While the version released on 45 RPM single was under three minutes long, the album version was extended to six minutes and forty-five seconds. The recording, done in one take, was Vanilla Fudge's first single.
You Keep Me Hanging On
Vanilla Fudge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah
Set me free why don't cha babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out, get out of my life
Why don't you babe
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life
Why don't you babe
You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me
Go home, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
In Vanilla Fudge's song "You Keep Me Hangin' On", the singer pleads with their former lover to set them free and move on. The song paints the picture of a toxic relationship where one partner is holding on to the other for their own benefit, even though they don't truly love or need them. The chorus, "You don't really love me, you just keep me hangin' on" is repeated, emphasizing that the singer is being strung along and hurt in the process.
The verses detail the frustration and pain the singer is feeling as they try to move on, but their former lover keeps coming back around and "playing with [their] heart". The singer rightfully questions why they can't simply let each other go and find new love, as they continue to hurt each other the longer they hold on.
The song's bittersweet tone is further explored in the bridge, where the former lover claims to still care for the singer, but also wants the freedom to move on themselves. The singer rightly points out that their former lover is only holding on to them because they are afraid to be alone, and that they must let the singer go find happiness with someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Set me free why don't cha babe
Please release me from this toxic relationship
Get out my life why don't cha babe
I need you to leave me alone and move on
'Cause you don't really love me
Your feelings for me are not genuine or sincere
You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along and not letting me move on
You don't really need me
I am not a priority or essential in your life
But you keep me hangin' on
Despite this, you still refuse to let me go
Why do you keep coming around playing with my heart?
Why do you keep toying with my emotions and not allowing me to heal?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a new start?
Please give me the space to move on and start fresh without you
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah
I need to be able to move on from you just like you seem to have moved on from me
Let me be why don't you babe
Please let me be free and move on without interference
No, you don't really want me
Your actions show that you do not truly want to be with me
You just keep me hangin' on
Despite this, you keep me entangled in this unhealthy relationship
You say although we broke up you still wanna be just friends
You claim to want a friendship with me despite the romantic history we share
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
Being around you is painful and only brings up past hurts and disappointments
And there ain't nothing I can do about it
Unfortunately, there is no way I can change the fact that your presence hurts me
You claim you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You say you care, but in reality, you need to be single and unattached
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
Despite having the freedom you wanted, you still do not want to let me go
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
Since you are not interested in having a committed relationship with me, please let me move on and find love with someone else
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Act maturely and let me go
Now you don't care a thing about me
Your actions show that you no longer care for my well-being or happiness
You're just using me
You are only keeping me around for your own selfish reasons
Go home, get out, get out of my life
Please leave my life and go back to where you came from
And let me sleep at night
Stop causing me stress and allowing me to get a peaceful night's rest
'Cause you don't really love me
Your feelings for me are not genuine or sincere
You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along and not allowing me to move on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alaneisenberg1438
After 44 years, this performance has lost none of it's power and passion. Just awesome
@maynardsmoreland
Has there ever been a more intense cover version of a song? Fabulous.
@victormorgado2158
WOW!!..they put their entire soul into this song..each one of them...super drummer, super super bassist and keyboard player...literally kicking ass...
@isci666
They just don't make bands like they used to. So passionate and epic.
@maristelaalves9266
No words for such awesomeness. Ahead of their time. 1968 was such a year. I was born in 1968 and proud of it :)
@motonegros
The most epic rock song, being played epically by the epic Vanilla Fudge, during the epic decade of the 1960's.
@howardtc
Tim is a great bass player, and one of the bassists of the era that I patterned my style after. Great performance as always!
@ragnarbloodeagle7686
I am so glad I was born in the 50s, still rocking!!!!!!!!!
@TheHuester44
This was one of my favorites when it came out . I wore this album out. A forgotten classic . Should have at least 500,000 listens. Haven't heard it in ages . Thanks for posting .
@TheAkrhino12
Amazing !! What a performance, these guys are awesome !!!