I Want You Back
Jackson Five (The Jacksons) Lyrics

Uh ohh
Expression of a feeling or realization of past mistakes

Let me tell you now
Request for attention and chance to speak

Uh huh
Acknowledgment of agreement or understanding

When I had you to myself
Reflecting on the past when the singer had exclusive access to the person addressed

I didn't want you around
Admission of taking the person for granted

Those pretty faces always made you
Explanation of why the singer didn't value the person addressed

Stand out in a crowd
A reason why others became interested in the person addressed

But someone picked you from the bunch
Acknowledgment of someone else taking interest and acting upon it

One glance was all it took
Description of the power of attraction

Now it's much too late for me
Regret for not valuing and losing the person addressed

To take a second look
The impossibility of reversing what happened

Oh, baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
A direct plea to the person addressed for another chance to make things right

Won't you please let me Back in your heart
A request to the person addressed to open up again

Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go (Let you go baby)
Admission of fault and regret for losing the person addressed

But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back) yes, I do now
Realization of the true desire for the person addressed

(I want you back) ooh ooh, baby (I want you back) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back) Now, now, now, now
Repetition of the desire to emphasize its strength and importance

Trying to live without your love Is one long sleepless night
Personal experience of the emotional pain caused by the absence of the person addressed

Let me show you girl That I know wrong from right
Promise to change and be a better partner if given another chance

Every street you walk on I leave tear stains on the ground
Description of the emotional pain and longing the singer experiences

Following the girl I didn't even want around
Admission of mistake and lack of proper appreciation

(Let me show you now)
Request for attention and chance to demonstrate sincerity

Oh, baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Reiteration of the plea for another chance

But now since I see you in his arms (Ohh) (bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) ah, buh bum, bum, bum (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) ah, buh bum, bum, bum All I want (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) ah, buh bum, bum, bum All I need (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) ah, buh bum, bum, bum All I want (Bum, bum, bum, bum-buh-bum, bum) ah, buh bum, bum, bum All I need
Expression of the singer's longing for the person addressed and desire to have them back

Oh, just one more chance To show that I love you Baby (baby) Baby (baby) Baby (baby) (I want you back)
Reiteration of the plea for another chance to demonstrate love for the person addressed

Forget what happened then (I want you back) Let me live again
Request to disregard past mistakes and give another opportunity for happiness

Oh, baby I was blind to let you go But now since I see you it is all (I want you back)
Acknowledgment of mistake and realization of true desire for the person addressed

Spare me of this cause Get back what I lost
Expression of the pain caused by the loss and the desire to regain what was lost

Oh baby I need one more chance, ha I tell ya that I love you Baby (Oh), baby (oh), baby (oh) I want you back, ha I want you back
Final plea for another chance and declaration of love and desire to have the person addressed back