I Want You Back
Ruffin David Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take second look
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh
All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh
The lyrics of the song "I Want You Back" by Ruffin David are a poignant reflection on the feelings of regret and love that arise after a break-up. The singer of the song expresses his remorse at having taken his lover for granted and having let her go when he had her to himself. He admits that he did not appreciate her when she was with him, and that the attention she attracted from others made him feel possessive and jealous. However, now that she has moved on with someone else, he realizes the error of his ways and begs for another chance to show her his love.
The song is a plea for forgiveness and a declaration of eternal devotion. The singer emphasizes that he cannot bear to be without his lover and that his life is a "long sleepless night" without her. He vows to make amends for his past mistakes and promises to be a better partner in the future. The repeated refrain of "All I want" and "All I need" underscores the intensity of his feelings and the urgency of his desire to rekindle the relationship.
Overall, "I Want You Back" is a touching and emotional song that captures the universal themes of love, loss, and redemption. It's a testament to the enduring power of music to express the deepest longings of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had you to myself
I took you for granted and didn't appreciate you enough when you were only mine.
I didn't want you around
I avoided your company because I thought you were nothing special.
Those pretty faces always made you
Your beauty attracted many admirers.
Stand out in a crowd
You were the center of attention and stood out from the rest.
But someone picked you from the bunch
Someone chose you and won your heart.
One glance was all it took
One look was enough to sway your decision.
Now it's much too late for me
I realize my mistake only after losing you to someone else.
To take second look
I can't turn back time and have another chance with you.
Oh baby give me one more chance
I beg you to give me another opportunity to prove my love for you.
To show you that I love you
I want to demonstrate my affection and devotion towards you.
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Please consider taking me back into your life and heart.
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
I didn't realize your worth and foolishly let you slip away.
But now since I see you in his arms
Now that I see you with someone else, I deeply regret my decision.
Trying to live without your love
Being without your love is unbearable and causes sleepless nights.
Is one long sleepless night
I am unable to sleep properly because of my love for you.
Let me show you girl
Allow me to prove to you how much I love you.
That I know wrong from right
I have learned from my mistake and promise to treat you better.
Every street you walk on
I follow you wherever you go, leaving a trail of tears behind.
I leave tear stains on the ground
I cry for you and my tears fall on the ground.
Following the girl
I pursue you, the girl who I once thought wasn't worth my attention.
Abuh buh buh buh
The singer expresses his emotions and feelings for the girl through this vocalization.
All I want!
The singer highlights his desire to be with the girl.
All I need!
The singer emphasizes his need for the girl's love and affection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
feofeouncle
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always make you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance is all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
Oh baby, give me one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go
(Let you go, baby)
But now since I've seen you it is on
(I want you back)
Oh I do now
(I want you back)
Ooh ooh baby
(I want you back)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(I want you back)
Na na na na
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Let me tell ya now
Oh baby, all I need is one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go
(Let you go, baby)
But now since I've seen you it is on
All I want
All I need
All I want!
All I need!
Oh, just one more chance
To show you that I love you
Baby baby baby baby baby baby!
(I want you back)
Forget what happened then
(I want you back)
And let me live again!
Oh baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I've seen you it is on
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cost
(I want you back)
Give me back what I lost!
Oh baby, I need one more chance, hah
I'd show you that I love you
Baby, oh! Baby, oh! Baby, oh!
I want you back!
I want you back!
Bill Holmes
David Ruffin could sing the ingredients on a food label and make it sound soulful.
Felix Brown
That food corporation could only WISH they could work it like David Ruffin!
William Spencer
When we were young, my brothers and I ( 4 of us ) would sit at the dining room table and sing the ingrediants on canned food labels. Of course we didn't sound nearly as good as David nor the Temptations. LOL I am nearly 70 now.
Andrew Avon
Amen
Reenie
BEST VOICE EVER!!!!!!!!!
William Spencer
David could sing falsetto, first tenor, second tenor, baritone and that raspy gravely voice, all with ease.There has been no one like him.
LegalEducation Foundation
it was something definitely in his personality, his voice is somewhat unique. He's genuine.
Claude Praytor
Don't know for sure, but I guess all I have to do is put my ear to the speakers and really listen to the original Temps with David. I was told that when Eddie Kendricks is leading a song, that David Ruffin is singing first tenor in the harmony, and Otis is singing second tenor. I was under the impression that Otis would be singing first and David would be singing second tenor. I guess me growing up On The Temptations,I
should know that for sure by now.
But I believe David is a natural second tenor, somewhat like Dennis Edwards, but with a falsetto.
Queen Alika
This version is everything... I love when David Ruffin hit his high notes
Kevin Simpson
I just want to remind everyone that Michael Jackson payed for this man's funeral.. MUCH RESPECT!