"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" was the third single released in Europe by Culture Club and their debut release in the U.S. and Canada. The song was picked up by BBC Radio 2 and became a UK number-one single for three weeks in October 1982. The song entered the charts in the US at #80 on 4 December 1982. The song held at #2 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in March and April 1983 (kept from the number one spot by Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"). The single achieved sales of 900,000 US copies and hit #1 in Canada. It was also number one in Australia. This was Culture Club's first success, after their first two releases, "White Boy" and "I'm Afraid of Me" charted in the UK at #114 and #100 respectively. According to Boy George, it was their last chance to get an album deal. The song rose rapidly in the UK charts after the group's first appearance on Top of the Pops, which resulted in George's androgynous style of dress and sexual ambiguity making newspaper headlines. The group were only asked to appear on Top of the Pops the night before the show, after Shakin' Stevens pulled out.
In a retrospective review, Allmusic journalist Jose F. Promis described "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" as "a simple masterpiece, resonating with an ache that harked back to the classic torch songs of yesteryear." In 2007, Boy George said that the song was "not just about Culture Club's drummer Jon Moss, my boyfriend at the time. It was about all the guys I dated at that time in my life." The B-side was a dub version featuring Pappa Weasel in many countries and "You Know I'm Not Crazy" on the US release. On the 12" version of the record, the track "Love Is Cold (You Were Never No Good)" was also included.
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Boy George Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To realize my crime
Let me love and steal
I have danced
Inside your eyes
How can love be real?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Precious kisses words that burn me
Lovers never ask you why
In my heart the fires burning
Choose my colour, find a star
Precious people always tell me:
"That′s a step, a step too far"
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Words are few I have spoken
I could waste a thousand years
Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
Come inside and catch my tears
You've been talking ′bout believe me
If it's true, you do not know
This boy loves without a reason
I'm prepared to let you go
If it′s love you want from me
Then take it away
Everything is not what you see
It′s over
Again
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
(Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry, cry)
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
The lyrics to Boy George Culture Club's song Do You Really Want To Hurt Me are rich in meaning and full of emotion. The song tells the story of a person who has made a mistake and is now pleading for forgiveness. The singer asks for time to realize his crime and to love and steal. He has danced inside his lover's eyes and is questioning whether love can be real.
The chorus of the song asks a series of questions: Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry? The singer is expressing his vulnerability and is begging his lover not to hurt him. He speaks of the precious kisses and words that burn him, and how lovers never ask why. He also talks about a fire burning in his heart and how he is prepared to let his lover go, even though he loves without a reason.
The bridge of the song is almost like a desperate plea, where the singer talks about how words are few that he has spoken, and how he could waste a thousand years. He speaks of being wrapped in sorrow and how he wants his lover to come inside and catch his tears. The lyrics are powerful and emotive, and they convey a deep sense of longing, vulnerability, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me time
I need some time to figure things out
To realize my crime
I need to understand the mistake I made
Let me love and steal
Let me love you and take what I need
I have danced / Inside your eyes
I have experienced love and connection with you
How can love be real?
I'm questioning whether or not love is even real
Do you really want to hurt me?
Are you intentionally trying to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Are you trying to make me upset?
Precious kisses words that burn me
Your sweet words hurt me deeply
Lovers never ask you why
People in love don't always question their partner's actions
In my heart the fires burning
I'm feeling intense emotions
Choose my colour, find a star
Help me find my identity and purpose
Precious people always tell me:
'That′s a step, a step too far'
People who care about me advise me not to go too far
Words are few I have spoken
I haven't expressed everything I have to say
I could waste a thousand years
I feel like I could spend an eternity on this
Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
I'm consumed by sadness and my words are meaningless
Come inside and catch my tears
Comfort me while I cry
You've been talking ′bout believe me
You keep telling me to trust you
If it's true, you do not know
I'm not sure if your words are genuine
This boy loves without a reason
I love without needing a specific reason
I'm prepared to let you go
I'm ready to move on if needed
If it′s love you want from me
If you truly want love from me
Then take it away
You can have it
Everything is not what you see
Things aren't always as they appear
It′s over / Again
This relationship has come to an end
Do you really want to hurt me?
Are you intentionally trying to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Are you trying to make me upset?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Are you intentionally trying to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Are you trying to make me upset?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Are you intentionally trying to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Are you trying to make me upset?
Writer(s): Craig Michael Emile, Hay Roy Ernest, Moss Jonathan Aubrey, O'dowd George Alan
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kenf3299
The man could sing.. no one will ever take that away from him.
@hakunamatata6864
The man
couldcan sing...@cathyc5108
in a way.... they did just that!
@zaravictoriawalker6461
He was dancing in background when the Jets were on top of the tops ❤❤
@janusconner3710
Agreed.👍
@jessygoofball4736
I remember when I bought this album as a kid, I played it so much that my sister said, "Yes, I really DO want to hurt you!" ☺
@alexpineda6294
Lollllll that was a really good one you sent it out of the stadium
@naynayelliott8323
LOL
@carlosjaras9640
Lol......
@Maya-ju4ex
Lmao, luv your sis!