You Keep Me Hangin' On
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics


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Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah

Set me free why don't cha babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)

Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out, get out of my life
Why don't you babe
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life
Why don't you babe

You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else

Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me

Go home, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on





You don't really need me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Diana Ross and the Supremes's song "You Keep Me Hangin' On" are often interpreted as a plea from someone in a frustrating relationship to their partner to let them go. They open with the singer calling out for their partner to set them free and get out of their life because they don't really love them - they're just keeping them hanging on. Throughout the song, the singer wonders why their partner keeps coming around and playing with their heart when they don't really need or want them. They ask to be allowed to move on and get over their partner, but struggle with the pain of seeing them and knowing that they're not really loved.


Line by Line Meaning

Set me free why don't cha babe
Please release me from this on-and-off relationship that's causing me pain and confusion.


Get out my life why don't cha babe
I want you to stop playing with my heart and leave me alone.


'Cause you don't really love me
I've come to realize that your feelings for me are not genuine.


You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along without any intention of committing to me.


You don't really need me
I'm starting to see that you don't require my presence or affection.


But you keep me hangin' on
Despite not needing me, you persist in keeping me emotionally attached to you.


Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
I don't understand why you keep returning to my life, only to manipulate my feelings.


Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a new start?
I want you to give me the space to move on with my life and start anew.


Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah
It's time for me to move on and let go of my lingering emotions for you, just as you have done.


Let me be why don't you babe
Please leave me alone and let me be.


No, you don't really want me
I'm starting to realize that you're not interested in pursuing a meaningful relationship with me.


You just keep me hangin' on
Despite not wanting me, you continue to string me along.


You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
You claim that we can maintain a platonic friendship despite our past romantic entanglement.


But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
I can't bear the pain of seeing you without wanting to rekindle the romance that we had.


(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
Unfortunately, I feel powerless to change my emotions.


You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You claim to have feelings for me but can't commit because you need freedom.


And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
Despite your desire for independence, you still want to keep me around for emotional fulfillment.


You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
It's becoming apparent that you're not interested in pursuing a serious relationship with me, so I should look for someone who is.


Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
I'm asking you to take responsibility for your actions and release me from your emotional grip.


Now you don't care a thing about me
It's clear to me that you don't have any genuine feelings or concern for me.


You're just using me
I feel like I'm being taken advantage of by you for your emotional fulfillment.


Go home, get out, get out of my life
I want you to leave my life and give me the space I need to move on.


And let me sleep at night
I need to be able to rest without worrying about our past or our future.


'Cause you don't really love me
I've come to the conclusion that your love for me is not genuine.


You just keep me hangin' on
Despite this realization, you are still stringing me along emotionally.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Peter-bu6ld

LYRICS:

Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a comin' around
Playing with my heart
Why don't you get out of my life
And let me make a new start
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me

Set me free why don't you babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really want me
But you keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
How can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)

Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
You keep me hangin' on

You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom
You still wanna hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else

Why don't you be a man about it
You just keep hangin' on
No you don't care a thing about me
You're just keep me hangin' on

Go on, get out of my life
Let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on

Go on, get out of my life why don't you, babe
You just keep me hangin' on
Get out of my life, get out of my life
You just keep me hangin' on



All comments from YouTube:

@39Kohm

This is a timeless song, the lyrics are relevant after any breakup, regardless of the decade you're in

@paulshepherd1348

They are indeed... my girlfriend broke up with me... but wants to see me as friends... how can that possibly work... this song nails my situation .

@laurenparker1091

Always will be.

@laurenparker1091

Definitely

@lisaparsons4124

Yes I agree and great singers

@elisehill3574

Exactly why I'm here. ☺️

@conradford7493

Can you imagine what your life would be like without music from Motown. Because I can't, this song is fire. If you grooving, then you have great taste.

@robertkyte4055

Can you dig it baby ?????? !!!
lol (Warriors )

@BlackMasakari

oh yes, that is beautiness and sencerely uplifting.

@ggttee3

No

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