Heavily influenced by the British Invasion era, and its mod sensibility, they helped pioneer the power pop style.
Producer Jimmy Ienner was responsible for all the Raspberries’ albums, which often attempted to replicate Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound.”
Composed of the “classical” rock & roll ensemble (drums, lead, rhythm and bass guitars), the original lineup was Eric Carmen (lead vocals), Jim Bonfanti (drums), Wally Bryson (guitar) and Dave Smalley (bass).
The Raspberries wore matching ensembles on stage. The group was somewhat ridiculed for making its stage entrance in tuxedos and large bouffant hairdos which, according to Carmen, “complemented the style of our music”.
I Wanna Be with You
Raspberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Someday's a long time and we've been waiting so long to be here
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Hold me tight our love could live forever after tonight
If you believe in what you're doing is right
Close your eyes and be still
Baby, oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Baby I want to be with you so bad
The lyrics to Raspberries' "I Wanna Be With You" express a strong desire for connection and intimacy. The singer is clearly infatuated with someone, and is expressing a desire to be with them that transcends age, time, and any fear or hesitation they may feel. The repetition of the phrase "Oh baby I want to be with you" highlights the singer's intense longing, while the insistence on this desire feeling "so right" confirms that this connection is deep and meaningful.
The lyrics suggest a sense of urgency - the singer emphasizes that they've been waiting a long time to be together, and that they don't want to waste any more time. There's also a hopeful sense of possibility here, with the suggestion that if they can just be together tonight, their love could "live forever." The final lines of the song, where the singer repeats their desire to be with their beloved, highlight the intensity of their attraction and the depth of their emotional connection.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Wanna Be With You" express a desire for love and closeness that overcomes fear and hesitation. The song is a powerful declaration of love that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt a strong attraction to someone else and longed to be with them.
Line by Line Meaning
If we were older we wouldn't have to be worried tonight
We wouldn't be concerned about societal expectations regarding relationships if we were older
Baby oh I want to be with you so bad
I have a strong desire to be with you, my significant other
Oh baby I want to be with you
I am expressing my desire again to be with you
Oh yeah?
I am questioning your response or interest in being with me
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
We have been waiting for this moment when being together would feel perfect
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Please join me and let us be together
Someday's a long time and we've been waiting so long to be here
It has taken a while for us to reach this moment, but we have patiently waited for it
Hold me tight our love could live forever after tonight
If we commit to each other tonight, our love could last forever
If you believe in what you're doing is right
If you truly believe that being with me is what is right for you
Close your eyes and be still
Focus inward and reflect on your feelings for me
Baby, oh I want to be with you so bad
Again, I am expressing my strong desire to be with you
Oh baby I want to be with you
Reiterating my desire to be with you
Baby I want to be with you so bad
Once more acknowledging the intensity of my desire to be with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC CARMEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RogueR
If we were older
We wouldn't have to
Be worried tonight
Baby, oh, I wanna be with you
So bad (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Oh, baby (oh, I wanna be with you)
Oh, yeah (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Well tonight's
(Tonight) the night
We always knew it
Would feel so right
So come on, baby
I just wanna be with you
Someday's a long time
And we've been waiting
So long to be here
Baby, oh, I wanna be with you
So bad (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Oh, baby (oh, I wanna be with you)
Oh, yeah (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Well tonight's
(Tonight) the night
We always knew it
Would feel so right
So come on, baby
I just wanna be with you
Hold me tight, ha
Our love could live
Forever after tonight
If you believe that
What we're doing is right
Close your eyes and be still
Oh
Baby, oh, I wanna be with you
So bad (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Oh, baby (oh, I wanna be with you)
Oh, yeah (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Well tonight's
(Tonight) the night
We always knew it
Would feel so right
So come on, baby
I just wanna be with you
Oh, I wanna be with you
So bad (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Oh, baby (oh, I wanna be with you)
Oh, yeah (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, baby (yeah, I wanna be with you)
So bad (yeah, I wanna be with you)
Oh, darling (oh, I wanna be with you)
Oh, yeah
johnny zell
If we were older we wouldn't have to be worried tonight
Baby oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Someday's a long time and we've been waiting so long to be here
Baby oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Hold me tight our love could live forever after tonight
If you believe in what you're doing is right
Close your eyes and be still
Baby, oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Well tonight tonight we always knew it would feel so right
So come oh baby, I just want to be with you
Oh I want to be with you so bad
Oh baby I want to be with you
Oh yeah?
Baby I want to be with you so bad
Steve Byrne
This song still gives me goosebumps at 65.
Rhonda Malott
Same here. One of my favorites.
Bruce Kielty
This is the caliber of song that sticks with you for years and never sounds dated.
Annette Gioia
Love this song! My first 45, I got from my dad!🙂
Bill Collins
"Someday's a long time..." What a great line. Love this song. Very underrated band. Thank you for posting this.
Dave Sharp
Their hits were right up with Badfinger in enjoyment (to me).
Marc Juron
Imo, the most under appreciated group of their era. Seeing them live some years back was a real treat.
Mike McGuire
Man, .....the sound is so clean. Terrific job!!
johnnyeff
Nice to hear the respect paid to the fabulous Eric Carmen and the Raspberries by you youngsters. I am 76 and still listen to them every day !
Michael E Campana
Rediscovered these guys at age 73. 'Awesome' does not do them justice. Carmen's a great songwriter.