Heartbeat
Wham! Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Another summer, another vacation is over
A September morning with the sun and the smell of the clover
Down by the gate, we sit and we watch all our friends go by
And pretend we don't hear the bell that rings through the summer sky

I was happy with the kisses she gave me
It's just that happy was all she made me
Happy that was until I saw you

Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you fail me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat, it will end in tears

I need a lover when love's such a dangerous place to be
Oh, if we were meant for each other
Then why won't you answer me?
Don't keep me waiting, you know that I long to be by your side
We could even be together tonight

I was happy with the kisses she gave me
But now there's nothing on earth could save me
Why should I care? I can't have you, oh

Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you fail me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat, it will end in tears

Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you fail me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty

Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you fail me now?
You hurt me, desert me in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat, why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty
(Heartbeat, heartbeat)

Overall Meaning

The song "Heartbeat" by Wham! is about unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The singer is in love with someone, but that person does not return his affection. Instead, the person he loves is with someone else, and he cannot have her. The singer reflects on his emotions and how his heart has led him astray, leaving him feeling hurt and abandoned.


The first verse describes the end of summer and the start of a new school year. The singer and his friend sit by the gate and watch other kids go by, but they try to ignore the sound of the bell that signals the start of the school day. The singer then remembers a kiss he had received, but his happiness has since faded because of his unrequited love for someone else.


In the chorus, the singer questions his heart and why it has failed him in his time of need. He is hurting and feels deserted, and wonders why his heart is keeping him tethered to this love that is not reciprocated. He acknowledges that he cannot help but admire the beauty of the person he loves, but he knows that it will ultimately end in tears.


Overall, "Heartbeat" is a poignant and relatable song about the pain of unrequited love.


Line by Line Meaning

Another summer
Just like every summer before, new memories will be created in this summer.


Another vacation is over
Summer vacation has come to an end, and it's time to face reality once again.


A September morning,
It's the start of a new day in September, a month which signifies a change in season.


With the sun and the smell of the clover
The morning breeze carries the fragrance of clover, and the sun is shining bright.


Down by the gate
They are sitting close to the gate, probably a place that holds some personal significance.


We sit and we watch all our friends go by
They are observing the people passing by and reminiscing the memories attached to them.


And pretend we don't hear the bell,
Trying to ignore the sound of the bell that rings to break the moments of leisure and pleasure.


That rings through the summer sky.
The bell is ringing across the town to signal the end of summer vacation.


I was happy with the kiss that she gave me,
The kiss given by his beloved made him happy for the moment.


It's just that happy was all she made me
The kiss was the only thing that made him happy, nothing else in their relationship did.


Happy that was
The happiness was a fleeting emotion, that has already passed.


Until I saw you
The moment he saw the other person, his happiness vanished.


Heart beat, heart beat,
The singer is addressing his own heartbeat here, which beats uncontrollably.


Why do you fail me now?
Why does his heart fail him now, when he needs to be emotionally stable?


You hurt me, desert me,
He feels pained and deserted by his own heart, which is not reciprocating his desire.


In my darkest hour
In his moment of desperation, his heart isn't supporting him, it's only causing him distress.


Why do you keep me here?
The artist is asking why his heart continues to beat even when he feels brokenhearted.


How could I help but admire her beauty?
The other person is someone he can't help but admire, even though it complicates his emotions.


Standing on the line between desire and duty
The singer is struggling between the passionate desire he feels for the person and the sense of duty he has.


Heartbeat, heartbeat It will end in tears
The uncontrollable heartbeats, the emotional turbulence will end in tears as he can't help but chase a love that will hurt him.


I need a lover,
He needs someone who reciprocates his desire and won't leave him feeling empty.


But love's such a dangerous place to be
Love is a dangerous place to dwell in, as it can drive an individual to the brink of emotional collapse.


Oh, if we were meant for each other,
This implies that he and the other person are meant to be together, except they both don't seem to realize it.


Then why won't you answer me?
He wants to know why the other person isn't acknowledging their shared destiny.


Don't keep me waiting,
The singer implores the other person to stop keeping him in suspense so that they can take their relationship forward.


You know that I long to be by your side
He wants to be by the other person's side and is waiting for them to let him in.


We could even be together,
He lays his heart bare and asks the person to be with him, to be in a relationship that will give them happiness and completion.


Tonight
He doesn't want to wait any longer; he wants to be together with the other person tonight itself.


But now there's nothing on Earth to save me
The kiss from his beloved offered some happiness, but now he feels he can't be saved from emotional turmoil.


Why should I care?
The singer is at a point where he starts questioning the worthiness of his feelings; why should he care if the other person doesn't?


I can't have you
He has come to terms that he won't be able to have the other person, which causes him pain and heartache.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Michael

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lilspookie954

Another summer
Another vacation is over
A September morning,
With the sun and the smell of the clover
Down by the gate
We sit and we watch all our friends go by
And pretend we don't hear the bell,
That rings through the summer sky.
I was happy with the kiss that she gave me,
It's just that happy was all she made me
Happy that was
Until I saw you
Heart beat, heart beat,
Why do you fail me now?
You hurt me, desert me,
In my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat,
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat
It will end in tears
I need a lover,
But love's such a dangerous place to be
Oh, if we were meant for each other,
Then why won't you answer me?
Don't keep me waiting,
You know that I long to be by your side
We could even be together,
Tonight
I was happy with the kiss that she gave me
But now there's nothing on Earth to save me
Why should I care?
I can't have you
Heart beat, heart beat,
Why do you fail me now?
You hurt me, desert me,
In my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat,
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty?
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat
It will end in tears



@EstherMusic-yx3bd

I was E L E V E N when his voice crossed my soul.
THANKS for everything my angel.
Every life ends with its death.
That's the circle of nature.
All we have saved in our heart we will take with us at the end when we start into eternity. I have your sound, voice&lyrics AND the love for music.

MUSIC LIVES FOREVER
as you do.

🕯️
I know you are on a good place where your soul found FREEDOM, peace and eternal LOVE 💖♾️💞

~THANKS 🙏 GM~



All comments from YouTube:

@DavidWhitley

im 55 can still sing this word for word, still gives me a great feeling, great song

@jpbookim

I don’t know why I think of October 2024 when I hear this, i remember in Miami when I was visiting I woke up at 6 in the morning and listened to this

@jeffkiesling8558

Good tune to wake up to 😊

@TheCaulfield1

This whole album takes me back to my youth!! We All Still Miss You George, God Bless You ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@brandyrodgers4329

So freaking true

@shanemillanes6290

I'm 18 I am 80s enthusiast, and I love this track on their album

@EleanorQuestionMark

I'm 19 and we're on the same boat :D

@ChicoTheMutant

I don't really like the first track although it was cool when I was in 3rd grade when this was new, Otherwise the album was solid. 😊

@ralphlazio505

Teenage memories; teenage moments, teenage wonders of what’s to come , teenage cravings, teenage longings... 35 years later, I can still feel it.

@Mykilll

50 years..and everytime i hear this song.....i go back to my teens .

More Comments

More Versions