I Want You Back
Tierra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 second look

Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart

Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw

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
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart

Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh




All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh

Overall Meaning

Tierra's song "I Want You Back" is about a man who realizes that he made a mistake letting his lover go. The first verse talks about how he did not appreciate her when he had her to himself, and how other people's attraction to her annoyed him. But now that she has moved on with someone else, he wishes he had paid attention to her and cherishes the time they had together. He pleads for one more chance to prove his love and make things right. The chorus is a plea for her to come back to him, and he admits that he was blind to let her go.


The second verse reveals how much he is struggling to move on from her, as living without her love is a "sleepless night" for him. He promises to make things right and be a better partner, emphasizing that he knows the difference between right and wrong. He even follows her around, shedding tears along the way. The song ends with the repeated plea for another chance.


Line by Line Meaning

When I had you to myself
When we were together and I was your only focus


I didn't want you around
I didn't appreciate what I had and took you for granted


Those pretty faces always made you
Other people's attractiveness made you stand out even more


Stand out in a crowd
You were always the most noticeable and attractive person around


But someone picked you from the bunch
Someone else saw your worth and value and chose you


One glance was all it took
They saw your beauty and worth instantly with just one look


Now it's much too late for me
I realize I lost my chance with you


To take second look
To reconsider and appreciate what I had with you


Oh baby give me one more chance
I realize my mistake and want another opportunity with you


To show you that I love you
I want to prove my love and devotion to you


Won't you please send me back in your heart
I am asking for forgiveness and to have a place in your heart again


Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
I didn't realize what I had until it was gone


But now since I see you in his arms
I regret seeing you with someone else


I want you back
I still have strong feelings for you and want you back with me


Yes I do now
My feelings have not changed and I'm sure of what I want


Trying to live without your love
My life feels incomplete and empty without you


Is one long sleepless night
I struggle to cope and get rest without you


Let me show you girl
I want to demonstrate my love and devotion to you


That I know wrong from right
I have learned from my mistakes and am committed to doing better


Every street you walk on
Wherever you go, you leave a trail of memories for me


I leave tear stains on the ground
I am still emotional and heartbroken over our separation


Following the girl
I am still drawn to you and can't help following you, even from a distance


I didn't even want around
I didn't understand or appreciate your worth when I had you


Abuh buh buh buh
Wordless expression of strong emotion and desire


All I want!
My only desire and hope is to be with you


All I need!
You are the only thing I need to be happy and complete


Abuh buh buh buh
Continued expression of strong emotion and desire




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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