Tell Me What You Want
Loose Ends Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want

If you want me to love you
If you want me to hug you
Tell me what you want

If you want me to squeeze you
If you want me to please you
Tell me what you want, oh

I seen you walking home
On my way home from school
You got to glance at me
You think you're acting cool

My friends have told me
That you wanna know my name
Let's stop this peek-a-boo
Come clean and state your game, oh no no

I'm not really sure
If I should love you, baby
You keep coming back for more
You're driving me crazy

Should I hug you?
Should I love you?
Should I please you?
Should I squeeze you?

Tell me what you want
I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind, oh baby
Tell me what you want
'Cause I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind

Every night I dream of being by your side
And [Incomprehensible]
I feel so lost 'cause I wish I was your guy
Give me a chance, I wanna try love again

Quit playing games with me
Lovin? don't come free
I'll dry my eyes
And listen to your sweet talking lies

Ohh don't you that I'm not telling lies
Maybe you've gone crazy
You took me by surprise
Please believe me, baby

Should I tell you
When I want you?
That I'm always
Thinking of you

Tell me what you want
I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind, oh
Tell me what you want
Darling, won't you tell me what you want, baby

Tell me what you want
'Cause I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind
Tell me what you want
Why don't you tell me what you want, baby
Right now

Oh baby, tell me what you want
'Cause I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind, no
Tell me what you want, no

Tell me what you want
'Cause I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind, no
Tell me what you want
No, can't you give it to me, girl

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you want

Tell me what you want




Tell me what you want
Tell me

Overall Meaning

The song "Tell Me What You Want" by Loose Ends is about a person who is expressing their confusion and frustration with a potential love interest who has yet to make their feelings and intentions clear. The singer is asking the person to be direct and honest about their desires and to let them know what they want from the relationship. The lyrics evoke a sense of impatience and eagerness, as the singer is ready to give their love to the other person but is held back by their uncertainty about the other's feelings. The chorus repeats the phrase "Tell me what you want" several times, emphasizing the importance of clear communication.


Throughout the song, the singer suggests different possible actions they could take, such as hugging, loving, pleasing, and squeezing the other person, but ultimately they cannot make a decision without knowing what the other person wants. Despite their frustration, the singer remains hopeful and persists in their pursuit of love, believing that the other person is worth the effort. The song ends on a plea for honesty and openness, as the singer recognizes that only through direct communication can they truly connect with the other person.


Overall, "Tell Me What You Want" is a relatable song about the challenges of navigating relationships and the importance of clear communication in building meaningful connections.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me what you want
The singer is asking the listener to communicate their desires and needs clearly.


If you want me to love you
The singer is asking the listener if they desire love and affection.


If you want me to hug you
The singer is asking the listener if they desire physical closeness.


Tell me what you want
The artist is repeating their request for clear communication.


If you want me to squeeze you
The artist is asking the listener if they desire physical intimacy.


If you want me to please you
The singer is asking the listener if they want to be pleased in any way.


I seen you walking home
The singer saw the listener walking home.


On my way home from school
The artist was on their way home from school.


You got to glance at me
The artist noticed the listener looking at them.


You think you're acting cool
The artist is interpreting the listener's behavior as an attempt to appear cool or nonchalant.


My friends have told me
The singer's friends have conveyed information about the listener to them.


That you wanna know my name
The listener has expressed a desire to know the artist's name.


Let's stop this peek-a-boo
The singer suggests that the listener be upfront and honest with their intentions instead of playing games or being unclear.


Come clean and state your game, oh no no
The singer wants the listener to be honest and clear about their intentions or desires.


I'm not really sure
The singer is unsure about how to feel or act towards the listener.


If I should love you, baby
The artist is questioning whether or not they should love the listener.


You keep coming back for more
The listener continues to pursue the artist despite their uncertainty.


You're driving me crazy
The listener's actions are causing the singer distress or frustration.


Should I hug you?
The singer is asking the listener if they desire physical closeness or comfort.


Should I love you?
The artist is questioning whether or not they should develop romantic feelings for the listener.


Should I please you?
The artist is asking if the listener has any specific desires or needs that they want to be fulfilled.


Should I squeeze you?
The artist is asking if the listener desires physical intimacy.


I ain't psychic, I can't read your mind, oh baby
The singer cannot know the listener's desires or thoughts without communication.


Every night I dream of being by your side
The artist wants to be with the listener romantically.


And [Incomprehensible]
This line is unclear and cannot be given a meaningful interpretation.


I feel so lost 'cause I wish I was your guy
The singer wants to be in a romantic relationship with the listener but feels uncertain or unconfident.


Give me a chance, I wanna try love again
The singer wants the opportunity to try being in a romantic relationship with the listener.


Quit playing games with me
The artist is frustrated with the listener's unclear or manipulative behavior.


Lovin? don't come free
The artist is suggesting that there is a cost or sacrifice to being in a romantic relationship.


I'll dry my eyes
The singer will stop crying or being upset.


And listen to your sweet talking lies
The singer is accusing the listener of being dishonest or insincere.


Ohh don't you that I'm not telling lies
The artist wants to reassure the listener that they are telling the truth.


Maybe you've gone crazy
The artist is suggesting that the listener is behaving irrationally or illogically.


You took me by surprise
The listener's behavior or actions were unexpected to the artist.


Please believe me, baby
The singer wants the listener to trust them or believe what they are saying.


Should I tell you
The artist is asking the listener if they want to be informed about something.


When I want you?
The singer is asking the listener if they want to be pursued romantically.


That I'm always
The singer is emphasizing their consistency in thought or feeling.


Thinking of you
The singer regularly thinks about the listener.


Darling, won't you tell me what you want, baby
The artist wants the listener to communicate their desires or needs in a caring way.


No, can't you give it to me, girl
The artist is frustrated that the listener has not communicated their desires or needs.




Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN LEE HARVEY, MARK REID, JONATHON LESLEY BECKFORD, TERENCE MARK COLDWELL, JOHN DARREN HENDY, IVOR REID, JANE EUGENE, CARL G. MCINTOSH, STEVE ORLANDO NICHOL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

East london A.M.W

One of the best soul bands in the world still banging even after 30 odd years. Timeless music And straight out of London town.

Richard Potter

Hugely underrated.

Rusty Walker

True! Jazz and soul from the Quiet Storm era! Underrated! Nice funky bass and jazz guitar. Harmonies. Should have been bigger hits.

Music fiend

You said it! Truth!

Rusty Walker

One of the finest funk, R&B soul groups of the Quiet Storm years! โค๏ธ

steven chavez

these folks got some slamming music much respect to these Londoners..

Sten Lindgren

This tune NEVER NEVER gets old ..... its brilliant!

Corey Sheppard

I freaking love the guitar in this record. And that bass line. What a great sound!

Ladyj 4FT

wicked xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kade.S

From spring of 1984, and their first charting single.

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