Rupert Holmes (born February 24, 1947) is an American and British composer,… Read Full Bio ↴Rupert Holmes (born February 24, 1947) is an American and British composer, songwriter and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape" (subtitled "The Piña Colada Song") in 1979 and his Tony Award winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Holmes

(Semi-)Official Website:
http://www.rupertholmes.com

I Don't Need You
Rupert Holmes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't need you
I don't need you half as much
As you need me
And I thank my lucky stars
That you have freed me

Cause I'm losing weight at last
Losing weight and losing sleep

And losing my mind fast

I don't need you
I don't miss you in the way
I expected
I have time to clean the sink
And feel neglected

Will I call you up? I won't
I forgot your number 6364831

And I don't need you
I don't need you like my life depended on it
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
It only affects me in the hours
When I need you, I need you

But I don't want you
I do crosswords
And I'm weaving a basket
And I'd never take you back
Unless you ask it

I don't need you
I don't need you like my life depended on it
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
It only affects me in the hours
When I need you, I need you

But I don't love you
I don't love you like
With whom you are living
Only twenty times as much
And all's forgiven

If you'd come by today
So that I can have you near forever while I say
That I don't need you, I don't need you
I don't need you

I don't need you
I don't need you
I don't need you
I don't need you

Need you

Need you
Need you

Overall Meaning

In Rupert Holmes's song "I Don't Need You," the singer expresses his relief and happiness after a breakup, declaring that he does not need his former partner as much as she needs him. He thanks his lucky stars for being freed from the relationship and expresses that he has lost weight and sleep, and is losing his mind fast. The singer says that he does not miss his former partner in the way he expected and has time to clean the sink and feel neglected. He frames his desires for her as something he "needs" only in certain hours, but clarifies that he does not want her back unless she asks for it.

The song's chorus repeats the title's declaration that the singer does not need his former partner, but the final verse introduces a note of ambiguity. The singer claims that he does not love his former partner like the person she is now living with, but also suggests that if his former partner were to come back to him and stay, he would tell her that he does not need her. This final verse complicates the song's earlier declarations of happiness after the breakup: if the singer truly does not need his former partner, why would he only refuse to reunite with her if she never asked?

Holmes's lyrics articulate a particular kind of breakup experience, where one partner was being suffocated by the other and only finds relief once that person is gone. The lyrics also reveal the ambiguity of emotions after a breakup, where one can be happy to be free from a relationship but also feel attached to the person who has left. Overall, "I Don't Need You" is a bitter but ultimately wistful reflection on the complexities of breakups and the human connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't need you
Despite past reliance, I now know I can carry on life without you

I don't need you half as much
You, however, still rely on me far more than I need you in any capacity

As you need me
You may not realize it, but you truly rely on me for your well-being

And I thank my lucky stars
I am grateful for my good fortune in finally being freed of this burden

That you have freed me
Your absence has surprisingly lifted an oppressive weight from my life

Cause I'm losing weight at last
This separation is helping me get closer to the healthier, balanced person I want to be

Losing weight and losing sleep
I am putting in work to improve myself and don't have time for unhealthy habits anymore

And losing my mind fast
I'm going a bit crazy, but it's worth it to leave behind our toxic relationship

I don't miss you in the way
I've adjusted to life without you quicker and in a different way than I thought I would

I expected
I thought it would be harder without you in my life

I have time to clean the sink
With your absence, I find myself having more time to take care of myself and my living space

And feel neglected
However, I also feel a sense of loneliness since you were such a significant part of my life

Will I call you up? I won't
I have no desire to initiate contact with you

I forgot your number 6364831
I'm deliberately distancing myself from you and erasing memories of our past together

I don't need you like my life depended on it
Despite any residual attachment or longing, I realize that you are not crucial to me

You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
You are out of my life and I have to come to terms with that

It only affects me in the hours
There are brief moments when I still long for you

When I need you, I need you
But those moments are few and far between

But I don't want you
I realize that despite any longing, being with you wouldn't be healthy for me

I do crosswords
I'm trying new things and finding joy in my own hobbies and interests

And I'm weaving a basket
I'm also exploring my creative side and doing things for myself that bring me happiness

And I'd never take you back
I've reached a point of acceptance where I know that getting back together with you would not be good for either of us

Unless you ask it
However, if you truly had a change of heart and asked for another chance, I might consider it

I don't love you
I have come to terms with the end of our relationship and the fact that I no longer have romantic feelings towards you

I don't love you like
I don't feel towards you the same way I would towards someone I am in love with

With whom you are living
I don't know who you are currently involved with romantically

Only twenty times as much
I am not in love with anyone else, but I don't need to be to move on from our relationship

And all's forgiven
Despite any past hurt or anger, I have forgiven you and am moving on

If you'd come by today
Although I am moving on, part of me still wishes for your presence

So that I can have you near forever while I say
I wish I could have you here, but I know that's not possible so I'll just say what I need to and move on

I don't need you, I don't need you
Despite any lingering feelings, I am standing firm that I no longer need you in my life

Need you
Although I no longer need you, there are still moments where I miss you

Need you
It will take time for me to fully move on, but I know it's for the best

Need you
I had grown used to being with you, but I'm learning to live my life without you

Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, CTM Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUPERT HOLMES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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