I Want Your Back
The Jackson 5 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh-huh, huh, huh
Just let me tell you now
Uh-huh

When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look

Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na

Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now

Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms, uh-huh

Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need

Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)

(I want you back)
Forget what happened then (I want you back)
Let me live again

Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)

Spare me of this cause
Get back what I lost

Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
Baby (oh), baby (oh), baby (oh)




I want you back, ha
I want you back

Overall Meaning

The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" is a power-packed song in which an ex-lover expresses his regret for taking his partner for granted and letting her go. The song begins with the ex-lover confessing that when he had his partner to himself, he didn't value her presence and even wished she wasn't around. However, now that his partner is gone, and someone else has picked her from the bunch, he realizes the mistake he made and implores his partner to give him another chance to show her how much he loves her.


The second verse portrays the ex-lover's desperation and regret for not being able to live without his partner's love. The line, "Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground," emphasizes his heartbreak and desire to get his partner back. The chorus line, "all I want, all I need, all I want, all I need," reiterates his need for his lover's presence and love.


In conclusion, "I Want You Back" is a classic love song that expresses the regret of losing someone and the desire to undo past mistakes and make amends.


Line by Line Meaning

When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
I didn't appreciate your presence when I was the only one with access to it.


Those pretty faces always make you stand out in a crowd
Your beauty makes you the center of attention and draws people to you.


But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance is all it took
You caught someone's attention and they immediately knew they wanted you.


Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
I didn't realize your worth until someone else took you, now it's too late to go back.


Oh baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
I want to prove to you that I truly love you, so please give me another opportunity.


Won't you please let me back in your heart
Please forgive me and allow me back into your life and heart.


Oh darlin', I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
I didn't fully appreciate you and now I regret letting you go.


But now since I've seen you it is on (I want you back)
Seeing how great you are now makes me realize how much I truly want you back.


Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Life is unbearable without your love and companionship.


Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
I want to prove to you that I've changed and I know how to treat you with respect.


Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Your absence constantly brings tears to my eyes.


Following the girl I didn't even want around
I used to take your presence for granted but now I'm desperately trying to be near you.


All I want All I need All I want! All I need!
You are all I want and need, and I will do anything to have you back in my life.


Forget what happened then (I want you back)
Let's forget about the past and focus on moving forward together again.


Spare me of this cost (I want you back)
Please don't make me pay the price of losing you, I want you back.


Give me back what I lost!
I want you to return what I lost when I let you go: your love and companionship.


Oh baby, I need one more chance, hah I'd show you that I love you Baby, oh! Baby, oh! Baby, oh!
I'm begging for another chance to prove my love and commitment to you.


I want you back! I want you back!
I desperately want you back in my life and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Juveau

Uh-huh, huh, huh
Just let me tell you now
Uh-huh
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms, uh-huh
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Forget what happened then (I want you back)
Let me live again
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cause
Get back what I lost
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
Baby (oh), baby (oh), baby (oh)
I want you back, ha
I want you back



@theharshtruthoutthere

Being a Christian (the follower of Christ):
- calls upon the name of THE LORD: Psalms 145:18 ,
Psalms 55:16 ,
Isaiah 55:6
- coming to repentance,
Luke 5:32
- going through new birth (baptized by the SPIRIT and by the water), 1 Corinthians 12:13 , John 3:7
- coming out from Babylon (the city life), Revelation 18:4
- analysing their own life and life in general, 2 Corinthians 13:5
- have their Inner mans eyes and ears open: Mark 8:18 , 2 Chronicles 7:15 , Matthew 13:16
- Judges – judges – judges, themselves and life in general in: John 7:24
- seeks out 1st the KINGDOM OF GOD: Matthew 6:33
- have no worries nor thoughts about what they shall eat or wear: Matthew 6:31 ,
Luke 12:22 ,
Matthew 6:25 ,
Luke 12:29
- is not a friend with the world, but exposes the wicked: Ephesians 5:11 , Psalms 26:5 , James 4:4
- goes through the persecution: Luke 6:22 , Matthew 5:44 ,John 15:18 , 1 John 3:13



@pietrotodeschini6530

Lyrics

Uh huh
Huh uh
Let me tell you now
Uh huh
When I had you to myself
I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me
Back in your heart
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go
(Let you go baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Yes, I do now
(I want you back)
Ooh ooh, baby
(I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(I want you back)
Now, now, now, now
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance
(To show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me
Back in your heart
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go
(Let you go baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
Uh huh
All I want
(Ah, ba-bum, bum, bum)
All I need
(Ah, ba-bum, bum, bum)
All I want
(Ah, ba-bum, bum, bum)
All I need
Ooh, just one more chance
To show that I love you
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
(I want you back)
Forget what happened then
Let me live again
Oh, baby I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cost
Get back what I lost
Oh baby I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
Baby (Oh)
Baby (Oh)
Baby (Oh)
I want you back, ha
Forget what happened then
I want you back, ya
Let me live again
Oh, I want you back



@stevethea5250

[Intro: Michael Jackson]
Uh-huh huh huh huh
Let me tell ya now
Uh-huh

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson]
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you aroundThose pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it tookNow it's much too late for me to take a second look

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & ]
Oh, baby, give me one more chance ()Won't you please let me ()Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go ()But now since I see you in his arms ()

[Post-Chorus: Michael Jackson & ]
Yes, I do now ()Ooh, ooh, baby ()Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ()Na, na, na, na

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson]
Tryin' to live without your love is one long sleepless nightLet me show you, girl, that I know wrong from rightEvery street you walk on I leave tear stains on the groundFollowing the girl, I didn't even want aroundLet me tell you now

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & ]
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance ()
Won't you please let me ()
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go ()
But now since I see you in his arms, uh-huh

[Bridge: Michael Jackson]
A buh buh buh buh
A buh buh buh buh, all I want
A buh buh buh buh, all I need
A buh buh buh buh, all I want
A buh buh buh buh, all I need


[Chorus 2: Jermaine Jackson, & ]
Oh, just one more chance
To show you that I love you
Baby!
Baby!
Baby!


[Jackie Jackson & ]
Forget what happened then


[Jermaine Jackson]
Let me live again

[Chorus 3: Michael Jackson & ]
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you goBut now since I see you in his arms

[Jackie Jackson]
Spare me of this 'cause

[Jermaine Jackson]
Gimme back what I lost


[Outro: Michael Jackson and ]
Oh baby I need one more chance ha
I tell ya that I love you
() Oh! () Oh! () Oh!
I want you back!

[Jackie Jackson]
Forget what happened then

[Michael Jackson]
I want you back!

[Jermaine Jackson]
And let me live again

[Michael Jackson]
Oh, I want you back! Ha!



All comments from YouTube:

@DrBeauHightower

So iconic

@bensaciabdallah3177

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oux1mpyftik

@bensaciabdallah3177

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oux1mpyftik

@Atomic2998

Hee Hee

@empath1969

You are everywhere I go😂

@Juveau

Uh-huh, huh, huh
Just let me tell you now
Uh-huh
When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (to show you that I love you)
Won't you please let me back in your heart
Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go (let you go, baby)
But now since I see you in his arms, uh-huh
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I want
Ah, buh bum, bum, bum
All I need
Oh, just one more chance to show that I love you
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Baby (baby)
Forget what happened then (I want you back)
Let me live again
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
(I want you back)
Spare me of this cause
Get back what I lost
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
Baby (oh), baby (oh), baby (oh)
I want you back, ha
I want you back

5 More Replies...

@manz7860

He sounds just as great live compared to his recordings. Insane talent

@WWAHP

Yes, he is great singing live, and did you also notice, his voice is changing?

@unculturedmanofculture6837

@Christian Edwards puberty?

@michaelcaplin8969

This is all playback, but yeah, he probably was just as good live as in the studio.

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