Play Me
Level 42 Lyrics


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I must say you`re really something else
The way you`re tearing down my house
And I know you`d never stoop so low
As to rebuild it somewhere else

You know how to play me
Everybody knows you can handle me
Play me
Nothing can compare with what I`ve found today

It hasn`t always been this good
I haven`t always loved you like I should
But it`s really something else
I love you like I never thought I could

You got to play me
Everybody knows I been woman handled

Play me
Nothing can compare with what I`ve found today

Been out on my own
For too many years
You came not a day too soon - I was out of my mind
You swallowed my pride
And dried all my tears
Gone is the only tune
I sang

You really know
You really know how to
You really know how to play me

All the women of my dreams
Were the kind who lived beyond my means
But I know you`d never stoop so low
Your love is always what it seems

You got to play me
Everybody knows I`ve been - woman handled

Play me
Nothing can compare with what I`ve found today

Here in the night
It`s a shot in the dark
For sure that`s a chance I`ll take -one day at a time
A feeling so right
It`s a walk in the park
It`s so easy to make or break
She sang
So easy

Suis reste seul
Pour trop longtemps
Vide de coeur
Vide de sens
Tu es arrivee




Secher mes larmes
Reconforte, je te regarde

Overall Meaning

The song "Play Me" by Level 42 is a love song that expresses a man's deep love and admiration for his partner. In the first verse, the songwriter acknowledges his partner's exceptional nature, stating that she is different from other people and has the power to destroy his house (metaphor for life and comfort) yet would not consider rebuilding it elsewhere. This sets up the central theme of the song, which is the woman's influence over the man.


The second verse highlights how the songwriter's feelings towards his partner have evolved over time due to her impressive character. He admits that he did not always love or appreciate her as he should have but now feels that her love is incomparable to anything else he has ever known. The chorus confronts the fact that the woman has a way of handling the man that no one else can. Despite any past relationships, he insists that he has finally found what he is looking for in life.


Towards the end of the song, the lyrics are sung in French, adding an alluring, sensual quality to the song, and emphasizing the magnitude of the love he has for his partner. Overall, the song is about the power of love, the impact one person can have on another, and the depth of emotion that can be experienced in a relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

I must say you`re really something else
You are special in a unique and amazing way.


The way you`re tearing down my house
The way you are causing chaos and destruction in my life.


And I know you`d never stoop so low As to rebuild it somewhere else
And I know you wouldn't cause further damage by moving on to someone new.


You know how to play me
You know how to manipulate me into doing what you want.


Everybody knows you can handle me
Everyone knows that you have control over me.


Play me
Keep manipulating me to your advantage.


Nothing can compare with what I`ve found today
No matter what I've experienced in the past, nothing can compare to what you've given me now.


It hasn't always been this good
Our relationship hasn't always been positive.


I haven`t always loved you like I should
I didn't always appreciate you as much as I should have.


But it`s really something else
But now it's an entirely different story.


I love you like I never thought I could
I love you more than I ever believed was possible.


Everybody knows I been woman handled
Everyone knows that you have been treating me poorly and manipulating me.


Been out on my own
I have been independent and single for a long time.


For too many years
For a significant period of time.


You came not a day too soon - I was out of my mind
Your arrival was timely, I was at the end of my rope.


You swallowed my pride
You helped me overcome my sense of pride and ego.


And dried all my tears
And you alleviated my emotional pain and distress.


Gone is the only tune
I used to be stuck in a cycle of distress and unhappiness, but now that's gone.


You really know how to
You have a talent for manipulating me.


All the women of my dreams Were the kind who lived beyond my means
All my past partners have been expensive and out of my league.


Your love is always what it seems
Your love is genuine and honest, unlike my past experiences.


Here in the night It`s a shot in the dark For sure that`s a chance I`ll take -one day at a time
Being with you is risky, uncertain, but I'm willing to take it one day at a time.


A feeling so right It`s a walk in the park It`s so easy to make or break She sang So easy
Being with you feels natural and effortless, like it's meant to be.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WALIOU JACQUES BADAROU, PHILIP GABRIEL GOULD, MARK KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kari Anderson

Seriously one of the BEST live bands ever...

Per Sjögren-Gulve

OMG! 💖🎈💕🎼🎵🎶 What a terrific tune, and incredible riff & beat! The beat is simply superb!! Outstanding (!) - bursting my happiness and dancing! Loving congrats, you wonderful guys!👍👍💖🎈💕

Rottie

It always astounds me how musicians who perform so many songs remember all the lyrics.
As well as Level 42,
Rod Stewart and Elton John are classic examples!

Kneeley Davis

I agree, I heard that Madonna was singing one of her songs and she forgot some of her lyrics.

a jo zad

I was wondering without Mike who was going to sing the French lines. Nice job Nathan! One of my fav songs !

FunkyFlunky

A Level 42 classic. Always a great groove and played so well live as always. Long may it be so. Many thanks.😷👍👍😷

Caroline Keogh

Amazing live version, sublime, perfection!

Per Sjögren-Gulve

Several of them!....

Stephen Alan Moore

Exactly, the original studio version of 'Play Me' that was included on their 'Forever Now' album was good, but (like many of Level 42's best songs) it sounds even better when played 'Live'.

I'm really looking forward to seeing them play again at The Sage, Gateshead on October 14th this year, as they always put on a great show.

Level 42 are a multi talented band with a fantastic back catalogue of material (stretching back 43 years) to draw their set lists from.

AmandaL42

I must say you`re really something else
The way you`re tearing down my house... I love that line. Great song! 💖

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