You Keep Me Hanging On
Rose Banks Lyrics


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Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah

Set me free why don't cha babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)

Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out, get out of my life
Why don't you babe
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life
Why don't you babe

You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else

Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me

Go home, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on





You don't really need me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rose Banks’ song “You Keep Me Hanging On” are about a woman who is fed up with a man’s indecisiveness and lack of commitment. The woman is imploring the man to let her go so she can move on with her life. She feels that the man is only keeping her around for his own sake and does not truly love or need her. She acknowledges that even though they were in a relationship, they need to get over each other and start anew. The woman is tired of him coming around and playing with her heart, and just wants to be set free.


The song also touches on the idea of the man wanting to remain friends with the woman even though they have broken up. The woman, however, sees this as a futile effort and only leads to more heartbreak. She pleads with the man to be a man about it and let her go. The woman eventually comes to the realization that the man does not care about her and is only using her. She demands that he leave her life so she can find someone else who truly loves and appreciates her.


“You Keep Me Hanging On” was written and produced by the famous songwriting team, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland). The song was originally recorded by The Supremes in 1966 and was a huge hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rose Banks recorded her version of the song in 1970.


Line by Line Meaning

Set me free why don't cha babe
Please release me from this unhealthy relationship


Get out my life why don't cha babe
Stop sticking around and causing me more pain


'Cause you don't really love me
It's clear that your love for me is not genuine


You just keep me hangin' on
You're keeping me around for your own selfish reasons


You don't really need me
You're holding on to me even though you don't require my love


But you keep me hangin' on
Despite not needing me, you still won't let me go


Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
You continue to toy with my emotions and it's not fair


Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a new start?
It's time for me to move on and start fresh without you


Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah
I deserve the chance to move on from this relationship just like you did


Let me be why don't you babe
Just let me go and leave me alone


No, you don't really want me
Your desire for me is not genuine


You just keep me hangin' on
Despite not really wanting me, you won't let me go


You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
You want to maintain some sort of relationship with me despite our breakup


But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
I can't handle being around you without getting hurt all over again


(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
I'm stuck in this situation with little control over the outcome


Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
An expression of frustration and desperation


You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You say you care about me, but you also need your freedom


And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
Despite now having your freedom, you still won't let me go


You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
It's clear you don't want to be with me, so please let me move on and find someone else


Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Show some maturity and let me go


Now you don't care a thing about me
It's obvious that you no longer care for me


You're just using me
You're keeping me around for your own personal gain


Go home, get out, get out of my life
Leave me alone and let me move on


And let me sleep at night
Your continued presence in my life is causing me to lose sleep


'Cause you don't really love me
I know now that your love for me is not real


You just keep me hangin' on
Despite not loving me, you won't let me move on




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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