How Can I Be Sure
Springfield (Dusty) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I be sure where I stand with you?
Whenever I, whenever I am away from you
I wanna die 'cause you know I wanna stay with you.
How do I know? Maybe you're trying to use me.
Flying too high can confuse me. Touch me but don't take me down.
My alibi is telling people I don't care for you.
Maybe I'm just hanging around with my head up upside down.
It's a pity, I can't seem to find someone who's as pretty
and lovely as you.
How can I be sure? I really really really wanna know.
I really really really wanna know. Oh.
How can I be sure in a world that's constantly changing?
How can I be sure? I'll be sure with you.
In Dusty Springfield's song "How Can I Be Sure", the singer expresses her uncertainty and doubts about her relationship with her partner. The lyrics suggest that the world is constantly changing and therefore the singer struggles to know where she stands with her partner. The first two lines of the song, "How can I be sure in a world that's constantly changing? How can I be sure where I stand with you?" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer seems to be at a loss and unable to understand her partner's intentions, and the emotionally charged words, "I wanna die 'cause you know I wanna stay with you" reveal the depth of the singer's feelings for her partner.
The singer expresses her fear of being used by her partner in the lines "How do I know? Maybe you're trying to use me. Flying too high can confuse me. Touch me but don't take me down." This fear creates a sense of conflict and confusion within the singer. She is trying to balance her love for her partner with the fear of being hurt. The line "My alibi is telling people I don't care for you" further reveals the singer's fear of rejection and her attempt to protect herself emotionally.
The final lines of the song, "How can I be sure? I really really really wanna know. I really really really wanna know. Oh. How can I be sure in a world that's constantly changing? How can I be sure? I'll be sure with you," suggest that the singer's doubts remain unresolved. However, despite her doubts, the singer seems to be willing to take a chance on her partner and trust in their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I be sure in a world that's constantly changing?
How can I have confidence in myself and our relationship in a world that is ever-evolving and uncertain?
How can I be sure where I stand with you?
How can I be certain of your feelings towards me and our relationship?
Whenever I, whenever I am away from you
Whenever I am not in your presence
I wanna die 'cause you know I wanna stay with you.
I feel so strongly about being with you that being away from you is unbearable to me.
How do I know? Maybe you're trying to use me.
I am unsure if your intentions towards me are genuine or if you have ulterior motives.
Flying too high can confuse me. Touch me but don't take me down.
Being overwhelmed by love and overcommitting can lead to confusion and trouble. Be careful not to take me down with you.
My alibi is telling people I don't care for you.
I pretend not to care for you when I am not with you.
Maybe I'm just hanging around with my head up upside down.
Perhaps I am unsure of my feelings towards you or am unable to express them clearly.
It's a pity, I can't seem to find someone who's as pretty and lovely as you.
It's unfortunate that I cannot find anyone who is as beautiful and wonderful as you.
How can I be sure? I really really really wanna know.
I am really eager to find out if we have a future together.
How can I be sure? I'll be sure with you.
I will have certainty in our relationship if we are together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward J Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lynne Fox
It doesn't get any better than Dusty, she's world class and timeless, and always live no God damn lip since, RIP classy lady, so glad I grew up in her era singing all her hits
Gary Jaffe
There are performances when she lipsynched, but I'm sure she wouold have preferred to sing live. The 1960s is, unfortunately, the time when tv folks starting worrying about perfection in sound and adopting the "we can't take the chance of something going wrong" way of thinking. As perfect as Dusty was in the studio, I'm always excited to find live tv appearances. I believe everything on her own tv show was sung live, but in these television specials, they sometimes went with the studio recording. For example, here's this same song, lip synched: https://youtu.be/bdBjKkw3pJw
kingofallwhites
The original is better but she is a great singer.
Mike Prog Fan
@poida Adele's not worthy to polish Dusty's shoes.
Drive Easy
The greatest.
patti herf
DUSTY REALLY GETS "IN TO" THIS SONG AS SHE DOES WITH EVERY SONG..ONCE AGAIN...THE BEST FEMALE SINGER EVER...
Bill Lew
There will never be another singer like Dusty Springfield. She sings like an angel.
aircanuck
What a performer, such an artist, so elegant and classy; she seems so real at the same time. I came along in 1980. I feel like I missed so much, I'm still catching up.
Gary Jaffe
I'm 58 years old, and though I certainly knew Dusty's big hits while growing up, it wasn't until the late 1980's (when I was about 25 years old) when a friend had me focus on some of her lesser-known recordings that I began to see what an extraordinary artist she really was. She's now my favorite singer of all time. In terms of catching up, because she was a reluctant celebrity, and because she died young, although there is a large catalogue to explore, it's not "seemingly endless" like certain artists who recorded for 30-40 years. But, I know what you mean - there are the wonderful, iconic studio recordings to hear and study, and then there are all the television appearances to watch and enjoy (since she had her own show, there is a LOT of footage). I love coming on line and seeing all the love for Dusty. She was one singular sensation. https://youtu.be/TLpqQEPp3GU
tuxguys
Me, too.
I'm much older than you, and trust me:
The hunger that makes you feel the need to "catch up" never goes away.