You Keep Me Hangin' On
The BB Band 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
Set me free why don't cha babe
'Cause 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 brand new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really need me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be 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
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa,
Yeah, yeah
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 say 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
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
The BB Band's song You Keep Me Hangin' On is about the frustration of someone who is trying to move on from a past relationship, but their ex keeps coming back and stringing them along. The lyrics repeatedly implore the ex to "set [them] free" and "get out [their] life", because they don't truly love them but are only "keep[ing] [them] hangin' on". The song is a classic example of a breakup anthem, capturing the emotional rollercoaster of trying to heal from a broken heart while still feeling pulled back into a toxic relationship.
The chorus of the song is particularly memorable, with its repetition of the phrase "set me free" and the powerful vocal delivery of the lead singer. The lyrics are simple and direct, but they capture the frustration and desperation of someone who is trapped in a cycle of heartbreak. The verses of the song add depth to this theme, with lines like "Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?" and "You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends" speaking to the complexity of a relationship that feels impossible to escape.
Overall, The BB Band's You Keep Me Hangin' On is a powerful example of a breakup song, with relatable lyrics and a catchy melody that is sure to get stuck in your head. While the song's theme is undoubtedly sad, its message is ultimately one of empowerment, encouraging listeners to "be a man about it and set [them] free" so that they can move on and find true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Set me free why don't cha babe
I want you to let me go from this relationship
Get out my life why don't cha babe
You need to leave my life completely
'Cause you don't really love me
You don't actually love me, you're just stringing me along
You just keep me hangin' on
You're keeping me attached to you for your own benefit
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
You keep leading me on and causing emotional pain
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
I want to move on from this relationship just like you have
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
You're trying to keep me in your life but just as a friend
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
I can't handle just being friends, it hurts too much
Get out, get out of my life
You need to completely leave my life
And let me sleep at night
I want to be able to rest and move on without you in my life
You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You claim to care about me but you need space for yourself
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You want to keep me around even though you're free
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
You don't truly want me, so I need to move on
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Be mature and let me go from this relationship
Now you don't care a thing about me
You've stopped caring about me and my feelings
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
You're taking advantage of me and mistreating me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind