I Want You
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My head is filled with things to say
When you're here
All those words, they seem to slip away
When I get near you
The games begin to drag me down
It's alright
But if I seem to act unkind
It's only me, it's not my mind
That is confusing things
I want to tell you
I feel hung up and I don't know why
I don't mind
I could wait forever, I've got time
Sometimes I wish I knew you well
Then I could speak my mind and tell you
Maybe you'd understand
I want to tell you
I feel hung up and I don't know why
I don't mind
I could wait forever, I've got time
I've got time
I've got time
In "I Want to Tell You," The Beatles express their desire to convey their emotions and thoughts to someone they care for deeply. The opening lines, "My head is filled with things to say / When you're here / All those words, they seem to slip away," convey their frustration with the difficulty of expressing their feelings in the presence of this person. The game of love brings confusion to them, which they express in the lyrics, "When I get near you / The games begin to drag me down." They are ready to try again, and even though they may act unkind, it is only because their heart is confused.
The lyrics "Sometimes I wish I knew you well / Then I could speak my mind and tell you / Maybe you'd understand" highlight the communication gap between the two people. The singer wishes to express his feelings freely but feels constrained because he doesn't know the person well enough. The final lines, "I don't mind / I could wait forever, I've got time. I've got time," paint a bittersweet, hopeful picture. The singer is willing to wait to build a deeper relationship and has the patience to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to tell you
The singer has a message they want to relay.
My head is filled with things to say
The singer has a lot on their mind.
When you're here
This message is directed at a specific person.
All those words, they seem to slip away
The artist has trouble finding the right words around this person.
When I get near you
The artist's difficulty in communicating happens when they are in close proximity to the person they are addressing.
The games begin to drag me down
The singer feels like they are being manipulated or pushed around by the other person.
It's alright
Despite these struggles, there is a sense of acceptance.
I'll make you maybe next time around
The artist plans to communicate more effectively in the future.
But if I seem to act unkind
The artist acknowledges that their behavior may not always be ideal.
It's only me, it's not my mind
The artist is not necessarily doing or saying anything unintentionally.
That is confusing things
The other person's actions are contributing to the miscommunication.
I feel hung up and I don't know why
The artist is feeling stuck and doesn't understand why.
I don't mind
Despite this feeling, the singer has a sense of patience and acceptance.
I could wait forever, I've got time
The singer is willing to be patient and let things unfold naturally.
Sometimes I wish I knew you well
There is a desire for better understanding between the singer and the other person.
Then I could speak my mind and tell you
Knowing the other person better would make it easier to communicate honestly.
Maybe you'd understand
The artist believes that better understanding between the two of them would lead to better communication and resolution.
I've got time
The singer is willing to wait for the opportunity to communicate more effectively.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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