DeBarge was an American R&B and soul music group. Hailing from Grand Rapids… Read Full Bio ↴DeBarge was an American R&B and soul music group. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, the group is named for their shared surname, and included the brothers Mark, James, Randy, and Eldra (or "El"), and their sister Bunny. Younger siblings Chico, Darryl, and Carol DeBarge were also singers (though not with the group), with Chico later becoming a solo star in his own right. The DeBarges, of African-American/French-Canadian descent, signed with the Motown label in the 1970s, and became one of their few successful acts during the 1980s.

Talk To Me
DeBarge Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Talk to me

Lately, you've been running away from me
Don't you think you're acting too tough?
I don't want to put it off another day
Do you think I'm asking too much?

[Chorus]

Talk to me, baby, converse with me now
You know I really think you oughta
Tell me you love me, show me now
You know I really think you oughta

Rhythm and romance seem to fade away
I know we've been needing a change
It just don't get it when you put all day
'Cause you know you're my everything
And I can't wait, come on

[Chorus]

Now is the time to let your love show
Tell me now, let me know
Girl, there's a lot to build our love on
Don't delay, hurry

I think I'll call her up
Yeah, I'll call her up now
Come on, I know you're home
Answer, pick it up

[Chorus]

Talk to me, baby, talk to me, girl
You know I really think you oughta
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me you do love
You know I really think you oughta

[Chorus]

Baby

[Chorus]

It would be so nice if you'd treat me right
Talk to me, girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of DeBarge's song "Talk To Me" are about trying to save a relationship that seems to be falling apart. The singer is pleading with their partner to communicate with them, as they have been avoiding them recently. The singer seems to think that their partner is being distant and trying to act tough, and they don't want to put off addressing the issue any longer. The chorus repeatedly encourages the partner to talk to the singer and show them love, emphasizing that they think it's necessary for the relationship to continue. The lyrics refer to the "rhythm and romance" that seems to be fading away, which could suggest that the couple has gone through a period of distance before.

The final stanza of the song is something of a plea. The singer is telling their partner that it is time to "let your love show" and that there is "a lot to build our love on." They urge their partner not to delay and to hurry to repair their relationship. The song ends with a wish that the partner would "treat me right" and talk to the singer.

Overall, the lyrics of "Talk To Me" are heartfelt and emotionally resonant. They show a singer who is struggling to connect with their partner and who is desperate for communication and validation from them. The song is a plea for understanding and connection, and it speaks to the universal difficulties of maintaining relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Lately, you've been running away from me
You've been avoiding me recently

Don't you think you're acting too tough?
Do you think you're being too defensive?

I don't want to put it off another day
I don't want to wait any longer

Do you think I'm asking too much?
Do you think I'm making unreasonable requests?

Talk to me, baby, converse with me now
Please communicate with me

You know I really think you oughta
I believe it's important

Tell me you love me, show me now
Express your love for me

Rhythm and romance seem to fade away
The excitement in our relationship is diminishing

I know we've been needing a change
We need to make some changes to our relationship

It just don't get it when you put all day
I don't understand when you avoid me all day

'Cause you know you're my everything
You're the most important thing in my life

And I can't wait, come on
I'm eager to talk to you

Now is the time to let your love show
It's time to demonstrate your love

Tell me now, let me know
Please tell me

Girl, there's a lot to build our love on
There's a lot we can improve in our relationship

Don't delay, hurry
Let's not wait any longer

I think I'll call her up
I'm going to call you

Yeah, I'll call her up now
I'm calling you right now

Come on, I know you're home
I believe you're at home

Answer, pick it up
Please answer the phone

Talk to me, baby, talk to me, girl
Let's have a conversation

Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Please tell me

Tell me, tell me you do love
Please tell me you love me

Baby
Term of endearment

It would be so nice if you'd treat me right
I would appreciate it if you treated me well

Talk to me, girl
Please talk to me

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK MUNDY, PAUL ROBERT FOX, FRANCINE VICKI GOLDE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

PerseusJoppa

2y↑8

I remember this song peaking at #21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1987.
Great beat.

The Only One

12y↑26

Absolute KILLER beat!!!!

Frank Brosky

8y↑49

haters are gonna hate. This is class music. 80's at its finest. Great song.....better than any of the crap of this era.

Tarkeema Lewis

yeah like a cheese grater......neva smoove!

SIRI Starburst444💫

The 80s was a black hole

Isabel Ringing

8y↑71

It saddens me that they just don't Make quality music like this anymore. With a very few exceptions, today's music is crap. Long live the 80s and early 90s!

