The Kooks formed at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, where they were all students. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Luke Pritchard, got bassist Max Rafferty involved in a college project, which formed the base of the band. After getting lead guitarist Hugh Harris and drummer Paul Garred involved, they took their name from the song Kooks on the 1971 David Bowie album Hunky Dory. When they tried to trademark the name, they found that in the late/mid 1990s a Swedish band by the same name released an album in Sweden called Too Much is Not Enough.
The Kooks released a debut EP and played gigs around Brighton, where they were based at the time. They were signed to Virgin Records.
2. Swedish indie rock/alternative band - It consisted of members Henrik Berglund, Leo Dahlin, Michael Lohse and Josef Zackrisson, and was active between 1998 and the early 2000's. Micke Lohse and Henrik Berglund are currently members of the band Atomic Swing.
Want You Back
The Kooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loved that girl for all time
Why must life just take away
Every good thing one at a time
I want it back
Well yes I want it back
Yes I want you back
'Cause I want your love
How can I not even cry?
For such a big thing in my life
The pain it takes a part of me
Turn around and say good bye
I want it back
Well yes I want it back
Yes I want you back
Please give it me back
'Cause I want you
How do you do it females?
It's always you do it angels
You always keep me on the run
So how do you do it angels?
Always you do it females
You always keep me on the run
I want it back
Well yes I want it back
Yes I want you back
Please give it me back
'Cause I want your love
But I can't let myself love you
The lyrics to "Want You Back" by The Kooks speak to the universal emotions of heartbreak and longing. The song's narrator is pleading for someone he loved and lost to return to him. In the first verse, he reminisces about the happy times he shared with this girl and mourns how life takes away the good things one by one. The singer's wish for the relationship to be restored is expressed through the repetition of the lines "I want it back" and "Please give it me back." The chorus is simple yet effective in conveying the message, with the singer stating plainly that he wants the girl back, he wants to be loved by her, but he can't let himself love her.
In the second verse, the singer expresses his surprise at not being able to cry, given how important this relationship was to him. He speaks of the pain he feels at losing a part of himself and the abrupt goodbye he had to say to his lover. The bridge contains lines that suggest the singer is puzzled by the power women have over him, with their ability to keep him on the run. This self-reflection is followed by the last chorus, where the singer reiterates his wish to have the girl back but acknowledges that he cannot allow himself to love her.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back to the place where I
The singer is yearning to go back to a specific time and place in their past.
Loved that girl for all time
During this time and place, the singer had strong feelings for a specific girl.
Why must life just take away
The singer is questioning why good things always seem to be taken away in life.
Every good thing one at a time
The artist believes that good things are taken away from them one by one.
I want it back
The artist is expressing their desire to have the good thing they've lost back.
Well yes I want it back
The singer confirms their strong desire to have the good thing back.
Yes I want you back
The good thing the singer wants back is the girl they loved in the past.
Please give it me back
The artist is pleading with the universe or the girl to give them back what they've lost.
'Cause I want your love
The artist's lost good thing was the love they once had with the girl.
How can I not even cry?
The artist is surprised that they haven't cried over losing the girl and the love they had with her.
For such a big thing in my life
The loss of the girl and the love they had with her was significant in the singer's life.
The pain it takes a part of me
Losing the girl and the love they had with her has caused the artist pain, which has stayed with them even after the loss.
Turn around and say good bye
The girl said goodbye and left, which was difficult and painful for the singer.
How do you do it females?
The singer is expressing confusion or frustration at how women seem to have control over their emotions and actions.
It's always you do it angels
The singer is acknowledging the positive qualities that women possess, such as angelic behavior or heavenly beauty.
You always keep me on the run
Women, particularly the girl the artist loved, keep the artist on their toes or make them feel like they're in a constant chase.
So how do you do it angels?
The artist is asking for an explanation of how women are able to control their emotions and leave those who love them.
Always you do it females
Despite their confusion or frustration, the singer acknowledges that women, particularly the girl they loved, seem to have control over their emotions and actions.
Please give it me back
The singer is still asking for the good thing they lost to be returned to them.
'Cause I want your love
The good thing the artist lost and is still asking for is the love they had with the girl.
But I can't let myself love you
Despite wanting the girl and the love they had back, the artist is unable to let themselves fall in love with her again due to fear of getting hurt again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUKE PRITCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucy Leszczynski
"Cause I want your love, but I can't let myself love you." So powerful.
Jono Smith
played this everyday for a month when i broke up with my girlfriend.. now where back together, this song haunts me but i cant stop listening to it.
NJbug3
God u just gotta get up and dance when u hear this song! Love love love it!
Leez Dellacoursqñ
Never gets old.
Mairi shaw
amazing!!love the kooks
Aaliyah Johnson
I came here from a story on wattpad, and now I absolutely love this.
cuteaspie06
Aaliyah Johnson I came here from mine (boyxboy werewolf) story on Wattpad
Moe
Aaliyah Johnson lie to me by skenekidz? BXB?
Rebeca Espinosa
Such lucky you are, boy. I'd listened and thought about this song everyday since we ended, and hoped with all my soul to be toghether again...but I'm still with a stupid and broken heart in my hands.
106quiksliver
Love this track 4sure! Played it 4years!! 100%☆🙄