Where Did I Go Wrong
UB40 Lyrics


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I'm sitting here praying that you weren't just saying
Leaving tomorrow was what you had planned
No point in pretending, I know that it's ending
I just wanna know where the ending began

Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

I thought you had saved me, the love that you gave me
The sweetest loving in all of the land
But you've taken my heart, and you've torn it apart
And it's crumbled to dust in the palm of your hand

Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

There's nothin' worth sayin', I know you're not staying
Might as well face it, it's out of my hands
No point in pretending, I know that it's ending
I just wanna know where the ending began

Where did I go wrong to make it like this
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss




Holding you now, hurts more than it should
If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good

Overall Meaning

In UB40's "Where Did I Go Wrong," the singer grapples with a failed relationship, desperately trying to understand where it all fell apart. He's praying that his partner's departure isn't final, but he knows he's just pretending, as deep down he understands that it's over. He longs to know where the ending began and where he went wrong as he can't seem to find any warmth or tenderness in the relationship anymore. He's in pain holding her in his arms as he knows if he lets go of her, she'll be gone forever.


The lyrics suggest that the singer is deeply hurt and questioning where he went wrong in the relationship. It's evident that he has been relying on the relationship for his happiness, but it's now falling apart. The repetition of the lines "Where did I go wrong to make it like this? No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss" emphasizes the pain and confusion he's going through. The lyrics also suggest that despite the end of the relationship, the singer still has feelings for his partner.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sitting here praying that you weren't just saying
I am anxiously hoping that your words about leaving tomorrow were not true


Leaving tomorrow was what you had planned
You had already decided to leave me tomorrow


No point in pretending, I know that it's ending
There is no use in pretending that our relationship is not coming to an end


I just wanna know where the ending began
I want to understand when and how our relationship began to fade away


Where did I go wrong to make it like this?
What did I do to cause our relationship to become so distant and cold?


No warmth in your body, no touch in your kiss
You no longer show me physical affection or emotional intimacy


Holding you now, hurts more than it should
Even being close to you is painful because I feel like we are already apart


If I let you go, girl, you'll be gone for good
If we break up, our relationship will be over forever


I thought you had saved me, the love that you gave me
I believed that your love had rescued me from a difficult past


The sweetest loving in all of the land
Your love was the best thing that ever happened to me


But you've taken my heart, and you've torn it apart
Now, you have broken my heart and shattered my sense of security


And it's crumbled to dust in the palm of your hand
My heart has been destroyed and reduced to nothing in your hands


There's nothin' worth sayin', I know you're not staying
There is nothing left to say, as I know that you have already decided to leave


Might as well face it, it's out of my hands
I must accept that there is nothing I can do to make you stay




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jim Brown, Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers, Michael Virtue, Terrence Oswald Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jamie Sebastian

Great song, one of their very best, and they wrote it! Even better

Sheshanie Madugalle

I found my self dancing to this song , kept all my worries and pain aside , 😘

Sandra Chan

still listening June 2021! beautiful 💃

Ebrandil Trindade

EXCELENTE......!!!!

Hüseyin Şirin

What a great song....

- Beeman

Carol of the Bells??

Seriously though, this is my favorite song by them.

Mariano Morales

11/11/21 con 30 años... digoo,,, q buenaaaaa musica,,, ni cerca de lo q sacan hoy ,, la mejor por lejoss¡¡¡

Skinny Renkum

sitting in the sun with a joint, headset on listning to ^^ life isnt that bad actually xD

makos asimakis

So good . 1988 . Sounds very modern ! This is what a good song is !

Edward Pootchemunka

I love this song 1988 I was 23 years old now 2022 I'm 57 years old still listening to UB40 songs👍

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