In the bridge, the narrator acknowledges that life has its problems, and she may seem edgy at times but promises that she never intends to take it out on her partner. She reiterates her love for her partner and asks for their understanding.
In the third verse, the narrator admits that she is human and hence, has her own set of faults. Sometimes even a simple thing may seem foolish in retrospect, and she regrets it. The outro of the song depicts the narrator pleading to not be misunderstood, and suggests that she tries hard to avoid misunderstandings.
Overall, the song showcases the fear of being judged for one's flaws, shortcomings, and mistakes and the desire for understanding and acceptance despite them.
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Lana Del Rey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If sometimes you see that I'm mad
Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
With a joy that's hard to hide
And then sometimes again it seems that all I have is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy
I want you to know
I never meant to take it out on you
Life has its problems
And I get more than my share
But that's one thing I never mean to do
'Cause I love you
Oh-oh-baby, I'm just human
Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
Sometimes I find myself alone
Regretting some little foolish thing
There's some simple thing that I've done
'Cause I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I try so hard, don't let me be misunderstood
I try so hard, don't let me be misunderstood
In Lana Del Rey's haunting cover of the classic song "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," she pleads with her lover to understand her complexities and not judge her too harshly. The lyrics speak to the universal longing for acceptance and empathy, especially during times of emotional turbulence. She acknowledges that she is not perfect and sometimes shows a darker side of herself, but she urges her partner to see that her intentions are always pure. She shares her fears of being misunderstood or judged too harshly, asking for patience and understanding instead.
The song touches on themes of vulnerability and the fear of being judged too harshly, which are common in romantic relationships. It's a reminder that even when we love someone deeply, we may not always understand their moods or behaviors. However, with love, patience, and acceptance, we can work through these challenges and find deeper connections with our partners.
Interestingly, the original version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" was recorded by Nina Simone in 1964, and has since been covered by countless artists across multiple genres. It is a timeless song that speaks to the human experience of wanting to be seen and understood.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, you understand me now
I hope you understand me and my complexities.
If sometimes you see that I'm mad
If I sometimes appear angry, it doesn't mean I'm always that way.
Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel?
Everyone has their flaws and moments of imperfection.
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad
When things don't go as planned, people might exhibit negative behavior.
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Despite my missteps, I have good intentions.
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope others understand my intentions and don't judge me too harshly.
You know sometimes, baby, I'm so carefree
At times, I am happy and carefree.
With a joy that's hard to hide
I have moments of happiness that are infectious and hard to suppress.
And then sometimes again it seems that all I have is worry
But at other times, I am burdened with worry and anxiety.
And then you're bound to see my other side
When I am overwhelmed with worry or anxiety, it might show a different side of me.
If I seem edgy
If I appear agitated or irritable,
I want you to know
But I want you to understand
I never meant to take it out on you
I didn't intend to project my negative emotions onto you.
Life has its problems
Life is tough and challenging.
And I get more than my share
I might face more problems than the average person.
But that's one thing I never mean to do
But please know that I never intend to hurt you.
'Cause I love you
My love for you is steadfast and true.
Oh-oh-baby, I'm just human
I'm not perfect, I'm only human
Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
I hope you understand that I'm not immune to making mistakes.
Sometimes I find myself alone
There are moments when I am alone with my thoughts.
Regretting some little foolish thing
I might regret a small or foolish action I took.
There's some simple thing that I've done
It could be something simple that I did, but it still weighs on me.
I try so hard, don't let me be misunderstood
I am always striving to be understood and accepted for who I am.
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on West Coast
Amazing how the film maker lifted the filming of this video directly from the Chet Baker documentary Let's Get Lost - black & white hanging at the beach and cruising in the backs of convertables
ciggywater
on National Anthem
such a goddess
Abygail Fernandez Smith
on West Coast
ganda
Inside Bilderberg
on Cruel World
Love this song.
Romatizzalid Bozin Veda Loca
on West Coast
barcelona akhawa
Dawit Dawit
on Ultraviolence
nice
Dawit Dawit
on West Coast
best