The band had their first UK Top 30 hit in 1985 with the piano-based #30 single “You Are My World”. The following year they had their biggest hit with an energetic cover version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ soul classic “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (in a version inspired by Thelma Houston’s cover) which spent four weeks at number one and became the UK’s biggest selling single of 1986. It also made the US Top 40. It featured Sarah Jane Morris as co-vocalist, taking advantage of the contrast between Morris’ deep and rounded contralto and Somerville’s soaring falsetto. Morris performed both backing and co-lead vocals on many of the Communards’ other recordings, and appeared in group photos as an unofficial third member.
Later that year The Communards had another UK Top 10 hit with the single “So Cold the Night,” which reached number 8. In 1987, they released an album titled Red, which was partly produced by Stephen Hague. Red featured a cover version of the Jackson 5’s hit “Never Can Say Goodbye” (in a version inspired by Gloria Gaynor’s cover), which the Communards took to Number 4. Their last released single was “There’s More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl” in 1988, which reached Number 20 and was, consequently, their final Top 20 hit.
They split in 1988 and Somerville began a solo career. Coles followed his Christian leanings and, after periods as a journalist for the Times Literary Supplement and Catholic Herald, he was ordained in the Church of England, spending time as the curate of St Botolph’s (The Stump) in Boston, Lincolnshire. He is now the assistant priest at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and Chaplain to the Royal College of Music and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 4.
Don´t Leave Me This Way
Communards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't survive, I can't stay alive
Without your love, no baby
Don't live me this way
I can't exist, I will surely miss
Your tender kiss
So don't leave me this way
Oh baby
My heart is full of love and desire for you
So come on down and do what you've got to do
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning, out of control?
So come on down and satisfy the need in me
'Cause only your good loving can set me free
Don't (don't) leave me this way
I don't understand (understand) how I'm at your command
So baby please don't leave me this way
Oh baby
My heart is full of love and desire for you
So come on down and do what you've got to do
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning, out of control?
So come on down and satisfy the need in me
'Cause only your good loving could set me free (set me free)
Set me free (set me free)
Set me free, set me free, set me free
Free, free, free, free
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me (don't leave me this way)
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me (no, no)
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me (no, no, no, no)
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me (no, no, no baby, don't you, no)
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me
Come satisfy me, come satisfy me, come satisfy me
Don't (don't) leave me this way, ooh baby
I can't exist, I will surely miss
Your tender kiss
So don't leave me this way
Oh baby
My heart is full of love and desire for you
So come on down and do what you've got to do
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning, out of control?
So come on down and satisfy the need in me
'Cause only your good loving could set me free
Set me free (set me free)
Set me free (set me free)
Set me free (set me free)
Set me free (don't leave me this way)
Set me free (don't leave me this way)
Set me free (don't leave me this way)
Set me free, ooh (don't leave me this way)
Baby (don't leave me this way)
Don't leave me this way
Ooh baby, don't leave me this way (don't leave me this way)
Ooh baby, don't leave me this way (don't leave me this way)
Ooh baby, don't leave me this way (don't leave me this way)
Don't you, don't, oh no (don't leave me this way)
Don't you, don't, oh no (don't leave me this way)
Don't you, don't, oh no (don't leave me this way)
Don't you, don't, oh no (don't leave me this way)
I'm losing control (don't leave me this way)
I'm losing control (don't leave me this way)
The lyrics of Communards' song "Don't Leave Me This Way" are about a person who desperately pleads with their lover not to leave them. The person claims that they cannot survive or exist without their partner's love, and they will surely miss their tender kiss. The chorus emphasizes the intense desire that the person has for their lover, and they ask them to come down and satisfy the need in them, as only their good loving can set the person free from this distress. The song ends with a repeated plea not to leave, and the person admits that they are losing control.
This song is an emotional cry for help from someone who feels helpless without their lover. The lyrics capture the agony of a person who has lost control over their emotions and is on the brink of breaking down. The person's intense longing for their partner is evident in the way they repeat their desperate pleas and the way they talk about their heartfelt desire. The lyrics also capture the passion that the person feels, as they describe the fire that their partner has ignited in their soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't leave me this way
Please do not go away from me
I can't survive, I can't stay alive
Without your love, I cannot live or stay alive
Without your love, no baby
My existence is dependent on your love, darling
I can't exist, i will surely miss your tender kiss
Living without you in my life would be a terrible existence, I would miss your gentle kiss too much
Oh baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you
My heart is overflowing with love and passion for you, my dear
So come on down and do what you've got to do
Please come to me and do what you need to do
Your started this fire down in my soul
You ignited passion and desire deep in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning out of control
It's become an uncontrollable flame and I need you to help me tame it
So come on down and satisfy the need in me
Please come to me and fulfill my desires
Cause only your good loving can set me free
Your love is the only thing that will free me from this burning desire
I don't understand how I'm at your command
I don't know how you have such a hold on me and my emotions
So baby please, so don't you leave me this way
My dear, please do not leave me in this state of agony
Set me free, set me free, set me free, set me free, set me free
Release me from this burning desire
Come, satisfy me, come satisfy me
Please come and fulfill my desires
Don't you leave me this way
Please do not leave me in this state of passion
Don't you know by now, don't you know by now
Do you not already know?
I'm losing control
I am losing control of my emotions and desires for you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cary Grant Gilbert, Leon Huff, Kenny Gamble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeanbaptistejuan7112
I love the energy between the two singers. They're having the time of their lives, and it's a beautiful duet. This song gives me a real buzz!
@juliomartinez4607
La pasión que ponen al cantar y bailar lo llena a uno de vida y alegría, es una canción que lo motiva a uno a seguir adelante y no rendirse ante nada. ❤
@garethjamesdavies6850
This song came out a couple of months after I met my husband in 1986. We were together for34 yrs until I lost him in 2020 to pancreatic cancer at 58 yrs old. This song takes me back there. I loved you then Gareth, I love you now, I always will. He didn't want to leave me this way. Miss you Gar, miss you love ❤️❤️
@luigimadrid7205
This message breaks my heart.
@scottgreen7149
Songs are like little bookmarks in your life story..some take you to a certain point in our lives.
@db-nc3ri
❤
@scottgreen7149
A wee song bring on some memories..the communards dont leave me this way..
@IpswichRobert
My thoughts are with you x
@VanessaDiRenzo
All 80s music is amazing. This song is pure nostalgia. Incredible ❤
@lilillillili
Well said!!