You're Driving Me Crazy
Charlie Parker & Billie Holiday Lyrics

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You, you're driving me crazy!
What did I do?
What did I do?
My tears for you make everything hazy
Clouding the skies of blue
How true
Were the friends who were near me to cheer me
Believe, me they knew

But you
Were the kind who would hurt me, desert me
When I needed you

Yes you, you're driving me crazy!
What did I do to you?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Charlie Parker & Billie Holiday's song, You're Driving Me Crazy, express the singer's intense emotions of confusion, hurt, and frustration directed towards someone who they cared deeply for. The repeated question, "What did I do?" conveys the singer's bewilderment towards the actions of the person that caused their pain. The singer's tears for the person they loved, have now clouded their perception of the world around them, turning what were once blue skies into a hazy and uncertain future.

The song also highlights the betrayal felt by the singer at the hands of the person they cared for. The poem mentions how friends attempted to cheer the singer on, but eventually, they felt abandoned by the person they had hoped would support them the most. The song's poetic language creates a sense of disorientation, as if the singer is going through an emotional storm. The line, "You were the kind who would hurt me, desert me when I needed you," vividly expresses the sense of betrayal many people have experienced in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

You, you're driving me crazy!
The intense emotions and actions of you are causing me to feel insane and overwhelmed.

What did I do?
I am trying to understand what I did to deserve this treatment from you.

My tears for you make everything hazy
The tears that I shed for you cloud my vision and make everything difficult to see clearly.

Clouding the skies of blue
My sadness and confusion are affecting even the most beautiful and serene aspects of life.

How true
The support and empathy from my true friends who know me well is invaluable.

Were the friends who were near me to cheer me
The friends who were close to me were there to provide emotional support and encouragement.

Believe, me they knew
These close friends were aware of my situation and offered their understanding and help.

But you
However, you were not there for me in the same way and failed to support me when I needed it.

Were the kind who would hurt me, desert me
In fact, you were the type of person who would cause me pain and abandon me in my time of need.

When I needed you
At the exact moment where I needed support and understanding the most, you were not there for me.

Yes you, you're driving me crazy!
This feeling of being overwhelmed and helpless is entirely caused by your actions and personality.

What did I do to you?
I still cannot comprehend what actions of mine led to you treating me so poorly.

Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO, TOBAGO MUSIC COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Walter Donaldson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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