Motown Cinderella
Catch 22 Lyrics


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She wanted me to tell you to leave.
She wanted me to let you know that you don't understand her, she just needs some time to breathe.
She couldn't have told you better herself 'cause she was in love with somebody else.
I don't know why I had to be the messenger boy.
I guess that somebody was me.

Don't know what you got till it's gone.
Don't know what you did so wrong.
Don't know what you got till it's gone.
Don't know why you did it so wrong.

She wanted me to tell her my fears.
She wanted me to let it all go.
I don't know why I said it. I just can't trust anyone, I knew she was true.
I never liked the sound of being along much.
Just one touch to help with the coldness.
Persuasion was a trait the she held in her hand when she took mine, and I understood then.

Don't know what you got till it's gone.
Don't know what you did so wrong.
Don't know what you got till it's gone.
Don't know why you did it so wrong.

And I did you wrong.
You said I was just like him, but that's where you're wrong.
He never wrote you a love song.
It seemed like no sooner than I got my feet on the ground, the words slipped away.
And baby, I hear you.
Know what you're saying and I feel it too.
You've got something I've never had.




The kind of love I can sing about
And you're hearing me now, hear me now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Catch 22's Motown Cinderella narrate a tale of a man who is caught between two women. The woman he loves wants him to tell his rival to leave and wants some time for herself to breathe. The man is struggling as he never wanted to be the messenger boy. However, he ends up telling the woman his fears and understands her better. He says that he can't trust anyone, but with her, he knew she was true. He craves her touch to help with his coldness, and the persuasion was a trait that she held in her hand when she took his. The guy realizes that he was wrong, and the love he had for her was true. He wants to sing about this love and make it known that he hears and feels her.


The song's chorus, "Don't know what you got till it's gone, don't know what you did so wrong," emphasizes the pain of realizing what one has lost only after it's gone. The story of this song is relatable to many people who've had to choose between two people they love or have lost a relationship that they never valued much before. The lyrics also highlight that persuasion is a powerful tool held by those with great conviction.


Line by Line Meaning

She wanted me to tell you to leave.
She requested me to convey to you that she wants you to depart.


She wanted me to let you know that you don't understand her, she just needs some time to breathe.
She expected me to inform you that you don't comprehend her, and she simply requires some time for herself.


She couldn't have told you better herself 'cause she was in love with somebody else.
She was unable to explain it to you herself, as she was in love with someone else.


I don't know why I had to be the messenger boy.
I'm uncertain as to why I had to deliver the message.


I guess that somebody was me.
I presume that somebody was me.


Don't know what you got till it's gone.
You don't recognize the value of something until it's no longer available.


Don't know what you did so wrong.
You're unsure of what mistake you made.


She wanted me to tell her my fears.
She desired me to reveal my apprehensions to her.


She wanted me to let it all go.
She requested me to release all of my worries.


I don't know why I said it. I just can't trust anyone, I knew she was true.
I don't know why I admitted it. I just have trust issues, even though I knew she was genuine.


I never liked the sound of being alone much.
I never enjoyed the idea of being by myself.


Just one touch to help with the coldness.
One caress to warm up the loneliness.


Persuasion was a trait that she held in her hand when she took mine, and I understood then.
At that moment, I realized that she possessed the power of persuasion, and I fell under her spell.


And I did you wrong.
And I mistreated you.


You said I was just like him, but that's where you're wrong.
You accused me of being similar to him, but you're mistaken.


He never wrote you a love song.
He never expressed his love for you through music.


It seemed like no sooner than I got my feet on the ground, the words slipped away.
It appeared that as soon as I figured out what to say, I lost the ability to express it.


And baby, I hear you.
And darling, I understand you.


Know what you're saying and I feel it too.
I comprehend what you're expressing and I'm experiencing it as well.


You've got something I've never had.
You possess something that I've never experienced.


The kind of love I can sing about.
The type of love that I can serenade about.


And you're hearing me now, hear me now
And you're listening to me now, please pay attention.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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