Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Culture Club Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me time to realize my crime
Let me love and steal
I have danced inside your eyes
How can I be real?

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Precious kisses, words that burn me
Lovers never ask you why

In my heart the fire is burning
Choose my color, find a star
Precious people always tell me
That's a step, a step too far

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?

Words are few I have spoken
I could waste a thousand years
Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
Come inside and catch my tears
You've been talking but believe me
If it's true you do not know
This boy loves without a reason
I'm prepared to let you go

If it's love you want from me
Then take it away
Everything's not what you see
It's over again

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?




Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Culture Club's song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" speak of a relationship on the brink of collapse due to misunderstanding and miscommunication. The singer pleads with their partner to give them a chance to realize their mistakes and make things right, but the partner seems intent on hurting them. The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship in turmoil, with the singer feeling caught in the middle, unable to decipher whether their partner truly loves them or wants to do them harm. The lines "I have danced inside your eyes/How can I be real?" suggest a sense of confusion and disorientation, as if the singer is struggling to ground themselves in this relationship.


The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "Do you really want to hurt me?/Do you really want to make me cry?" emphasizes the emotional stakes of the situation at hand. The singer seems to be experiencing a great deal of pain and distress, and the lyrics imply that their partner is aware of this but may be intentionally causing harm anyway. The line "Lovers never ask you why" suggests that the partner is perhaps unmoved by the singer's suffering, or at least reluctant to engage with it.


Overall, the lyrics to "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" speak to the difficulty of navigating relationships when trust is lacking and communication breaks down. The song's melancholic, introspective tone underscores the sense of hurt and confusion that can arise when two people are unable to connect and understand each other fully.


Line by Line Meaning

Give me time to realize my crime
I need some time to understand what I did wrong


Let me love and steal
Allow me to take your love even though it may not be right


I have danced inside your eyes
I have seen so much love in your eyes and it's overwhelming


How can I be real?
I feel like I need to be something else in order to be with you


Do you really want to hurt me?
Are you intentionally trying to cause me pain?


Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you want me to break down and show my vulnerability?


Precious kisses, words that burn me
Your love and affection is bittersweet and painful


Lovers never ask you why
Even though love can be complicated, we don't always ask questions


In my heart the fire is burning
I have so much passion inside me, it's overwhelming


Choose my color, find a star
When we're together, we can create something beautiful


Precious people always tell me, That's a step, a step too far
The people I love always warn me when I'm getting in over my head


Words are few I have spoken
I don't have the words to express how I feel


I could waste a thousand years
I would spend eternity waiting for you


Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
I'm sad and my words don't hold much meaning


Come inside and catch my tears
I need you to comfort me and wipe away my tears


You've been talking but believe me, If it's true you do not know
You say you know me, but you don't really understand what's in my heart


This boy loves without a reason, I'm prepared to let you go
I love you even though it doesn't always make sense, but I'm willing to let you go if it's for the best


If it's love you want from me, Then take it away
If all you want from me is love, I'll give it to you willingly


Everything's not what you see, It's over again
Appearances can be deceiving and our relationship is coming to an end




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George O'Dowd, Jonathan Moss, Michael Craig, Nessa Barrett, Roy Ernest Hay

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@leokimvideo

For me this song was difficult to absorb in the 80's, but 40 years on it's proved to be a very strong song that's a timeless classic

@ericmixer

I've always loved Culture Cub and I don't care who doesn't like them ! I bet a lot of my macho friends really liked them but won't admit it !

@aenima1

a PERFECT description

@MatthiasGuerrero

Envidio tu vida de la mejor manera!!

@MarkJusty777

I was in my metal and classic rock phase in 1983-1984 but I always liked CC. There's something magical about their music.

@helenalegvard4969

​@@MatthiasGuerreroxjensjsdexjdnjndjn

54 More Replies...

@andreford857

Culture Club was one of the groups that defined the 80's, as a kid I don't remember ever questioning Boy George's sexuality, I don't think I even cared cause it didn't matter because his singing voice was impeccable.

@Lilianitapreciosa

Esque el nos ganó con su talento no con sus ideas de género. Yo siendo mujer, me atrae ese hombre. Jeje 😊

@andreford857

@@Lilianitapreciosa ??? 🤷‍♂️

@danielcortes2107

​@@LilianitapreciosaAún así las hubiese expresado se deben respetar siempre

More Comments

More Versions