When I Needed You
Carly Rae Jepsen Lyrics
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We could take the words back
You could take my love back
And brush my hair behind my ear
I don't know what you wanted
I tried to be so perfect
I thought that it was worth it
To let myself just disappear
You come to me in dreams at night (come to me in dreams at night)
I wake up and I see the light
Sometimes I wish that I could change
But not for me, for you
So we could be together, forever
But I know, I know that I won't change for you
'Cause where were you for me
When I needed someone?
When I needed someone?
When I needed you, hey?
When I needed you, hey?
Once upon a time I
Thought you were the hero
I waited for you all night
I closed my eyes and slept for years
You kissed me like a sunrise
I feel it through my forehead
I felt it like a goodbye
I'm not myself
Sometimes I wish that I could change
But not for me, for you
So we could be together, forever
But I know, I know that I won't change for you
'Cause where were you for me
When I needed someone?
When I needed someone?
When I needed you, hey?
When I needed you, hey?
You come to me in dreams at night
You come to me in dreams at night
I don't want to work it out
I'm not goin' to work it out
I don't want to work it out
No I'm not going to still
Sometimes I wish that I could change
But not for me, for you
So we could be together, forever
But I know, I know that I won't change for you
'Cause where were you for me
When I needed someone?
When I needed someone?
When I needed
When I needed
When I needed you?
When I needed you?
When I needed you?
Carly Rae Jepsen’s “When I Needed You” is a bittersweet reflection on a past relationship and the desire for that person to have been there when the singer needed them the most. The opening lines express a longing for a time machine to undo the hurtful words and lost love from the past. The singer wonders if taking back the words and love could have saved their relationship. The tender gesture of brushing her hair behind her ear hints at intimacy and hints at a possible explanation for the hurtful words that led to the relationship’s demise.
The following lines recount the singer’s efforts to be perfect and win the love back. She regrets disappearing in trying to please her partner. The person who was once perceived as a hero has disappointed her, and she is no longer herself when with them. The painful reality that the other person was not there when she needed them is clear when she asks, “where were you for me when I needed someone?”.
In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that changing for the person she needed may have been the solution to their problems, but it would not have been genuine. The dreams about her ex send mixed signals, a yearning for a rekindling of their love or a nightmare recalling past hurt. The song ends in acceptation to the reality that the relationship is over.
Line by Line Meaning
What if we could go back?
What if we could turn back time to undo our past mistakes?
We could take the words back
We could take back the hurtful things we said to each other.
You could take my love back
You could undo the times when you didn't appreciate my love and give it another chance.
And brush my hair behind my ear
And show affection towards me, like how you used to.
I don't know what you wanted
I'm not sure what you expected from me or our relationship.
I tried to be so perfect
I put in a lot of effort to make sure everything was just right for us.
I thought that it was worth it
I believed that my efforts were worth it and would make us happy.
To let myself just disappear
To let go of who I am as a person and become what you want me to be.
You come to me in dreams at night (come to me in dreams at night)
You still occupy my thoughts even though we're not together anymore.
I wake up and I see the light
I wake up to reality and realize that it's over between us.
Sometimes I wish that I could change
Sometimes I wish I could be someone or something different to make our relationship work.
But not for me, for you
But I would only do it if it meant saving our relationship and making you happy, not for my own benefit.
So we could be together, forever
So we could have a long-lasting, fulfilling relationship.
But I know, I know that I won't change for you
But deep down, I know that changing myself for someone else wouldn't be healthy or sustainable.
'Cause where were you for me
Because when I needed someone to support me or be there for me, you weren't.
When I needed someone?
When I was going through a rough patch or needed emotional support, where were you?
When I needed you, hey?
When I needed you the most, why weren't you there for me?
Once upon a time I
There was a time when I once believed in us and in our love for each other.
Thought you were the hero
I believed that you were the one who would rescue me and make everything better.
I waited for you all night
I waited up for you, hoping that you would come back to me and fix things.
I closed my eyes and slept for years
I stopped living my life and put everything on pause, hoping that you would come back and we could be together again.
You kissed me like a sunrise
You used to show affection towards me in a powerful way, like how a sunrise can brighten up a dark day.
I feel it through my forehead
I could feel your kiss leave an emotional impact on me, making me feel loved and cherished.
I felt it like a goodbye
However, looking back now, I realize that your love and affection towards me was fleeting and didn't last.
I'm not myself
I feel lost and unsure of who I am without you in my life.
I don't want to work it out
I'm exhausted from trying to fix our relationship and don't have the strength to try anymore.
No I'm not going to still
I can't keep holding onto the past and trying to make things work if you're not willing to put in the effort as well.
When I needed you?
When we were together and things got tough, why couldn't I rely on you to support me and be there for me?
When I needed you?
Why couldn't you be the partner that I needed when things got tough?
When I needed you?
Why did you leave me alone to deal with my struggles?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Nigro, Nate Campany, Ariel Rechtshaid, Tavish Crowe, Carly Jepsen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind