I Want You Back
Jackson Five / Michael Jackson Lyrics

Uh-huh, huh, huh
The singer is responding in agreement to something that has been said or done.

Just let me tell you now
The singer is about to communicate a message or feeling that they need to express.

When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
When the singer had the person they loved to themselves, they did not appreciate their presence and did not want to be around them.

Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
The person the singer loved was always the center of attention because of their physical appearance.

But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Someone else noticed the person the singer loved from a crowd and was able to make this person fall in love with them quickly.

Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
The singer realizes that they should have paid more attention to the person they loved then and it is too late to do so now.

Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
The singer is pleading with the person they love to give them another opportunity to express their love.

Won't you please let me back in your heart
The singer is asking the person they love to open up their heart to them again.

Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
The singer did not realize how much they loved the person until they were gone and now feels foolish for letting them slip away.

But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
The singer is envious to see the person they love in another person's arms and wants them back for themselves.

Yes, I do now (I want you back)
The singer is admitting that they want the person they love back.

Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
The singer is expressing their longing to have the person they love come back to them.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
The singer is repeating their desire to have the person they love come back to them.

Na, na, na, na
The singer is using a nonsensical phrase to express their emotions.

Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
The singer cannot imagine living without the love of the person they adore; they are heartbroken and in despair.

Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
The singer is expressing their desire to correct any mistakes they may have made in the past and prove that they are capable of treating the person they love the way they deserve to be treated.

Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
The singer is crying so much that tears fall every time they think about the person they love, to the point where it is noticeable to anyone who follows in their footsteps.

Following the girl I didn't even want around
The singer is following the person they love, even though they did not appreciate their presence when they had them, because they would do anything to be with them now.

Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
The singer is repeating their plea for another opportunity to prove their love to the person they adore.

Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
The singer is using a series of nonsensical syllables to express their strong emotions.

All I want
The singer only wants one thing: to be with the person they love.

Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
The singer is again asking for another opportunity to prove their love to the person they love.

Forget what happened then (I want you back)
The singer is expressing their willingness to forget any mistakes or problems from the past to convince the person they love to come back to them.

Let me live again
The singer is expressing their desire to find happiness and meaning in life again by being reunited with the person they adore.

Spare me of this cause
The singer is asking to be excused from feeling sorrow and regret over losing the person they love.

Get back what I lost
The singer is expressing their desire to regain the love and affection of the person they have lost.

Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
The singer repeats their plea for another opportunity to prove their love to the person they adore.

I tell ya that I love you
The singer is expressing their deep, sincere feelings of love to the person they adore.

Baby (oh), baby (oh), baby (oh)
The singer is calling out to the person they love using a term of endearment.

I want you back, ha
The singer repeats their desire to be reunited with the person they love.

I want you back
The singer repeats their plea for the person they love to come back to them.