Do You Hear What I Hear?
Various Artists Lyrics


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What do you mean?
Ohh ohh ohh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
Hey yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
Ohh
What do you mean?
Said we're running out of time
What do you mean?

Ohh ohh ohh

What do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You're so indecisive of what I'm saying
Trying to catch the beat, make up your heart

Don't know if you're happy or complaining
Don't want for us to end

Where do I start
First you wanna go to the left and you want to turn right
Wanna argue all day, make love all night
First you up then you're down and then between
Ohh I really want to know...
What do you mean?
Ohh ohh ohh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
Hey yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
Ohh
What do you mean?
Said we're running out of time
What do you mean?
Ohh ohh ohh
What do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You're overprotective when I'm leaving
Trying to compromise but I can't win
You wanna make a point but you keep preaching
You had me from the start, won't let this end
First you wanna go to the left then you want to turn right
Wanna argue all day, make love all night
First you're up then you're down and then between
Ohh I really wanna know...
What do you mean?
Ohh ohh ohh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
Hey yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
I want to know...
Oh
What do you mean?
Ohhh
Said we're running out of time
What do you mean?
(Oh baby)
Ohh ohh ohh
What do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
Ohh ohh ohh
(This is ours baby, yeah)
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
(You're so confusing baby)
Hey yeah
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
(Be more straight forward)
Ohh
What do you mean?
(Give it back back back)
Said we're running out of time
What do you mean?
(Give it back back back)
Ohh ohh ohh
What do you mean?




Better make up your mind
What do you mean?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "What Do You Mean?" by Justin Bieber were written by the singer along with Jason Boyd and Mason Levy. The song is about a confused relationship where the singer is trying to understand the mixed signals he is getting from his partner. He questions the contradictory actions of his partner, and how they always seem to say one thing but mean another, leaving him unsure about what they really want. Despite their indecisiveness, the singer is convinced that he wants to stay with this person and pleads for them to make up their mind about their relationship.


The song was released as the lead single from Bieber's fourth studio album, "Purpose," in August 2015. It received positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in several countries. The music video, directed by Braden Lange, features Bieber as he tries to rescue his girlfriend from a group of villains.


Line by Line Meaning

What do you mean?
I'm confused, please explain yourself


Ohh ohh ohh
A vocalization of frustration and confusion


When you nod your head yes, But you wanna say no
You're giving mixed signals


Hey yeah, When you don't want me to move, But you tell me to go, What do you mean?
You're being contradictory and unclear


Said we're running out of time
We don't have much time left to resolve this confusion


Better make up your mind
You need to make a decision and stick to it


You're so indecisive of what I'm saying
You're having trouble understanding or agreeing with me


Trying to catch the beat, make up your heart
You're trying to follow the rhythm of the conversation and make a decision


Don't know if you're happy or complaining
I can't tell if you're satisfied or dissatisfied with our situation


Don't want for us to end, Where do I start
I don't want this relationship to end and I don't know where to begin to fix it


First you wanna go to the left and you want to turn right
You're sending mixed signals and changing your mind


Wanna argue all day, make love all night
You're having conflicting emotions and desires


First you up then you're down and then between
Your moods and opinions are unpredictable and inconsistent


You're overprotective when I'm leaving
You're trying to control my actions out of fear of losing me


Trying to compromise but I can't win
You're not willing to meet me halfway or find a middle ground


You wanna make a point but you keep preaching
You're trying to convince me to see things your way


You had me from the start, won't let this end
Our relationship has been strong and meaningful, and you don't want to lose that


I want to know...
I need clarification and honesty from you


Oh
A resigned sigh or expression of sadness


This is ours baby, yeah
Our relationship is important and worth fighting for


You're so confusing baby
Your actions and words don't match up and it's hard to understand you


Be more straight forward
Please communicate your thoughts and feelings more clearly and directly


Give it back back back
Return the love and commitment that I'm offering you




Writer(s): Noel Regney, Machuff, Gloria Shayne, John Jacobson

Contributed by Lucy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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