Lateshia Childs

I know right classic times and music

Ian Tucker

Vicki P. o

Sto Dec

4y↑1

Agree. Miss the 80s funk jams, freestyle and new jack swing. All went pear shaped after mid 90s :(

Erik Stone

13y↑8

I Love This Chico DeBarge 1986 Hit, "Talk To Me," Which Became A Top 10 R&B Hit In America.

Detroit Terrance Thomas

This song brings back so many great teenage memories to me! ✨🎶🤩👌🏾

Bobbi

2y↑1

I loved this album!!! 🖤🌻.

Australican

4y↑5

Catchy number this.... Some 34 years later and it still holds its own.

Sam Benz

2y↑2

still luv this immortal song from a great great singer

💕Isabella Vittoria💕

5y↑6

Damn I'm in the zone with this time piece! Thank you.....💞👏👏

KDiana

5y↑2

Love this song. I had been searching for this for a long time.

Dave Wollenberg

13y↑5

Jonathan hit #21 in Billboard, 2-21-87. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx! Have a great week!

D.J. John Hulsey

8y↑37

perfect mix with Janet's "What have You done for me lately"

Lateshia Childs

8y↑7

it really does sound like Janet

D.J. John Hulsey

7y↑2

mixed it with Janet when it came out!

DoubleEdged7

7y↑1

D.J. John Hulsey something about you by vesta sounds more like Janet

JC JC

2y↑2

Coincidence? No not really..

Richie Rich

38w

Sounds like Jam and Lewis had a hand in it, but they had nothing to do with this song.

Todd Craig

2y↑1

Awesome song 1987 l was in 8th grade when this song was a hit. I still ♥️ it. They dont play songs like that anymore.

lindsey lefrois

9y↑24

This song is essential 80's .....

Tamika Gamble

6y↑3

Great dance song. Sounds a lot like Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately."

Maricelli Lewis

7y↑4

this is still my song . I love it ...........

Dina Moss

Maricelli Lewis yaaaas!

Debbie C

6y↑10

Didn't even know this was done by a Debarge. I tell you, them damn Debarges, so gorgeous and gifted.

Coney Island Boo

Debbie C- check out their song "The Walls" No one believes it's DeBarge

Donald Edmunds

5y↑4

Purely Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis influences in this song.

Ant s

2y↑2

Oh wow do you know i been lookin for this song since i was a kid in the late 80s i never knew who sang this song for 35 years And i would never guessed it was Chico Debarge lol🤗🤗🤗

Jasper DiLincoln

5y↑3

I was just 4 in '86 and turning 37 next week but love 80s and 90s music. I think I stopped listening to artists by my late teens in the late 90s 🤣

RestlessRick

7y↑24

In addition to Janet Jackson, this Chico DeBarge song also reminds me of 80s Jody Watley. Also, it reminds me of Meli'sa Morgan music from the 80s. It also sounds like Jane Child's song "Don't Wanna Fall In Love". LOL. I miss music like that.

Ian Tucker

RestlessRick o

Tre404

5y↑2

It actually sounds nothing like any of those... just a similar rhythm pattern, which by no means makes any one song sound like another. The melodies, vocals, instrumentation, production... none of it is similar to this song whatsoever! And "Don't Wanna Fall in Love?" Sounds NOTHING like this. At all.

Megatron84

5y↑2

Chico DeBarge sang a song to what I think is a story of pre-teen, junior high love connection. Talk to me, you fool!

BLU3BRE3ZY

13y↑1

My mom introduced me to all this good music... I love her for that. When I first saw him and El I thought they were purtorican...especially him with the name Chico. Turns out they're Black and French. Cool mix. They are both handsome. Btw does anyone know where I can find the actual video; I've looked everywhere and can't find it.

Dennis B

grandfather was

Coney Island Boo

Yes everyone thought they were Puerto Rican. You should read Bunny DeBarge's autobiography. It's eye opening.

abdelouahab Bentata

Back to 80s, fresh music

MrJoesmokey

14y↑3

I remember having this poster on my bedroom wall when I was 15. I had a huge crush!

T Brown

13y↑1

You can best believe he dang sure did have this look when got sent to the joint back in the day!!! But anyway, I bought this cassette when I was in basic training in 1987 wow...I picked this joint up at the Sand Hill PX shopette.

LNW

5y↑1

This my baby right here😘. I love me some Chico fine💖💖. This song is so lit🔥‼️🖤💙💓💛💚💙💖

Lewis72

14y↑1

Just been listening to this from my '86-ish TDK D90 recorded from Radio 1's Robbie Vincent show!!

Rodney Wise

7y↑3

That guitar is HOT!!!

Matthew P.

2y↑1

I mean, who gives a shit if this sounds like Janet’s? The songs were also released the same year. This song was the JAM, and would have got me to the dancefloor twice a fast as what have you done for me lately. This song STILL gets me GOING. Don’t tell me you don’t roll those windows down, and turn this shit UP when you’re driving on a summer day. It’s the quintessential pop song!!!

PerseusJoppa

And Janet's was released almost one year before this one.

Domino

7y↑2

this was my wakeup song when living in the Chi...i was in H.S.

Nosferata138

3y↑4

This is so 80's....

VICTORIA777NESS

13y↑2

Everything. Love that part.

Jay Bee

4y↑2

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis must have produced this

Erik Stone

13y↑1

In This Future, This Song Would Be Playing On Sirius XM's The 80's On 8, WPLJ-FM's 95.5, WCBS-FM's 101.1, WRKS-FM's 98.7 Kiss-FM, WKTU-FM's 103.5, WEZN-FM's Star 99.9, WALK-FM's WALK 97.5, WBLS-FM's 107.5, WEBE-FM's WEBE 108, WFAS-FM's 103.9, WFAF-FM's 106.3, WBPM-FM's Classic Hits 92.9, WTIC-FM's 96.5, WHUD-FM's 100.7, WLTW-FM's New York's 106.7 Lite-FM, And More...

DOC Neptunia

2y↑1

J'ai toujours cet album Vinyle 33 tours

burger N Fries

7y↑14

I miss 1986.

Mike TheSilentHitMan Moore II

7y↑4

I bet

Dirk Diedens

6y↑1

Kiss serious and the album was also great.

Crystal P Cullen

9y↑2

Fine back then too. All the DeBarges have talent in their blood every lady one and the grand kids too

Coney Island Boo

A very talented family. Wish they were still making music

Alys Mari

5y↑7

I like the song. I remember it... But the cover...i just can't😂

Raishelle Delvalle

13y

I love you Chico, I dont care how you wore your hair in the 80's ;) MUAH!!!

Carla Huckaby

5y↑1

Back to the future!!

Gary Buechel

Someone owes flytetyme and janet a large check.lol.

Erik Stone

13y↑2

This Chico DeBarge 1986 Hit, "Talk To Me," Did Played From 0:05 To 2:10, During The Soul Train Scramble Board Segment, During The 519th Edition Of "Soul Train" On November 15, 1986, When 2 Soul Train Dancers Had 60 Seconds To Identified That Entertainment Actress, And It Was Shari Belafonte.

Funkenstein

5y↑4

The baseline is like: “I can’t go for that, nooo, no can do.”

F Khan

8y↑9

ROCKIN the Prince lOOk!

Lateshia Childs

in a way

contacte10

5y↑1

When listening to this i m felling like in 1985

patgarret06

13y

Enoooooooooorme !!!!!

Silver Feather

8y↑3

Omg ma jam!!!

J N

If you ever met an Indian person from
Guyana or Trinidad chico debarge is their god

Italian CIA

6y↑5

Those where they days

DannaeJay1959

13y↑1

I love this picture because he looks creative

Joann Johnson

5y↑5

This when my crush was hard on Chico Debarge .

Sergio Rivera

5y↑2

Chico DeBarge
"Talk To Me"
#21, 1986.

Tamika Gamble

@Sergio Rivera Yessss, that's right!!!

𝐵𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝐻𝒾𝓈 𝒮𝑜𝓊𝓁

9y↑6

rocking that half shirt

Anita Colotto

25w

Same jam as “ What Have You Done For Me Lately? “

Jay Bee

Sounds like a remix of "What have you done for me lately"

K Law

12y↑7

80's man, all u have to do is look at Prince, George Michaels, MJ, do I need to go on?Chico was young and just copied those guys until he found his own shaved head, bad boy look from being in prison!!

only1jamesp

4y↑3

He could never get away with that hair do and pose now days lol

Coney Island Boo

So true! Is he still incarcerated?

only1jamesp

Coney Island Boo nah where you been ? Lol. He got out in the late 90’s

Baltimore Colt

12y↑17

@xeternity4evax Yes. Every man in the '80s dressed like this. :/ Yes. I'm being sarcastic. Truthfully, I don't recall anyone giving a damn what anyone looked like back then. If the music was good, that was all that mattered. Chico could've looked like one of the guys from ZZ Top and no one would've cared and this song still would've been a hit. On the other hand, most artists back then were pressured to project a certain image regardless of their personal tastes. continued......

