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I Want You Back
Catherine Britt Lyrics
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It takes a lot to lose and a love to die
You came at me like a freight train
Then you left a mess like a hurricane
It's not like it was before so I want you back
My sun don't shine no more so I want you back
No one's knocking at my door so I want you back
I'd sell my soul to get you back again
I'd hit you right on the long black train
I'd hold my breath till I'd turn blue
I'd do anything to get to you
It ain't like it was before so I want you back
My sun don't shine no more so I want you back
No one's knocking at my door so I want you back
Oh oh I want you back
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
I'll see you again on the other side
There ain't no way to turn and run
Don't you know it honey, you're the only one
It ain't like it was before so I want you back
My sun don't shine no more so I want you back
No one's knocking at my door so I want you back
Oh oh I want you back
Oh oh I want you back
Oh oh I want you back
The song "I Want You Back" by Catherine Britt is a heartfelt narrative about the intense longing for a lost love. The first verse of the song begins with the idea that it takes a fool to learn and a fool to cry. This is a common idiom that refers to the fact that we need to experience pain and heartbreak to fully understand the importance of love. The second line refers to the idea that love is something that requires a lot of effort to maintain, and that when it's gone, it can feel like a part of you has died. The next two lines describe how the lost love came into her life like a freight train, bringing with it immense joy and fulfillment. However, when the love is gone, it leaves behind a mess, much like the aftermath of a hurricane.
The chorus of the song, "It's not like it was before, so I want you back," is a simple yet effective way of conveying the idea that she recognizes that things have changed but still yearns for the lost love. She explains that her life is no longer as bright as it once was, and that no one is knocking at her door to take the place of the previous love. The second verse conveys this hopeless longing even more intensely, with the idea that she would "sell her soul" to get the love back, or even "hit you right on the long black train." The desperation and intensity of the words shows the depth of the character's longing.
The final verse of the song uses spiritual imagery to convey the idea that she hopes to see the lost love again someday. The use of a phrase like "the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise" is a nod to the idea of fate and how we can only hope that things will work out in our favor. The idea that there is no way to turn and run from the love she once had is a powerful message of the song's chorus, "I want you back."
Line by Line Meaning
It takes a fool to learn, it makes a fool to cry
Learning from a painful experience is foolish, but not learning from it and crying about it is even more foolish.
It takes a lot to lose and a love to die
Losing something valuable requires a lot of effort, just like love's death requires love's existence.
You came at me like a freight train
You came at me with immense force, like a freight train.
Then you left a mess like a hurricane
But then you left me in a mess, like a hurricane leaves a trail of destruction.
It's not like it was before so I want you back
Things have changed, and now I want you back.
My sun don't shine no more so I want you back
Without you, my life is dull and joyless, so I want you back.
No one's knocking at my door so I want you back
I'm missing the attention and affection you used to give me, so I want you back.
I'd sell my soul to get you back again
I'm willing to give up anything, even my soul, to have you back in my life.
I'd hit you right on the long black train
I'll do whatever it takes, even if it's risky or dangerous, to be with you.
I'd hold my breath till I'd turn blue
I'm willing to do something as extreme as holding my breath until I turn blue to have you back.
I'd do anything to get to you
I'm ready to do anything and everything to win you back.
If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise
If fate allows it, and there are no obstacles in the way,
I'll see you again on the other side
I'll see you again in another place, even after we die.
There ain't no way to turn and run
There's no way to avoid or escape the fact that I need you back.
Don't you know it honey, you're the only one
You're the only one who makes me feel complete and whole, and I need you in my life.
Oh oh I want you back
I want you back, and I can't stop thinking about it.
Writer(s): William Stanley Chambers, Catherine Britt Copyright: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd., Emi Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd.
Contributed by Jason T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.