When released as a single in late 1987, it peaked at number two in the UK charts and at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fourth Top Ten hit for Pet Shop Boys as well as the biggest hit of Springfield's career in the U.S.
The song's success helped revive Springfield's career and led to a resurgence of interest in her music. Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield mimed a performance of the song for the 1988 BRIT Awards. Following the duet the Pet Shop Boys wrote and produced the singles "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "In Private" for Springfield, both included on her 1990 album Reputation.
What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Pet Shop Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I only wanted a job
I've always worked for a living
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
I come here looking for money
Got to have it
Now you've left me with nothing
Can't take it
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
I bought you drinks, I brought you flowers
I read you books and talked for hours
Every day, so many drinks
Such pretty flowers, so tell me
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I
Since you went away I've been hanging around
I've been wondering why I'm feeling down
You went away, it should make me feel better
But I don't know, oh
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
You always wanted me to be something I wasn't
You always wanted too much, oh, oh
Now I can do what I want to, forever
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
At night, the people come and go
They talk too fast, and walk too slow
Chasing time from hour to hour
I pour the drinks and crush the flowers
What have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I
Since you went away I've been hanging around
I've been wondering why I'm feeling down
You went away, it should make me feel better
But I don't know, oh
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? Tell me (what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, ahh (what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
Gonna get through
Gonna get through
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
I'm gonna get through, right?
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't have to fall apart (what have I, what have I)
We don't have to fight (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't need to go to hell and back (what have I, what have I)
Every night (what have I done to deserve this?)
You never ever love me (what have I, what have I)
Can you think of me? (What have I done to deserve this?)
Ohh-oh (what have I, what have I)
Babe (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't have to fall apart (what have I, what have I)
We don't have to fight (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't need to go to hell and back (what have I, what have I)
Every night (what have I done to deserve this?)
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?) Ooh baby
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
Ow, how am I gonna get through?
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?) Baby yeah
How I'm gonna get through?
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?) Ooh-ooh
How I'm gonna get through?
The Pet Shop Boys' song "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" is a melancholic love song that explores the pain of a failing relationship. The song's lyrics express the confusion and frustration of the singer who is struggling to cope with the breakdown of his relationship. He reflects on the demands and expectations placed on him by his lover, who wanted him to be someone he wasn't, and how that led to their separation.
The song begins with the lines, "You always wanted a lover, I only wanted a job, I've always worked for a living, how am I gonna get through?". The singer is expressing the difference in the priorities of the two individuals in the relationship. For him, work is his primary goal, but for his lover, having a loving partner is essential. As the song progresses, he reflects on how his search for money led to him meeting his lover, and how their relationship began. However, as time went by, his lover's expectations became too demanding, and he was unable to meet them. He expresses his despair in the lines, "Now you've left me with nothing, can't take it, how am I gonna get through?".
The singer's struggles are compounded by the sense of loss he feels after his lover leaves him. He is unsure how to move on from the pain he feels and wonders how he will get through it. The song concludes with him pleading, "How I'm gonna get through, right? Ow, how am I gonna get through? How I'm gonna get through?". These lines highlight the song's central theme of coping with heartbreak and the struggles of moving on from a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You always wanted a lover
You had always been looking for a romantic partner.
I only wanted a job
You were only interested in finding a job to earn money.
I've always worked for a living
You had always relied on working to support yourself financially.
How am I gonna get through?
You were expressing your worry about how you were going to cope with the situation at hand.
I come here looking for money
You had visited a place with the sole purpose of earning money.
Got to have it
You were emphasizing the importance of having money.
And end up leaving with love, oh, oh
You found love unexpectedly during your visit.
Now you've left me with nothing
Your lover had left you and you were left feeling empty-handed.
Can't take it
You were unable to cope with the emotional pain caused by your lover leaving you.
I bought you drinks, I brought you flowers
You had tried to show your love to your partner by buying them drinks and flowers.
I read you books and talked for hours
You had spent a lot of time talking to your partner and even read books to them.
Every day, so many drinks
You had bought your partner many drinks on a regular basis.
Such pretty flowers, so tell me
You were questioning why your partner had left you despite all the effort you had put in to make them happy.
Since you went away I've been hanging around
You had been feeling lost and aimless since your partner left you.
I've been wondering why I'm feeling down
You had been trying to understand why you were feeling depressed.
You always wanted me to be something I wasn't
Your partner had unrealistic expectations of you and you were unable to meet them.
You always wanted too much, oh, oh
Your partner had put too much pressure on you and it was too much to handle.
Now I can do what I want to, forever
You felt free now that your partner was no longer holding you back.
At night, the people come and go
People often come and go at night.
They talk too fast, and walk too slow
People often talk quickly and walk very slowly at night.
Chasing time from hour to hour
People often feel like they are in a hurry, trying to make the most of their time.
I pour the drinks and crush the flowers
You had a job where you served drinks and were responsible for disposing of wilted flowers.
Gonna get through
You were determined to get through this tough time.
We don't have to fall apart
You and your partner did not have to go through a break-up.
We don't have to fight
You and your partner did not have to argue or fight with each other.
We don't need to go to hell and back
You and your partner did not need to go through an extremely difficult situation together.
Every night
It was a constant problem that had to be dealt with every night.
You never ever love me
You felt unloved by your partner.
Can you think of me?
You were wondering if your partner still thought of you and what you meant to them.
Ow, how am I gonna get through?
You were expressing your feelings of uncertainty and fear about how you were going to deal with the situation.
I'm gonna get through, right?
You were trying to validate your inner strength to make it through the rough time.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Neil Francis Tennant, Christopher Sean Lowe, Allee Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gastonrafa
Lyrics :
You always wanted a lover
I only wanted a job
I've always worked for a living
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
I come here looking for money
Got to have it
And end up leaving with love, oh, oh
Now you've left me with nothing
Can't take it
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
I bought you drinks, I brought you flowers
I read you books and talked for hours
Every day, so many drinks
Such pretty flowers, so tell me
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I
Since you went away I've been hanging around
I've been wondering why I'm feeling down
You went away, it should make me feel better
But I don't know, oh
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
You always wanted me to be something I wasn't
You always wanted too much, oh, oh
Now I can do what I want to, forever
How am I gonna get through?
How am I gonna get through?
At night, the people come and go
They talk too fast, and walk too slow
Chasing time from hour to hour
I pour the drinks and crush the flowers
What have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?
What have I, what have I, what have I
Since you went away I've been hanging around
I've been wondering why I'm feeling down
You went away, it should make me feel better
But I don't know, oh
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through? Tell me (what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, baby? (What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
How I'm gonna get through, ahh (what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
Gonna get through
Gonna get through
I'm gonna get through, right?
We don't have to fall apart (what have I, what have I)
We don't have to fight (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't need to go to hell and back (what have I, what have I)
Every night (what have I done to deserve this?)
You never ever love me (what have I, what have I)
Can you think of me?
Ohh-oh (what have I, what have I)
Babe (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't have to fall apart (what have I, what have I)
We don't have to fight (what have I done to deserve this?)
We don't need to go to hell and back(what have I, what have I)
Every night (what have I done to deserve this?)
Ooh baby
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?)
Ow, how am I gonna get through?
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?) Baby yeah
How I'm gonna get through?
(What have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this?) Ooh-ooh
How I'm gonna get through?
@rubedogg6969
Who else was watching and listening to this on MTV in 1987 and is still watching and listening to this on YouTube in 2024!
@BrittneyCooper-yb3td
Me 3 years old😢
@tonypascale5317
@@BrittneyCooper-yb3td here! 👍
@timothyj.fletcher6003
do you how lucky we were to grow up then? so many friends that were with us then are gone and these songs are thier reminders
@freddyhoyt1849
I was lucky to be a teenager in 1987 watching this on MTV life was so great back then
@Redhand1949
Yep. A classic.
@michaelmann8800
It drives me nuts when people dare to refer to Pet Shop Boys as "one hit wonders." These guys are STILL GOING! Their body of work is impressive.
@eds73100
So true! 👍
@gbino671
They are one of the reasons that made new wave jams exist ❤
@user-cc5bi4fv1q
They had quite a few good songs.