You Keep Me Hangin' On
Wilson Pickett Lyrics
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Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Set me free why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really need me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be 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
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa, whoa
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ooh, whoa,
Yeah, yeah
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 say 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
Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out my life why don't cha babe (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
In Wilson Pickett's song "You Keep Me Hangin' On," the singer is pleading with his partner to let him go because she no longer loves him and is only holding on to him out of habit. He asks her to set him free and get out of his life so that he can move on and make a new start. Pickett wonders why his partner keeps coming around and playing with his heart when she clearly has no interest in him, and he questions how they can still be friends when seeing her only causes him pain. He urges her to be a man about it and let him go, as he is tired of being used and abused.
The lyrics of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" reflect the frustrations and hurt feelings that come with being in a one-sided relationship. Pickett's voice is full of emotion and heartbreak as he sings about his desire to move on and find someone who truly loves him. The repeating chorus of "set me free, why don't you, babe?" underscores the desperation and urgency of his pleas, while the verses chart the ups and downs of a relationship that has lost its spark.
Overall, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a powerful soul ballad that speaks to the universal experience of falling out of love and struggling to let go. Pickett's heartfelt vocals and the song's catchy melody make it a classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Set me free why don't cha babe
I need to be free from this relationship.
Get out my life why don't cha babe
I need you to leave me alone.
'Cause you don't really love me
Your feelings for me are not genuine.
You just keep me hangin' on
You are stringing me along.
You don't really need me
You do not rely on me emotionally.
Why do you keep a comin' around playing with my heart?
Your back-and-forth behavior is hurting me.
Why don't cha get out of my life and let me make a brand new start?
I need to move on from this toxic relationship.
Let me get over you the way you gotten over me, yeah, yeah
I deserve the chance to heal and move on.
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be friends
You are giving me mixed signals.
But how can we still be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again
Maintaining a friendship will continue to harm me emotionally.
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
I am helpless to change this situation.
Get out, get out of my life
I need you to leave me alone.
And let me sleep at night
I cannot rest while you are still in my life.
You say you still care for me but your heart and soul needs to be free
You say you care, but your actions are not reflecting that.
And now that you've got your freedom you wanna still hold on to me
You cannot have both your freedom and me.
You don't want me for yourself so let me find somebody else
You are not willing to commit to me, so I need to move on.
Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Show some maturity and let me go.
Now you don't care a thing about me
You are being selfish and uncaring.
You're just using me, hey, abusing me
You are taking advantage of me emotionally.
And let me sleep at night
I need you to leave me alone so I can get a good night's sleep.
'Cause you don't really love me
Your feelings for me are not sincere.
You just keep me hangin' on
You are leading me on and not letting me move on.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind