You Keep Me Hanging On
Booker T. & the MG's Lyrics
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Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Set me free why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really need me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa,
Yeah, yeah
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
The lyrics to Booker T. & the MG's's song "You Keep Me Hanging On" describe the frustration of being stuck in a relationship where the other person doesn't really love you and is just using you to satisfy their own needs. The singer pleads with his partner to set him free and get out of his life, but she keeps coming back, playing with his heart and keeping him at arms length. He wants to make a fresh start, but she won't let him move on. He accuses her of using him and abusing him, and he begs her to be a man about it and let him go.
The song's lyrics tap into a common human experience - the longing for love and the pain of feeling stuck in a one-sided relationship. The repetition of the phrase "set me free" underscores the singer's desperation to break free from this cycle of misery. The song's upbeat rhythm and catchy melody provide a contrast to the darker lyrics, creating a bittersweet sound that captures the complexity of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Set me free why don't cha babe
Please let me go and move on from this relationship
Get out my life why don't cha babe
Please leave me alone and stop playing with my heart
'Cause you don't really love me
Your actions show that you do not truly love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along, refusing to let me go and move on
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why do you keep coming around to toy with my feelings?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Why don't you leave me alone and let me start fresh without you in my life?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
Allow me to move on from you just as you have moved on from me
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
You claim that you want to remain friends despite our breakup
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
It is impossible to be friends when seeing you causes me so much pain
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
I am helpless and cannot change the situation
Get out, get out of my life
Leave me alone and stay out of my life
And let me sleep at night
Stop causing me distress and anxiety that affects my sleep
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
You claim that you want to remain friends despite our breakup
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
It is impossible to be friends when seeing you causes me so much pain
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
I am helpless and cannot change the situation
You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You claim to care for me, but you need your freedom
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
Now that you are free, you want to keep me hanging on
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
You do not truly want me, so allow me to find someone who does
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Take responsibility and let me go
Now you don't care a thing about me
You no longer have any concern for my well-being
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
You are using and mistreating me for your own selfish reasons
Get out, get out of my life
Leave me alone and stay out of my life
And let me sleep at night
Stop causing me distress and anxiety that affects my sleep
'Cause you don't really love me
Your actions show that you do not truly love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along, refusing to let me go and move on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind