The track features the voice of Swedish artist Lykke Li, whose gentle singing attempts to reach out for a fragile, abandoned child.
An earlier version of the song, known as Korene, was played during a live performance in Molde, 2008.
Were You Ever Wanted
Röyksopp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Annie, won't you come and meet me
Where the neon lights are shining?
Annie, won't you dance behind me
Don't give up, let music save you!
Annie, have you ever felt the
Need of someone else to see you?
Annie, come here, don't you worry
We are here for you to lean on!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Annie, don't you feel abandoned
We are here to soothe your sorrow
Annie, have I ever told you
Live today, there's no tomorrow!
Annie, did you reconsider
Just because your daddy told you?
Annie, don't you listen to him
Just give in and feel the rhythm!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
The lyrics to Röyksopp’s song “Were You Ever Wanted” consists of a series of questions that are directed towards a person called Annie. The singer asks Annie if she was ever wanted, ever needed, and if her parents love her. The repetition of these lines throughout the song adds an element of uncertainty and melancholy to the lyrics. The singer also invites Annie to come and meet him where the neon lights are shining, encouraging her to dance and let the music save her. He tells her that they are there for her to lean on, and that she shouldn’t feel abandoned. In the final verses of the song, the singer tells Annie to live today because there’s no tomorrow, and not to listen to her father but instead to give in and feel the rhythm.
The song is open to interpretation but one could interpret it as a plea for Annie to let go of her doubts and to embrace her life. The questions about whether or not she was ever wanted or needed indicate that Annie might have doubts about her self-worth, and the singer is trying to reassure her that she is loved and valued. The song also highlights the importance of connection and community, as the singer invites Annie to dance and encourages her not to feel alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Were you ever wanted
Have you ever felt that someone truly desired you?
Were you ever needed
Have you ever felt that someone required you?
Were you ever wanted
Have you ever felt that someone truly desired you?
Were you ever needed
Have you ever felt that someone required you?
Were you ever wanted
Have you ever felt that someone truly desired you?
Does your mother love you
Do you feel loved by your mother?
Were you ever wanted
Have you ever felt that someone truly desired you?
Does your father care
Do you feel cared for by your father?
Annie, won't you come and meet me
An invitation to meet and connect with someone
Where the neon lights are shining?
In a lively and vibrant environment
Annie, won't you dance behind me
Join me in a shared experience and let go of your troubles
Don't give up, let music save you!
Allow the music to uplift and empower you
Annie, have you ever felt the
An inquiry about someone's emotional life
Need of someone else to see you?
To feel validated and understood by another person
Annie, come here, don't you worry
A comforting call to come closer and rest assured
We are here for you to lean on!
You have support from others who care
Annie, don't you feel abandoned
Acknowledgment of someone's sense of isolation and neglect
We are here to soothe your sorrow
An assurance of care and concern for someone going through a hard time
Annie, have I ever told you
A question about past communication
Live today, there's no tomorrow!
A call to embrace life and enjoy the present moment
Annie, did you reconsider
A question about someone's thought process
Just because your daddy told you?
Asking if someone's actions were influenced by others, particularly their father
Annie, don't you listen to him
An advice to disregard negative opinions or influence
Just give in and feel the rhythm!
Allow oneself to be carried away by the music and let go of worries
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kat Ganis
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Annie, won't you come and meet me
Where the neon lights are shining?
Annie, won't you dance behind me
Don't give up, let music save you!
Annie, have you ever felt the
Need of someone else to see you?
Annie, come here, don't you worry
We are here for you to lean on!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Annie, don't you feel abandoned
We are here to soothe your sorrow
Annie, have I ever told you
Live today, there's no tomorrow!
Annie, did you reconsider
Just because your daddy told you?
Annie, don't you listen to him
Just give in and feel the rhythm!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Kat Ganis
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Annie, won't you come and meet me
Where the neon lights are shining?
Annie, won't you dance behind me
Don't give up, let music save you!
Annie, have you ever felt the
Need of someone else to see you?
Annie, come here, don't you worry
We are here for you to lean on!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Annie, don't you feel abandoned
We are here to soothe your sorrow
Annie, have I ever told you
Live today, there's no tomorrow!
Annie, did you reconsider
Just because your daddy told you?
Annie, don't you listen to him
Just give in and feel the rhythm!
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Were you ever needed
Were you ever wanted
Does your mother love you
Were you ever wanted
Does your father care
Cathal Conchobar
I've often thought the lyrics are about Anne Strand (Annie) and her relationship with Erot (Tore Kroknes). For those who don't know, Erot passed away in 2001. I'm sure such a small community of electronic artists in Norway in the 90s was tight-knit and these lyrics seem to be trying to comfort her in her loss. That's why I've always loved this track.
Interstellar_Riot
Thx 🤘🏻
Rodolfo Gramaccini
Brava KAT 💙😏
GM
Спасибо! Thanks!
CodyHimselfXI
These lyrics describe my life too much. I question all of these things.
jeja19811
Another masterpiece from Röyksopp. Thank you for existing...
Igor Nikolić
Jejičke, I love you so much! You’re the love of my life.❤️❤️❤️
Payo Molina
Amazing track. You have made the world a better place.
DBZero123
Never occurred to me this was an out-of-the-ordinary track access wise! This tune was on the release of Junior that I had in hand an it
alwayswas a special one for me for so many reasons. The music is powerful (never "resolves", reaches the tonic) and the lyrics are sincere. I am surprised not everyone has had the chance to enjoy it, until more recently!