How Come You Dont Call Me
Justin Timberlake feat. Alicia Keys Lyrics


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But all I wanna know, baby is
If what we have was good (oh, whoa, oh, oh)
Just pick up the motherfucking phone, damn
Ayy
Yeah, baby, mm
Uh, lemme tell you somethin'

I keep your picture upside my bed, mm
And I still remember everything you said, mm, ayy
I always thought our love was so right
I guess I was wrong (oh, yeah), mm
Always thought you'll be by my side
Papa, now you're gone
And I'm not tryna hear that shit, uh

What I wanna know baby, if what we had was good?
How come you don't call me anymore?
Mm, anymore
Yeah, you see what I'm sayin'?

Still like a fire on a rainy night
You ain't think that did you?
I still like it better when you're holding me tight
You know, yeah
Everybody said, everybody said, that we should never part
You know we look kinda good together, uh (no, no)
Tell me baby, baby, baby why
Why you wanna go and break my heart? Ayy ooh

All I wanna know is baby, if what we had was good?
How come you don't call me anymore? Oh, ayy (call me anymore)
Uh, uh, you know what?

Sometimes it feels like I'm gonna die
If you don't call me, papa
Ooh, you got to try
Won't get down on my knees
Won't beg you please
Please (oh)
Ooh, won't you call me sometime, papa?
You know it's just one lousy quarter
Why don't you call me anymore? Yeah

Why on earth can't you just pick up the phone?
You know I don't like to be alone
How come you don't call me? (Why must you torture me?)
How come you don't call me? Yeah, yeah




How come you don't call me?
(Oh, call me sometime)

Overall Meaning

The song "How Come You Don't Call Me" by Justin Timberlake featuring Alicia Keys is an emotional ballad about a person who is seeking answers from their partner about the loss of their relationship. The song starts with the singer expressing their deep longing for their partner by stating that they keep their picture upside down on their bed and still remember everything they said. However, the singer is puzzled and unable to cope with the fact that their partner left them without any explanation. The singer highlights that they always thought their love was strong and would never end, but their partner decided to leave. The chorus accentuates the singer's confusion by questioning why their partner stopped calling them and why they left. The lyrics convey the impact of unexplained and sudden breakups on individuals.


The second verse talks about the physical and emotional connection the couple had with each other. The singer reminisces holding onto their partner during rainy nights like a lover. The singer reflects on the fact that everyone around them thought they were perfect together and would never part ways. But their relationship ended abruptly, and they can't seem to understand the reason for the same. The lyrics underline the fact that the singer feels betrayed and left alone. The singer makes an emotional appeal to their partner to call them and explain why they left.


The last verse delivers an emotional plea, where the singer feels like they would die if their partner didn't call them back. They are willing to do anything to make their partner call them or come back to them. However, the song ends on a note of despair, where the singer is left with unanswered questions and uncertainty about their future. The lyrics convey the emotional intensity of the singer's turmoil and the suffering they are enduring due to the breakup.


Line by Line Meaning

I keep your picture upside my bed (umm)
I still cherish our memories and have your picture close to me as a reminder of our love


And I still remember everything you said (umm)
I hold onto every word you said to me and reminisce about our conversations


I always thought our love was so right
I genuinely believed that we had a strong and true relationship


I guess I was wrong (oh)
Unfortunately, it appears that I was mistaken about the strength of our relationship


Always thought you'll be by my side
I assumed you would always be there for me through thick and thin


Pappa, now you're gone
But now you've left and abandoned me, pappa


What I wanna know baby, if what we had was good
I'm curious to know if our relationship was as good as I remember it being


How come you don't call me, anymore
Why have you stopped calling me and maintaining contact with me?


Still like a fire on a rainy night
Thinking back on our love and being with you still ignites a passion within me


I still like it better when you holding me tight
I feel the best when you are holding me tightly in your arms, providing comfort and security


Everybody said, everybody said, that we should never part, no no
Despite what others said, we believed that we should never separate from each other


Telling me baby baby baby why
Now I am pleading with you to explain why our relationship had to end in this way


Why you wanna go and break my heart
I am struggling to understand why you wanted to break my heart by leaving me


All I wanna know is baby, if what we had was good
My only desire right now is to find out if our relationship was as good and true as I believed it to be


How come you don't call me anymore
I need to know why you have completely cut off communication with me


Sometimes it feels like I'm gonna die
The pain of being without you can be unbearable, and it feels like it may consume me completely


If you don't call me, pappa
If you refuse to reach out to me, pappa


Oh, you got to try
I am begging you to give our relationship another chance and try


I'll get down on me knees hoping you please
I am willing to humble myself and plead with you to reconsider


Please (oh oh)
I desperately need you to hear me out and consider my plea


Won't you call me sometime, pappa
I ask that you take the time to reach out to me and maintain communication with me, pappa


Why don't you call me
I am still incredibly hurt and confused about why you have cut off communication with me


Why on earth can't you just pick up the phone
I can't understand why it's so difficult for you to reach out to me and explain the situation


You know I don't like to be alone
Being without you is incredibly difficult for me and I need your companionship


How come you don't call me (why must you torture me)
The pain of being without you is like torture and I don't understand why you aren't reaching out to me


How come you don't call me
I am still struggling to comprehend why you have completely cut off communication with me




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Debby Drutz

OMG, this song just ROCKS. Originally written by Prince but Alicia rocks it!!

Brian Beveney

I just heard PRINCE'S version for the first time and found myself singing along and wondering "How comes I know these lyrics"? RIP Prime, you surely wrote many masterpieces. Alicia I believe you done the tune some serious justice baby!

:D

perfect song!

Teodora Maksimovic

great song....remix is much better then the original...

Χριστιανα Τεργαζη

οκ

Mr. Freakness

@art15t they recorded this tune when the neptunes worked with Justin on Justified back in early 2002 so Alicia Insisted to have Justin on the vocals too. you can hear him at the near end of the track and on the whole tune doing adlibs together with Pharrell but the original remix is 4:25 long so check out the full tune and ull be able to hear him at the end

Teodora Maksimovic

@supermariogr1 Everybody can have an opinion, and I think that this isn't shit. I like also original version, but for me - this one is better.

Spencer Blackhurst

I've always loved this version, pity it's not available on Spotify.

keirasawyer

can someone please upload the original????

art15t

Where was justin on the song?

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