I Want You Back
The Starlite Orchestra & Singers Lyrics
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I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
Then someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
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
Cause now since I see you it is all
I want you back
Yes, I do now
I want you back
Oo oo 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 show 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
Cause now since I see you it is all
Ah bah bah bah buh
All I want
Ah bah bah bah buh
All I need
Ah bah bah bah buh
All I want
Ah bah bah bah buh
All I need
Oh, just one more chance
To show that I love you, baby!
Baby!
Baby!
Baby!
I want you back
Forget what happened then
Oh, baby I was blind to let you go
Cause now since I see you it is all
I want you back
Oh, baby I need one more chance
The lyrics to "I Want You Back" tell the story of a man who regrets letting go of his lover but now wants a chance to love her again. The first verse indicates that the singer initially didn't appreciate his lover's unique attractiveness and allowed her to be claimed by someone else. However, now that he sees her, he realizes his mistake and begs her to take him back.
The chorus repeats the singer's desire to be reunited with his lover, while the second verse reinforces his regret and desire to make things right. He admits to crying and regretting his decision to let her go, declaring that he now knows right from wrong and wants to show her that he can be trusted.
The repetition of "all I want" and "all I need" throughout the song highlights the singer's desperation and devotion to winning back his lover. In the end, he pleads for one last chance to prove his love and make things right between them.
Overall, the song is a classic example of a lost love ballad, with romantic lyrics, a catchy melody, and passionate vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had you to myself
When we were together and I had you all to myself
I didn't want you around
I didn't want anyone else around you
Those pretty faces always made you
Other people's pretty faces made you more noticeable
Stand out in a crowd
You stood out amongst everyone else
Then someone picked you from the bunch
Then someone else chose you from among the others
One glance was all it took
Just one look was enough for them to choose you
Now it's much too late for me
Now it's too late for me
To take a second look
To reconsider my decision
Oh, baby, give me one more chance
Oh, please give me another opportunity
To show you that I love you
To show you how much I care for you
Won't you please let me
Please allow me to
Back in your heart
Come back into your heart and life
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go
I was foolish to let you go
Let you go baby
Allow you to leave
Cause now since I see you it is all
Because now that I see you, all I want is
I want you back
I want to be with you again
Yes, I do now
I do want you now
Oo oo baby
Oh, my dear
Now now now now
Right away
Trying to live without your love
It's been difficult to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
It's been a constant sleepless night
Let me show you girl
Let me show you, my dear
That I know wrong from right
That I am now aware of what is right and wrong
Every street you walk on
Everywhere you go
I leave tear stains on the ground
I leave behind tears and heartache
Following the girl
Following you, my dear
I didn't even want around.
I didn't even want you to be around
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance
Oh, my dear, I just need one more opportunity
Ah bah bah bah buh
Vocalization
All I want
All I desire
All I need
All I require
Oh, just one more chance
Oh, just one more opportunity
To show that I love you, baby!
To show how much I love you, my dear!
Baby!
My dear!
I want you back
I want to be with you again
Forget what happened then
Let's forget what happened in the past
Oh, baby I was blind to let you go
I was too foolish to let you leave
Cause now since I see you it is all
Because now that I see you, all I want is
I want you back
I want to be with you again
Oh, baby I need one more chance
Oh, my dear, I just need one more opportunity
Writer(s): Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr, Freddie Perren
Contributed by Asher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.