In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
The Wanting Of You
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got her home she's got some land
Her earthly possessions
She's got a ring upon her hand
She tried to be a good girl
She tried to make everything right
She tried to kill the voices
That haunt her each and every night
She looks up to heaven
And wonders why love is so cruel
She loves him, won't hurt him
Can't stop the wanting of you
She married in high school
Oldest was well upon her way
But that wild night, Chicago
It left a mark she can't erase
A phase you'll just get over
That's what her friends have always said
You dip your toes in water
She's in way over her head
She looks up to heaven
And wonders why love is so cruel
She loves him won't hurt him
Can't stop the wanting of you
Keeping her desire paralyzed
She catches in the corner of her eyes
Tank top, smooth skin, soft lips, tanned thighs
How the hell's this ache ever gonna die
And we make our choices
Doing what we think is good
We deny our own dreams
Cause we think we've been told we should
We think we've been told we should
She looks up to heaven
And wonders why love is so cruel
She loves him, won't hurt him
Can't stop the wanting of you
She looks up to heaven
And wonders why love is so cruel
She loves him, won't hurt him
Can't stop the wanting of you
She can't stop
She can't stop
The wanting of you
She can't stop
The wanting of you
The wanting of you
The Wanting Of You by Melissa Etheridge is a haunting and powerful examination of the human condition. The song is a tale of a woman who appears to have it all - her children, her home, and her possessions. Yet something is missing, and the woman finds herself unable to shake the feeling of longing that haunts her each night. The lyrics describe how the woman tries to be good, to make everything right, and to kill the voices that trouble her. She looks up to heaven and wonders why love is so cruel. After all, she loves her husband, and she doesn't want to hurt him. But she can't stop the wanting of someone else.
The song touches on several themes that are common in Melissa Etheridge's music. One of these is the idea that our desires and dreams can be at odds with the life we've built. The woman in the song has been told that she should be happy with what she has - her children, her home, and her husband. But deep down, she knows that she wants something more. She's torn between the life she's built and the longing she can't seem to shake.
Another theme in the song is the idea that love is complicated and can be painful. Despite her love for her husband, the woman can't stop wanting someone else. She looks up to heaven and wonders why love is so cruel. The song speaks to the idea that love is not always straightforward or easy, and that the heart can be a complicated and unpredictable thing.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got her sweet children
She has children, who are dear to her.
She's got her home she's got some land
She owns a house and some land.
Her earthly possessions
Her material belongings.
She's got a ring upon her hand
She wears a wedding ring.
She tried to be a good girl
She attempted to behave well.
She tried to make everything right
She aimed to correct everything she perceived as wrong.
She tried to kill the voices
She attempted to silence the thoughts that tormented her throughout each night.
That haunt her each and every night
That persistently trouble her in the night hours.
She looks up to heaven
She gazes at the sky above her.
And wonders why love is so cruel
She contemplates why love is heartless.
She loves him, won't hurt him
She is in love with someone and doesn't want to harm him.
Can't stop the wanting of you
She cannot resist the yearning she has for someone.
She married in high school
She got married when she was still in high school.
Oldest was well upon her way
Her first child had already grown up and left home.
But that wild night, Chicago
On a crazy night in Chicago.
It left a mark she can't erase
It impacted her in a way that she can't forget or undo.
A phase you'll just get over
Her friends told her it was a passing stage.
That's what her friends have always said
Her companions always advised her thus.
You dip your toes in water
They encouraged her to start slowly and be cautious.
She's in way over her head
But she's now deeply involved and beyond the point of being able to easily extract herself.
Keeping her desire paralyzed
Her craving is suppressed, immobile.
She catches in the corner of her eyes
She notices something in her peripheral vision.
Tank top, smooth skin, soft lips, tanned thighs
She describes the physical attributes of someone she is attracted to.
How the hell's this ache ever gonna die
She wonders how she'll ever relieve the pain she feels.
And we make our choices
We all make our own decisions.
Doing what we think is good
We do things that we consider to be correct.
We deny our own dreams
We disregard our own aspirations.
Cause we think we've been told we should
Because we believe we were instructed to do so.
She can't stop
She can't end or halt.
The wanting of you
Her insatiable desire for someone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrea Jung
Reminds me so much of me .. I was going to marry a guy, even if always knew I am a lesbian .. in the end I left him before our wedding .. I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm in love with a woman now and happy. <3
Dallas Garland
Damn good choice Angel... One of my fav. Songs tho I love all of MS Melissas...
Dallas Garland
I m so happy u chose love I did not and am so out this door just waiting on paperwork. 0bet 15 yrs pain domestic violence verbal abuse I had feelings for girls as a teen like Melissa didn't understand them my folks would not have understood it been disowned. Sad truly but im ready to live for me speak true❤Dallas❤🌈✋
Traekas7!
Andrea Jung, That’s great! I got married to a guy, I’d been with since I was 17. We tied the knot on a rainy Saturday morning. I was still 18 for another two months. Apparently, EVERYONE I ever knew, knew. I didn’t know, how come they did?? My bff came out to me awhile later,... I found myself intrigued, instead of horrified as I imagined any other straight woman would feel. Two weeks before my 20th birthday, I finally came out TO MYSELF. Two weeks after my 20th birthday, I left my husband, w/o telling him who I finally knew I was. There were other, less pleasant things happening while we were together,...like Dom. Viol., none of it tempting enough to keep me from my newly found Journey. I eventually settled about an hour North of San Francisco, now. I had about 4 great Loves, (not including my ex-husband), 2 of them LTRs of 16 years and 8 years respectively. The other 2 were short term (6 months) but very, intensely passionate. Now, I’m going to be 60 years old this Spring,...its lonely. But, I have my Senior Cat, Benny. 🥰 🏳️🌈
Edit: Hey 👋, I meant to ask,...Are u still with and in love with the same Woman? The one who you mentioned 8 years ago, in your comment. I really hope that you’re still living your Truth, whatever that looks like, now. ✌️ 💕
Judy Miller
Melissa is Great, I have been to about 10 shows with my dad when I was young Her music got me through my first major depression when I was a child and now as an adult I look to her music to get me through this major depression from a unhealthy relationship that needs to change or end . thanks Melissa.
Ingrid's Voice
"We deny our our own dreams because we think we've been told we should" story of my life, thank you Melissa for saying what I couldn't.
Dallas Darling
Yes!!! Love all this could be my lifes story for real she truly feels my heart Melissa my fav 4ever
💓Dallas💓
Bonnie Beachy
Ahhh, the dilemma of a married woman, who has feelings for women, "She loves him, won't hurt him, can't stop the wanting of you". "Tank top, smooth skin, soft lips, tannnnnn thighs". Melissa's music is real and raw! Fearless Love music is her best! Check out these songs Indiana, Company, Gently We Row...
Nasa Girl
My favorite Melissa song! Speaks to so many people!!
Bonnie Beachy
"She dipped her toes into water...She is way oveeeer her head"! Nobody but Melissa could put it in those words!