I Want You to Want Me
Letter Lyrics

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I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'll shine up my old brown shoes

I put on a brand new shirt
I get home early from work
If you say that you love me

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'
Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'

I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
I'll shine up my old brown shoes
I put on a brand new shirt
I get home early from work
If you say that you love me

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'
Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin' (hey!)

Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'

I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
I want you to want me
I want you to want me

I want you to want me
I want you to want me

Overall Meaning

The song 'I Want You to Want Me' by Letters to Cleo is a cover of Cheap Trick's original song of the same name, released in 1977. The lyrics express the innate human desire for love and affection from someone they desire. The chorus repeats the three-fold statements of wanting, needing, and loving the other person, followed by an almost desperate plea to be desired and begged for. The singer promises to change and make the effort to win the affection of the other person, shining up their old brown shoes and wearing a new shirt, eagerly waiting to hear the words, "I love you."

The song's repetition of the phrase "didn't I see you cryin'" suggests that the person being addressed in the song might have been hurt before and feels alone and isolated. The singer is asking the other person to acknowledge their pain and let them be there to offer comfort and support.

One of the interesting facts about this song is that while it was originally released in 1977, it only became a hit in 1979 after Cheap Trick performed a faster, more upbeat, and live version of the song at the Budokan in Japan. This version was featured on the album 'Cheap Trick at Budokan' and became the band's biggest-selling single. Letters to Cleo's version was used as the theme song for the hit TV show '10 Things I Hate About You' in 1999, and the band performed the song live during the film's opening credits.

Line by Line Meaning

I want you to want me
I desire for you to have a strong attraction and longing towards me

I need you to need me
I require you to have a deep reliance and dependence on me

I'd love you to love me
I would greatly enjoy if you had a sincere affection and passion for me

I'm beggin' you to beg me
I am pleading for you to implore me and show intense desire for me

I'll shine up my old brown shoes
I will spruce up and present my best self to try to win your affection

I put on a brand new shirt
I am willing to make changes to my appearance to impress you

I get home early from work
I will prioritize spending time with you and being available for you

If you say that you love me
I am dependent on your reciprocation of love and affection

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'
I have noticed your pain and sadness, and want to offer comfort and support

Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying
You are experiencing deep loneliness, and feel like you cannot carry on without someone by your side

Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying (hey!)
This is a serious matter and I want to emphasize how important it is to me that you have emotional support

I want you to want me
I desire for you to have a strong attraction and longing towards me