I Want Candy
Bert Berns Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go on without you
It's so bad to be alone
Oh baby come home
I need you (yes I do now)
My room is so blue
I keep seein' your face
Oh, every place
Of my lonely room
I hold her handkerchief
And smell her sweet perfume
Oh, oh, oh I can't stand to (no, no, no)
Live on without you
Oh my darlin' hear my plea
C'mon back to me
Here in the gloom
Of my lonely room
I hold her handkerchief
And smell her sweet perfume
Oh, I can't stand to
Live on without you
Oh my darlin' hear my plea
C'mon back to me (I don't want to go on without you)
I don't want to, I don't wanna baby (I don't want to go on without you)
Sure I don't wanna, I don't wanna
The lyrics to Bert Berns's song, "I Want Candy," are not reflective of the title or the upbeat, catchy melody. Instead, the lyrics express a deep longing and sadness for a lost love. The singer is pleading for their partner to return, as they are unable to function without their presence. The line, "I don't want to go on without you," is the most poignant and direct expression of the singer's desperation. The use of the word "gloom" to describe the singer's surroundings sets a melancholic tone, reinforced by the blue-colored room and the lingering scent of the absent partner's perfume on their handkerchief. All of these details paint a vivid picture of the singer's heartbreak, and the rawness of the lyrics makes them relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain of loss or separation.
Despite the somber nature of the lyrics, "I Want Candy" remains an enduring and popular song. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Bow Wow Wow and Aaron Carter, and has been prominently featured in movies and TV shows such as "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Stranger Things." The song's catchy melody and distinctive drumbeat have made it a staple on radio stations and at dance parties.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to
The singer expresses his unwillingness to continue existing without his beloved.
Go on without you
The singer is addressing his love and saying he cannot continue without them.
It's so bad to be alone
The singer is acknowledging the fact that being alone is a difficult situation to be in.
Oh baby come home
The singer is pleading with his love to return to him.
I need you (yes I do now)
The singer is expressing his need for his love and how essential they are in his life.
My room is so blue
The singer is describing the feeling of sadness and loneliness that has taken over his living space.
I keep seein' your face
The singer is haunted by the thoughts and memories of his love.
Oh, every place
The singer sees reminders of his love everywhere he goes, making it difficult to escape their memory.
Here in the gloom
The singer is in a dark, somber state of mind and surroundings.
Of my lonely room
The singer is emphasizing the isolation he feels in his room.
I hold her handkerchief
The singer is holding onto a physical reminder of his love, symbolizing his longing for their presence.
And smell her sweet perfume
The singer is using scent as a way to further connect him to his love and to keep their memory alive.
Oh, oh, oh I can't stand to (no, no, no)
The singer is expressing how unbearable life is without his love, and how he cannot tolerate this feeling.
Live on without you
The singer is stating that he cannot go on without his love beside him.
Oh my darlin' hear my plea
The singer is addressing his love with affection and is begging them to listen to his plea.
C'mon back to me
The singer is urging his love to return to him, emphasizing how much he wants their presence.
Sure I don't wanna, I don't wanna baby (I don't want to go on without you)
The singer is repeating his unwillingness to continue living without his beloved, further emphasizing his desperation for them to return.
Lyrics © ROBERT MELLIN LIVING TRUST
Written by: JERRY WEXLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind