Reciprocate
Rationale Lyrics


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Red light, I wanna be the one you owe tonight
It doesn't have to be so black and white
I want you all tonight
Don't shut me out, don't shut me out

Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you give as much as me, ohhh
I can't have you promise
Everything is honest, oh please

Reciprocate my love
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me

I despair
Give me something so I know that you care
You can always count on me
To give you love and empathy, yeah
But don't shut me out, don't shut me out

Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you give as much as me, ohhh
I can't have you promise
Everything is honest, oh please

Reciprocate my love
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me

You keep making it hard for me
Heaven knows that I tried
I keep holding, I keep waiting for you

Reciprocate my love, oh yeah
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me
Reciprocate my love




You and me, you and me
Reciprocate my love

Overall Meaning

The song "Reciprocate" by Rationale is about the singer's desire for a reciprocated love from their partner. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been giving their all to their partner, but feels uncertain about whether their feelings are being returned. The chorus emphasizes this feeling of uncertainty as the singer pleads for their partner to take a chance and risk it all for love.


The opening lines, "Red light, I wanna be the one you owe tonight," suggest a desire for intimacy and a deeper connection. The singer is asking for their partner to let their guard down and give into their desire for each other. However, the following line, "It doesn't have to be so black and white," suggests that the singer is aware that relationships are not always clear-cut, and there may be complications or grey areas.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of desperation as the singer pleads for their partner to reciprocate their love. The repetition of the phrase "reciprocate my love" in the chorus emphasizes the importance of having an equal and mutual love in a relationship. The song captures the vulnerability and uncertainty that can come with being in love and the fear of not having those feelings returned.


Line by Line Meaning

Red light, I wanna be the one you owe tonight
I want to be the person you give yourself to tonight, without reservation.


It doesn't have to be so black and white
There's more to this than a simple yes or no answer.


I want you all tonight
I desire all of you, not just part of you.


Don't shut me out, don't shut me out
Please don't close yourself off from me emotionally.


Tell me that you want me
Let me know that you desire me as much as I desire you.


Tell me that you give as much as me, ohhh
Make it clear that you're willing to put in the same amount of effort that I am.


I can't have you promise
I don't want you to make empty promises to me.


Everything is honest, oh please
Let's be truthful and sincere with each other.


Reciprocate my love
Love me in the same way that I love you.


Take a chance and risk it all for me
Open up to me and take a leap of faith in our relationship.


Isn't it enough?
Don't you feel the same level of connection that I do?


I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
I've been waiting and hoping for us to come together.


I despair
I feel hopeless and discouraged.


Give me something so I know that you care
Do something to show me that you have genuine feelings for me.


You can always count on me
I am reliable and dependable in this relationship.


To give you love and empathy, yeah
I am ready to give you all the love and understanding you need.


You keep making it hard for me
Your behavior is making it difficult for me to connect with you.


Heaven knows that I tried
I've done my best to make this relationship work.


Reciprocate my love, oh yeah
Love me back, just as strongly.


You and me, you and me
We're in this together.


Reciprocate my love
Love me back in the same way that I love you.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALEXANDER TIMOTHY X. BURNETT, DANIEL TRAYNOR, TINASHE ENOCK KUDZAI FAZAKERLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Thomas Smith

Pretty sure this is right.

Red light,
I wanna be the one you hold tonight.
It doesn’t have to be so black-and-white.
I want you all tonight.
Don’t shut me out.
Don’t shut me out.

Tell me that you want me.
Tell me that you give as much as me.
I can’t have you promise
Everything is honest. Oh please
Reciprocate my love,
Oh yeah.
Take a chance and risk it all for me.
Isn’t it enough?
I been holding on for you and me.
You and me.
You and me.
You and me.

Oh ain’t this fair.
Gimme something so I know that you care.
You can always count on me, to give you love and empathy.
Don’t shut me out.
Don’t shut me out.

Tell me that you want me.
Tell me that you give as much as me.
I can’t have you promise
Everything is honest. Oh please
Reciprocate my love,
Oh yeah.
Take a chance and risk it all for me.
Isn’t it enough?
I been holding on for you and me.
You and me.
You and me.
You and me.

You keep making it hard for me.
Heaven knows that I’ve tried.
I keep holding,
I keep waiting for you.

Tell me that you want me.
Tell me that you give as much as me.
I can’t have you promise
Everything is honest. Oh please
Reciprocate my love,
Oh yeah.
Take a chance and risk it all for me.
Isn’t it enough?
I been holding on for you and me.
You and me.
You and me.
You and me.



Irina U

Red light, I wanna be the one you owe tonight
It doesn't have to be so black and white
I want you all tonight
Don't shut me out, don't shut me out
Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you give as much as me, ohhh
I can't have you promise
Everything is honest, oh please
Reciprocate my love
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me
I despair
Give me something so I know that you care
You can always count on me
To give you love and empathy, yeah
But don't shut me out, don't shut me out
Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you give as much as me, ohhh
I can't have you promise
Everything is honest, oh please
Reciprocate my love
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me
You keep making it hard for me
Heaven knows that I tried
I keep holding, I keep waiting for you
Reciprocate my love, oh yeah
Take a chance and risk it all for me
Isn't it enough?
I've been holding on for you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me
Reciprocate my love
You and me, you and me
Reciprocate my love



All comments from YouTube:

A Z

This man is criminally underrated & underappreciated, another sick tune!

simon batog

Totally agree! Every Tune is just sick!

L N

Ahmed Zulfiqar agreeeee

Vikram Singh

His voice is really unique. Seriously underrated. God I don't want you to be famous you're in my secret stash lol

Stefan Kokal

Haha 👍

Anjali R

Vikram Singh ikr

Darius H

Beautiful voice! Every song has deep, beautiful lyrics. So underrated!! Truly gifted with a voice that penetrates deep to the heart!!

Yuri P

The moment I heard you sing on stage in Paris I literally fell in love, your music gives off so much and listening to it live was a fucking great experience wow

G. Kappo

love it. I've been to your gig in November and it was amazing!

Jane Parnell

I went to a Rag n’ Bone concert a few years back and Rationale were supporting. I fell in love with their music straight away. I’ve managed to see them live a few times now and they never disappoint. Thank you for the absolute bangers you produce and look forward to seeing more concerts in the future.

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