Respect
Sudie Lyrics

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I try to discover
A little something to make me sweeter
Oh baby, refrain
From breaking my heart
I′m so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
That you gimme no reason
Why you make-a-me work so hard

That you gimme no
That you gimme no
That you gimme no

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby, please
Give a little respect to me

And if I should falter
Would you open your arms out to me
We can make love not war
And live at peace with our hearts
I′m so in love with you
I'll be forever blue
What religion or reason
Could drive a man to forsake his lover

Don't you tell me no
Don′t you tell me no
Don′t you tell me no

Soul, I hear you calling
Oh baby, please
Give a little respect to me
I hear you calling

Oh baby, please
Give a little respect to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sudie's song "Respect" convey a message of love and the desire for mutual respect in relationships. The repeated phrase "That you gimme no reason, why you make-a-me work so hard" suggests that the singer is feeling unappreciated by their partner, and is looking for validation and acknowledgement of their efforts in the relationship. The use of the word "soul" throughout the song adds a spiritual, almost transcendent quality to the singer's plea for respect, and highlights the importance of a deep, meaningful connection between partners.

The second verse of the song introduces the theme of war and conflict, suggesting that the singer believes that love is a more powerful force than violence or hatred. The lines "We can make love not war, and live at peace with our hearts" suggest that the singer is looking for a relationship that is based on harmony, rather than conflict. The final lines of the song, "Give a little respect to me, I hear you calling" suggest that the singer is still hopeful that their partner will come to realize the value of their love and the importance of mutual respect.

Overall, Sudie's "Respect" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal desire for love, validation, and respect in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

I try to discover
I am searching for something that will make me more attractive

A little something to make me sweeter
I want to improve myself to be more appealing to you

Oh baby, refrain
Please stop doing something hurtful to me

From breaking my heart
I do not want you to cause me emotional pain

I′m so in love with you
I have strong feelings of affection for you

I'll be forever blue
I will always be sad without you

That you gimme no reason
You have not explained why you are treating me this way

Why you make-a-me work so hard
I feel like I am putting in a lot of effort with no reward or acknowledgment from you

Soul, I hear you calling
I am listening to my inner voice and it is telling me something is wrong

Oh baby, please
I am asking you for something important to me

Give a little respect to me
I want to be treated with dignity and consideration

And if I should falter
If I make mistakes or fail

Would you open your arms out to me
Can you offer me comfort and support when I need it?

We can make love not war
We can work together instead of fighting

And live at peace with our hearts
We can have a harmonious relationship without conflict

What religion or reason
What belief or justification

Could drive a man to forsake his lover
Why would someone abandon their partner who loves them?

Don't you tell me no
I am demanding that you do not refuse my request

Soul, I hear you calling
My inner voice is still speaking to me

Give a little respect to me
I am asking you once again to treat me with dignity and consideration

Writer(s): Alexander Amar-john Bhore, Andy Bell, Sudie Abernathy, Teddy Waggy, Vince Clarke

Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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