Don't Answer Me
Matt Monro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you would always stay
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
Don't you see that now you've gone
And I'm left here on my own
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
But believe me I'll never tie you down
Left alone with just a memory
Life seems dead and quite unreal
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand believe me, believe me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand, believe me, believe me
The lyrics of Matt Monro's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" are a poignant reflection on love, loss, and acceptance. The song expresses the singer's realization that his partner has abandoned him, and despite the hurt and the pain, he accepts it and doesn't want them to feel forced or obliged to love him back. The opening lines make it clear that the singer had been open about his need for the other person's love, but they did not reciprocate. The line "It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away" highlights the fact that the partner has changed their mind and left, leaving the singer disheartened.
Throughout the song, the singer conveys his longing for his partner but also acknowledges that forcing them to come back would be futile. The lines "But believe me, I'll never tie you down/ Left alone with just a memory" reveals the pain he feels at being alone but wanting his partner to be free from any kind of obligation or feeling of compulsion. Ultimately, the chorus sums up the message of the song: "You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand/ You don't have to stay forever I will understand/ Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you"
One of the most interesting things about this song is its origin. It was originally written in Italian and titled "Io che non vivo (senza te)" by Pino Donaggio and Vito Pallavicini. The song was a big hit in Italy, and it was later translated to English by Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell.
Line by Line Meaning
When I said I needed you
When I expressed that I required your love and support
You said you would always stay
You assured me that you will always be with me
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
It was not me who altered our relationship, but you and you left me alone
Don't you see that now you've gone
Can't you realize that you have abandoned me
And I'm left here on my own
And I am left here, all by myself
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
I have no choice but to implore you to return back to me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not tell me that you love me as long as you are near me
You don't have to stay forever I will understand
You don't have to be with me for eternity, I comprehend
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
Believe me, it's impossible for me to stop loving you
But believe me I'll never tie you down
But trust me, I will never restrict you or pin you down
Left alone with just a memory
All by myself with nothing but memories
Life seems dead and quite unreal
Life feels lifeless and surreal
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
I am only left with solitude, there's nothing else to feel
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not tell me that you love me as long as you are near me
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to be with me for eternity
I will understand believe me, believe me
I will comprehend, trust me, trust me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not tell me that you love me as long as you are near me
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to be with me for eternity
I will understand, believe me, believe me
I will comprehend, trust me, trust me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Giuseppe Donaggio, Simon Napier-Bell, Vito Pallavicini, Vicki Heather Wickham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim Hunter
on Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
looked for this one for a long time, he's the best.