You Keep Me Hangin' On
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics


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(Keep me hangin' on)

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really need me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)

Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa,
Yeah, yeah

Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on

Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me, hey, abusing me

Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)




'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of London Symphony Orchestra's song You Keep Me Hangin' On explore the emotions of a person who is trapped in a toxic relationship. The song is about a person who is seeking freedom from a relationship that is no longer fulfilling. The lyrics express how the person in the relationship feels used and abused by their partner. The person is pleading with their partner to set them free and let them move on. The repetition of the chorus line "You just keep me hangin' on" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and unable to move on from a relationship that is no longer fulfilling.


Throughout the song, the singer is pleading with their partner to set them free. They want to move on and get over the relationship, but their partner keeps coming back and "playing with [their] heart." The singer is frustrated with this and asks their partner to let them move on and make a fresh start. They feel that it is impossible to remain friends with their ex-partner and that seeing them only breaks their heart again.


Overall, the song explores the complex emotions of a person who is trying to move on from a toxic relationship. The repetition of the chorus line "You just keep me hangin' on" adds to the feeling of being trapped and unable to move on.


Line by Line Meaning

Set me free why don't cha babe
Please release me from the emotional captivity you have put me in


Get out my life why don't cha babe
Please leave my life as I need to heal and move on


'Cause you don't really love me
You are not in love with me, you just can't let go of the power you have over me


You just keep me hangin' on
You are selfishly holding onto me as a means of maintaining control over me


Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why do you keep coming back into my life just to toy with my emotions?


Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Please leave me alone so I can start over without you


Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
Allow me to move on from you, just like how you have moved on from me


You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
You claim you want to maintain a friendship, but that is not possible for me


But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
Being around you just causes me to feel pain and heartache, making friendship impossible


Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Musical interlude


Get out, get out of my life
Leave me alone once and for all


And let me sleep at night
Spare me the pain and let me find peace in my own time


You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You claim to care about me, but you are not ready for a committed relationship


And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You want to keep me around even though you have the freedom to do as you please


You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
You don't truly want to be with me, so let me move on and find someone who does


Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Be mature and allow me to move on from the relationship


Now you don't care a thing about me
You are no longer invested in our relationship or my well-being


You're just using me, hey, abusing me
You are only keeping me around for your own selfish reasons and it is harmful to my emotional wellbeing


Get out, get out of my life
Once again, please leave me alone and let me move on


And let me sleep at night
Let me find peace and healing without your presence in my life


'Cause you don't really love me
The truth is, you never truly loved me


You just keep me hangin' on
You are only keeping me around to satisfy your own desires, regardless of what I need or want




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Androyd

Brilliant.

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