love the album

Sidney Brown

7y↑1

The best underrated jam from Alexander O'Neal ever!!! Shouts out to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for producing another 80's smash hit!

hilltopboots

12y↑1

Alex said it best, "I don't sing great, I'm a great singer!"

S P ▲ C 3 N I N J ▲

15y

WOW!!!!! I was a kid but my mom used to play all the r&b hit radio stations in NYC, this song got heavy play in the projects, that's for the flashback! I miss those days....

Cardell Wade

Just like his debut release album, this one to grabbed me, and spoke to how a real man feels towards the woman that he loves and loved. My Family & Friend did it again!! :-)

Owen Lloyd

15y↑1

I love the Minneapolis Sound. This was the best in the eighties.

BC

9y↑31

Another Jam & Lewis production. Love that era. Great stuff!

Rose Davila

2y↑3

One ( 1) of my favorites on that 💃 dance floor... 90's

StarX81

14y

The BEST R&B album of 1987!

Joanne Hines

That Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis magic!! One of the greatest albums of my lifetime!! 💘 My Dude, Alex!!

Michael Lewis

11y↑1

This is Soul at it's finest.

Miss Parsley

I'll say it on behalf of the millions of all fans all over the world : I LOVE YOU ALEXANDER O'NEAL ! ❤️❤️❤️🕺💃💯💯

Mark Ricks

14y↑1

I bough this CD before i had a CD player. It's TIMELESS!

Miss Johnson

11y

Just another awesome tune from an awesome vocalist!!

Valarie broughton

6y↑1

Oh my when this song would come on, it would put a smile on my face. I had to get my groove on!

drbend69

8y↑22

A smile from you could bring happiness to anyones face

David Trump

drbend69 Hi

David Trump

I like, you're smile!

Mitch Grube

8y↑7

WHAT A CLASSIC LOVE LOVE IT

Simba Rutimu

7y↑84

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis production. these guys were the best in the game

Emily Guzman

6y↑6

Simba Rutimu right they got the midas touch.

Tony David

6y↑1

Simba Rutimu fo' sho!

Marie Sims

4y↑1

Still Is

Stephen Cross

3y↑1

Fabulous, jam and lewis.

Sidney Atkins

3y↑1

STILL IS

1 More Replies...

Pauline Achieng

8y↑34

Love the song to moon and back

MICHAEL WOOTEN

X3.............and X4 lol

Jan Thomson

I sing it myself often and even whistle the tune.

Marie Sims

Me Too

lviabobby

13y

i love this song. straight up anthem

Steve Dines

13y↑1

one of the greatest songs ever ... and u can dance to it too!

Stephenqpr

14y

what a voice, a fantastic range, a smooth operator...

B-O-D

8y↑37

this song speaks for the heart broken men

Miriam Leslie

2y↑3

THIS IS MY JAM BACK INTHE80S LOVE 💘❤💕♥💖💗💘❤

Gregg731

12y

This is definitely his BEST song

Benny King

4y↑1

His music makes me think great things

Sylvester Otiato

7y↑1

it never goes out of tune.

Joanne Hines

This whole.album is " The.Real Deal"!! Will always.be.DIAMOND.in my.book!! 💘 🎶 😍 🎼 💎 👗 💃 🎤

fizza64

14y

what a song...classic

Vanessa Lang

I love this music, good for the soul :)

Raivis Kalnins

8y↑22

back to 80's - golden Age of music. :)

Renan Fontes

11y↑1

FILHO,MUITO BOMMM!!!!!

Estevao Silva

E bota bom nisto kkkkkkk

Sam Cummings

Brilliant song, takes me back to the, 80's👍

LMW72MBA

9y↑10

Just love this song

Susan Prescott

Pure gold. Love this.

Christopher Scott Dixon

TY for the upload, great track & great production, loved it back in 1987, love it still & always will, a fantastic album & one of my favorite male vocalists. :-)