Lay Your Hands on Me
Bon Jovi Lyrics

(Hey)
A greeting to the listener.

They say that to really free your body
There is a belief that to have true freedom, one must free their mind and body.

You've got to free your mind
To achieve true freedom, one must clear their mind of all negativity and self-doubt.

So come on
An invitation to join in the process of freeing oneself.

(Hey, hey, hey)
Another greeting, this time with enthusiasm and energy.

Check this out (hey)
An invitation to listen closely to what is about to be said.

Lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me, lay your hands on me
A request for physical touch as a means to connect and comfort.

If you're ready, I'm willing and able
An agreement that the artist is prepared to help and is waiting for the listener's readiness.

Help me lay my cards out on the table
An appeal to the listener to help the artist be vulnerable and honest.

You're mine and I'm yours for the taking
An expression of desire to connect and belong to one another.

Right now the rules we've made are meant for breaking
An open-minded and flexible approach to relationships, willing to bend the rules as necessary.

What you get ain't always what you see
Appearances can be deceiving; sometimes things are not as they seem at first.

But satisfaction is guaranteed
Promise of fulfillment and joy from the connection between two individuals.

They say what you give is always what you need, whoa whoa
An expression of the belief in reciprocity and how relationships should work.

If you want me to lay my hands on you
A request to be physically close and to help each other feel better.

All you gotta do is
It's simple and easy if the listener is willing to follow the artist's lead.

I'm a fighter, I'm a poet, I'm a preacher
An expression of the multi-faceted nature of the artist's personality.

I've been to school and baby I've been the teacher
An indication of the singer's knowledge and experience in life and relationships.

If you show me how to get up off the ground
An appeal to the listener to help the singer when they're down and to be supportive during difficult times.

I can show you how to fly and never ever come back down
Offering guidance and support to help the listener achieve their potential and reach new heights.

Everything you want is what I need
The artist and listener's desires are aligned and they want the same things.

Your satisfaction is, uh, guaranteed
Another promise of fulfillment and joy from the connection between two individuals.

But the ride don't never ever come for free, no oh oh
Acknowledgement that good things take effort and the relationship requires work and sacrifice.

Now now now baby
A moment of playful intimacy and connection.

Don't you know I only aim to please?
An indication of the singer's desire to please their partner and bring them joy.

If you want me to lay my hands on you, whoa whoa whoa
Again, a request to be physically close and to help each other feel better.

(What you gotta do is)
An instruction or advice from a position of experience and understanding.

Lay your hands on me (lay on me)
A request for the listener to touch the artist's body and feel their connection.

Lay your hands on me (come on, come on, come on)
Encouragement to the listener to be more enthusiastic and adventurous in the relationship.

Lay your hands on me
Repetition of the request for physical touch and closeness.

(Everybody gonna help me now)
A call to action for everyone present to join in the experience and help each other feel better.

(I can feel the people sing)
An acknowledgement of the shared experience and energy in the room.

(I can feel my heart sing)
Expressing the artist's joy and fulfillment from the connection with the listener.

(if you wanna lay them on baby, come on now)
Another invitation and encouragement for the listener to engage in physical touch and intimacy.

Whoa oh oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh oh, lay your hands on me (if you want me to)
Repeating the chorus and the request for physical touch and intimacy.

Whoa oh oh oh oh (all you got do) whoa oh oh oh oh, lay your hands on me
Encouragement and reassurance that the relationship is easy if the listener is willing to engage and be intimate.

Remember (lay your hands on me)
An opportunity to reflect on the relationship and how it has progressed.

Well, move it on (lay your hands on me)
Encouragement to keep the relationship moving forward in a positive direction.

Oh, turn around, yeah (lay your hands on me)
An invitation to the listener to turn around and face the singer, to be more present and engaged.

Lay (lay your hands on me)
Returning to the core message and request of the song: to be physically close and comfort each other through touch.

(Lay your hands on me)
Repeating once more the request for the listener to touch the artist's body and make a connection.