Iceway

Exactly

Debbie C

6y↑34

Kind of sound like Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately"?

naomi jenkins

Yes

Summer Lyric

5y↑2

This never occurred to me . wow.

frater P

4y↑3

And the Right stuff by new kids on the block

only1jamesp

First thing I thought even the breaks

p A

4y↑1

That's what Janet sampled I bet!

4 More Replies...

Luci1 Morningstar

This was the cut

spacecoyote909

12y

Damn babe...I was young when this song came out...now I see the video for this song...and, DAMN, what you do to an old lady in her heart attack years!!! I know you look nothing like that now...guess you've shaved your head by now...let it grow back...and do it again!!!

SIRI Starburst444💫

Janet Jackson's 'what have you done for me lately '

Kennith Adams

3y↑1

Bro/Son That Cover Picture You Took Call Talk To Me.Turn The World Up Side Down.Stay Fly Bro/Son.

khalil and tina channel Lee

He sooooo fine yesssss !!!!!

Moises Guerrero

isn’t that Karyn White on the back vocals?

Akera Reese

"The Right Stuff" by NKOTB sounds like this song, a little.

Marek M

5y↑1

Feels a bit like Prince

SCOTT SUMMERS RELOADED

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Zaire Dravis

1986 i was 4 ys old damn am get there

Baltimore Colt

12y↑4

@BaltimoreColt ........it was the golden age of MTV and you rarely saw guys in jeans and a t-shirt with no make-up. Unless it was a John Cougar Mellencamp video or something.

Alexis Mickens

8y↑2

So HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

73sark

12y

@sexytrannienj chico' pretty boy days! but he sang tough!

Zaire Dravis

5y↑4

I like chico but that but they should never let him pose for that cover like that .And he probably said same after he look back at.

Boss Lady

Lmao

Coney Island Boo

True that!

Richie Rich

38w

I thought Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were behind this song but they had nothing to do with it.

Coach King

Damn! I need to put on a
'Beverley Hills Cop' film straight after playing this.
Then order a deliveroo Chinese. No! A quick dash to the Chinese.

Rohan Padiyar

This song was classified as Freestyle?

Curt Pacheco

9y↑1

great mix u enhance?

Elliott Daughtry

what have you done for me lately?

Leonardo Ferraz

13y

is it chico mendez or prince??

Pleadship

6y↑1

This should've been a 12 inch

Coney Island Boo

Yes! I still have it!

1 More Replies...

Toddler Directioner

8y↑4

PUNKY BREWSTER BROUGHT ME HERE

islandbee

Really? Was this on one of the episodes? Loved that show. 80s had some awesome family TV back then.

Travis Taylor

@islandbee "Talk To Me," by Chico was right at the beginning of Punky Brewster, Season 3, Episode 1, "Reading, Writing, and Rock & Roll," for only 20 seconds or so. Also in that episode was Chico DeBarge, "Cross that Line," DeBarge, "Dance All Night," and "You're A Big Boy."

Coney Island Boo

Wasn't El DeBarge on "The Facts of Life"

basherman69

12y↑4

Hate the look. Love the song. 'Nuff said.

Ali Benhamouda

9y↑6

THE DEBARGE FAMILY IS VERY GREAT TALENT, EL DEBARGE AND CHICO DEBARGE IS VERY FANTASTIC, THE FUNKY MUSIC IS VERY TERRIFIC, THE SONG OF TODAY AS BORING AND STUPID

lorettalynn Davis

+Ali Benhamouda AGREED!

Coney Island Boo

unfortunately their demons destroyed them

Isaac Bobonis

5y↑2

Pose brought me here.

Mike TheSilentHitMan Moore II

14y

@Sharonda242 yes it is

Raishelle Delvalle

13y

@brown547 damnnnnn thas when i was born lol

pappiah23

13y

What's up with the tank top?

lorettalynn Davis

9y↑10

Wow, never realized how "gay" that album cover was lol!But the song was def funky! they just don't make em like this anymore!

Tre404

5y↑1

That's just the cover for the single. Not the album.

MultiMcKenzie09

13y

@sexytrannienj i know right

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