Don't Know Why I Love You
The Jackson 5 Lyrics


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Oh, sure don't baby, baby, baby... ooh, ooh
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you
I don't know why I love you, but I love you

Always treat me like a fool
Kick me when I'm down that you do
I don't know why I love you, but I love you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh you'll never, you'll never stop your cheating ways
With another guy you laugh in my face
Lord I know 'cause I feel disgrace
'Cause I love you, oh, baby, baby, baby

I don't know why I love you
I don't know you and me, baby, oh yeah
I don't know why I love you, but I love you, baby
Oh darling, darling, darling, darling ...

You throw my heart down in the dirt
Oh, you make me cry
On this cold black earth, baby yeah
I never knew, I never knew how much I could hurt
'Til I love you baby, baby, baby, baby, yeah
Can't stop, I can't stop crying can't you see
Here I'm pleading on my knees, upon my knees, yeah baby, yeah
Won't you help me, help me, please,
'Cause I love you, love you, love you, ohh
(You know, baby)

I don't know, we don't know, we don't know
(I don't know why I love you)
I don't know why I love you baby, baby (I don't know, I don't know)




I don't know why I love you baby, baby...
[Repeat]

Overall Meaning

The Jackson 5's song "Don't Know Why I Love You" is a poignant exploration of the complexity of love and the pain it can bring. The opening lines express confusion and desperation with the repetition of "I don't know why I love you." The singer is seemingly at a loss to explain what drives them to love someone who treats them poorly - "Always treat me like a fool/Kick me when I'm down that you do." Despite this mistreatment, the singer can't help but love the person who causes them so much pain.


The lyrics are rich in imagery that convey the depth of emotion the singer is experiencing. The metaphor of throwing the singer's heart "down in the dirt" and making them cry "on this cold black earth" is particularly powerful. The singer is hurt and struggling to come to terms with their conflicting feelings of love and hurt. They are so broken by their love for this person that they "can't stop crying." The final lines of the song see the singer pleading with their lover to help them - "Won't you help me, help me, please," - showing the desperation and helplessness that love can bring.


Overall, "Don't Know Why I Love You" is a poignant exploration of the contradictions inherent in love. The Jackson 5's masterful performance of the song makes it an emotional tour-de-force that still resonates with listeners today.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, sure don't baby, baby, baby... ooh, ooh
I'm not entirely convinced that loving you is the right thing for me to do, but I'm trying to buy in.


I don't know why I love you
I can't explain or rationalize why I have such strong feelings for you.


Always treat me like a fool
You consistently put me in situations where I feel foolish and vulnerable.


Kick me when I'm down that you do
When I'm already at my lowest point, you make it worse by causing me more pain and distress.


Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm acknowledging what you're saying, but I'm not convinced yet.


Oh you'll never, you'll never stop your cheating ways
You have a pattern of being unfaithful, and I don't believe you'll ever be able to change.


With another guy you laugh in my face
You're not even trying to hide your infidelity from me, and it's humiliating to watch you taunt me about it.


Lord I know 'cause I feel disgrace
I'm not only hurt by your actions, but also ashamed that I allowed myself to fall for someone who would treat me this way.


'Cause I love you, oh, baby, baby, baby
Despite all of this, I still have strong romantic feelings for you.


You throw my heart down in the dirt
You don't just hurt me emotionally, you also make me feel worthless and disrespected as a person.


Oh, you make me cry
Your actions and behavior consistently cause me emotional pain and bring me to tears.


On this cold black earth, baby yeah
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place, and you're making it even more difficult for me to find happiness.


I never knew, I never knew how much I could hurt
My feelings for you have made me more vulnerable than I ever thought I could be, leaving me open to more pain and suffering.


'Til I love you baby, baby, baby, baby, yeah
I never realized the full extent of my love for you until I experienced the pain that comes with it.


Can't stop, I can't stop crying can't you see
I'm consumed by emotion and am unable to control my tears or hide my feelings from you.


Here I'm pleading on my knees, upon my knees, yeah baby, yeah
I'm desperate for you to see how much I care about you and to understand the depth of my emotions.


Won't you help me, help me, please
I need your help to move past the pain and suffering you've caused me and start to heal.


'Cause I love you, love you, love you, ohh
Despite everything, I still love you deeply and passionately.


I don't know, we don't know, we don't know
Neither of us can fully understand the complexity of our emotions and the difficult situation we're in.


(I don't know why I love you)
Even though I can't explain why I love you, I know that I do.


I don't know why I love you baby, baby (I don't know, I don't know)
I'm still searching for answers to my intense feelings for you.


I don't know why I love you baby, baby...
My love for you is complicated and confusing, even to myself.




Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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