The band was formed in 1990 by Greg Mckenna and Kay Hanley, from ashes of their former band, Rebbecca Lula. After numerous member changes, the classic Letters to Cleo line-up was solidified. They included Hanley and Mckenna, Mike Eisenstein on guitar, Stacy Jones on drums and Scott Riebling on bass. After years of playing the Boston club circuit, including TT The Bears Place and The Rathskellar, Letters released their first full length record, Aurora Gory Alice on CherryDisc in 1993.
The album received extensive airplay around the region and after a much hyped show at South by Southwest in Austin, Letters to Cleo signed a major label record deal with Giant Records and Aurora Gory Alice was re-released worldwide.
They had their first big hit single with "Here & Now" and the song would later appear on the Melrose Place soundtrack, where it got most of its exposure. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart. Appearances on Conan O'Brien and Jon Stewart followed.
In 1995, Wholesale Meats and Fish was released and followed by extensive tours with Our Lady Peace, Sponge, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and others. The single "Awake" was released and achieved moderate rotation on alternative radio. The band also recorded a cover of The Cars song "The Dangerous Type" for the major motion picture, The Craft.
In 1997, Stacy Jones left the band to join Veruca Salt and was replaced by Tom Polce. That same year, LTC's third album "Go" was released. After a short tour, Polce left the band and was replaced by drummer Jason Sutter. In late 1997, Letters to Cleo parted ways with their record label Giant/Revolution.
1998 saw the release of some early demos and B-sides in the form of the "Sister" EP on Wicked Disc.
Letters to Cleo appeared in the film 10 Things I Hate about You in 1999 (one of the characters considers them a favorite band). They contributed three songs to the soundtrack for the film, including one original track, "Come On", a Cheap Trick cover ("I Want You to Want Me") and a Nick Lowe cover ("Cruel to Be Kind"). Whereas the covers appeared on the film's sountrack, "Come On" did not. It was released as an MP3 downloadable from the Band's website. During that same year, LTC opened for Cheap Trick at The Paradise club in Boston.
The band played its last show on May 4, 2000, a benefit for their friend and longtime local supporter, Mikey D. They announced their disbandment in the Boston Globe the following month. Most of the band members are now involved in solo careers. Most notable is Kay Hanley's career, which produced the album "Cherry Marmalade in 2002 and the EP The Babydoll EP in 2004. Hanley also provided the singing voice for the Josie character in the 2001 motion picture Josie and the Pussycats.
Former drummer Stacy Jones went on to form American Hi-Fi with fellow Boston musicians Drew Parsons, Jamie Arentzen and Brian Nolan.
Scott Riebling went into the production side of music and is now a highly sought after producer and engineer.
Co-founding member Greg McKenna is currently finishing work on his solo project, Murder Capitol of the World. The debut album is due in 2007.
I Want You To Want Me
Letters to Cleo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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
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
I want you to want me
I desire for you to have a strong attraction and longing towards me
I want you to want me
I desire for you to have a strong attraction and longing towards me
I want you to want me
I desire for you to have a strong attraction and longing towards me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rick Nielsen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yến Đặng Phi
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'll put on a brand new shirt
I'll get home early from work
if you say that you love me.
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin, cryin').
Oh, Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin, cryin')
Feelin' all alone without a friend
you know you feel like dyin' (dyin', dyin').
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin', 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'll put on a brand new shirt
I'll get home early from work
if you say that you love me.
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin, cryin').
Oh, Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin, cryin')
Feelin' all alone without a friend
you know you feel like dyin' (dyin', dyin').
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin', cryin').
Feelin' all alone without a friend
you know you feel like dyin' (dyin', dyin').
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin', cryin').
Feelin' all alone without a friend
you know you feel like dyin' (dyin', dyin').
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I,
see you cryin' (cryin', 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.
10 things I hate about you brings me here.
♫ ALEX MILKE ♫
quiero que me quieras
necesito que me necesites
me gustaría que me ames
te suplico que me supliques
quiero que me quieras
necesito que me necesites
me gustaría que me ames
limpiaré mis viejos zapatos cafés
me pondré una camiseta nueva
llegaré a casa temprano del trabajo
si me dices que me amas
no te ví, no te ví, no te ví llorando
Oh no te ví, no te ví, no te ví llorando
sientiendote sola, sin un amigo, sabes que se siente como morir
Oh no te ví, no te ví, no te ví llorando
quiero que me quieras
necesito que me necesites
me gustaría que me ames
te suplico que me supliques
Halfblood witch
No matter how many times I rewatch 10 things I hate about you, I still love it and never get bored of it
MacKenzie Peach
SAAMEEEE
robertdowneyjr
literally same
TVA Loki Batman
That movie was my perfect watch before my graduation
HairyDogfather
Amen. Its such an easy, great watch
Juan Pedro Santos
Where Can I Watch 10 Things I Hate About You
Marta Marković
You know you can't buy me a guitar everytime you screw up? Yeah but you know there's always drums, bass and maybe one day even a tambourine. 10 things I hate about you one of my fave movies ❤️❤️❤️
SeleneandMichael
I really love that movie too.
Kiara Lucar
I REALLY FELT THAT MOMENT
Donna Upsall
Yes