Their biggest hit single "King" from their debut album Communion reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in March 2015, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland. Their single "Shine" from the same album reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.
In April 2018 they announced the release of their second studio album Palo Santo which features singles "Sanctify" and "If You're Over Me", the latter of which reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom. The album features a dystopian world consisting of robot-like beings named Androids and humans as the minority, and was released on 6 July 2018.
On 18 March 2021, the band announced a third Years & Years album would be released in 2021. The band also announced the same day that Goldsworthy and Türkmen had stepped down as active members, and that the act would continue as the solo project of Alexander. The album, titled Night Call, was released in January 2022, debuting at number one in the UK albums chart.
Desire
Years & Years Lyrics
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I must behave, I must keep fighting
Don't give it up
I want to keep us compromising
Open your arms and pray
To the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
(Is it love?)
Only gets me abused
(Is it love?)
Only gets me abused
Give me that rush
I want to show you what you've been missing
Am I enough
To keep your other lovers hidden
Open your arms and pray
To the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
To the sense that you've been hiding
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
(Is it love?)
Only gets me abused
(Is it love?)
Only gets me abused
The lyrics to Years & Years's song "Desire" are about a complicated relationship. The first verse sets the tone by describing the singer's determination to keep fighting for the relationship, but with a recognition that it requires a certain hardness in order to keep going. The chorus presents a question about the nature of the feelings involved: is it desire that's driving the relationship, or is it love? The singer wants desire, knowing that love "only gets me abused." The second verse continues with the same themes, but introduces the idea that the singer wants to reveal to their partner what they've been missing by staying with other lovers. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the central question and the singer's desire to push the relationship to its limits.
What's interesting about "Desire"?
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I must be tough
I need to be strong and resilient.
I must behave, I must keep fighting
I need to act correctly and keep progressing forward.
Don't give it up
Don't lose hope or faith.
I want to keep us compromising
I want us to find a way to meet in the middle.
Open your arms and pray
Accept and embrace the truth.
To the truth that you're denying
The truth you've been avoiding and denying.
Give in to the game
Submit to the rules and conventions.
To the sense that you've been hiding
Give in to the feelings you've been hiding.
Is it desire
Do I have a strong feeling of wanting?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
Or is it true love that I feel for you?
I want desire
I crave strong wanting or longing.
'Cause your love only gets me abused
True love doesn't always mean happiness and I only feel pain because of your love.
Only gets me abused
I only feel pain because of your love.
Give me that rush
I want to feel that feeling of intense excitement.
I want to show you what you've been missing
I want to make you see all the things you've missed out on.
Am I enough
Do I satisfy your needs and desires?
To keep your other lovers hidden
To continue our relationship in secret.
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
I want to test how much you value me and our relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL THOMAS GOLDSWORTHY, OLIVER ALEXANDER THORNTON, RESUL EMRE TURKMEN, THOMAS EDWARD PERC HULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ああ
Lyrics
I must be tough
I must behave, I must keep fighting
Don't give it up
I want to keep us compromising
Open your arms and pray
To the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
To the sense that you've been hiding
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Give me that rush
I want to show you what you've been missing
Am I enough
To keep your other lovers hidden
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me
You need it now
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me now
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
Josei Hansai
I must be tough
I must behave, I must keep fighting
Don't give it up
I want to keep us compromising
Open your arms and pray
To the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
To the sense that you've been hiding
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Give me that rush
I want to show you what you've been missing
Am I enough
To keep your other lovers hidden
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire (is it desire)
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me
You need it now
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me now
Is it desire? (Is it desire)
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire (I want desire)
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire? (Is it desire)
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you? (That I'm feeling for you)
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose (ooh what you're willing to lose)
Read more: Years & Years - Desire Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Alla Yuriev
Verse 1]
I must be tough
I must behave, I must keep fighting
Don't give it up
I want to keep us compromising
Open your arms and pray to the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
To the sense that you've been hiding
[Pre-Chorus]
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
[Chorus 1]
Is it desire, or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
[Verse 2]
Give me that rush
I want to show you what you've been missing
Am I enough to keep your other lovers hidden?
[Pre-Chorus]
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
[Chorus 2]
Is it desire, or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire (is it desire), or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
[Bridge]
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me
You need it now
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me now
[Chorus 2]
Is it desire (it desire), or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire (I want desire)
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire (is it desire), or is it love that I'm feeling for you (that I'm feeling for you)?
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose (oh, what you're willing to lose)
WLY8
I must be tough
Eu devo ser forte
I must behave, I must keep fighting
Eu devo me comportar, eu devo continuar lutando
Don't give it up
Não desista
I want to keep us compromising
Quero nos manter comprometidos
Open your arms and pray
Abra seus braços e reze
To the truth that you're denying
Para a verdade que você está negando
Give in to the game
Se entregue ao jogo
To the sense that you've been hiding
Para a sensação de que você está escondendo
Where are you taking me?
Aonde você está me levando?
I can't be blamed
Eu não posso ser culpado
I want you to want me again
Eu quero que você me queira novamente
Is it desire
Isso é desejo?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
Ou é amor que eu estou sentindo por você?
I want desire
Eu quero desejo
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Porque o seu amor só abusou de mim
Give me that rush
Perseguindo aquele impulso
I want to show you what you've been missing
Eu preciso te mostrar o que você está perdendo
Am I enough
Eu sou suficiente
To keep your other lovers hidden?
Para manter seus outros amantes escondidos?
Where are you taking me?
Aonde você está me levando?
I can't be blamed
Eu não posso ser culpado
I want you to want me again
Eu quero que você me queira novamente
Is it desire
Isso é desejo?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
Ou é amor que eu estou sentindo por você?
I want desire
Eu quero desejo
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Porque o seu amor só abusou de mim
Is it desire
Isso é desejo?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
Ou é amor que eu estou sentindo por você?
I want desire
Eu quero desejo
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
Eu quero ver o que você está disposto a perder
You know that you've got me
Você sabe que você me tinha
You've locked me down
Você me trancou
You tell me you want me
Você me diz que me quer
You need it now
Você precisa disso agora
You know that you've got me
Você sabe que você me tinha
You've locked me down
Você me trancou
You tell me you want me now
Você me diz que me quer agora
Is it desire
Isso é desejo?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
Ou é amor que eu estou sentindo por você?
I want desire
Eu quero desejo
'Cause your love only gets me abused
Porque o seu amor só abusou de mim
Is it desire
Isso é desejo?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
Ou é amor que eu estou sentindo por você?
I want desire
Eu quero desejo
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
Eu quero ver o que você está disposto a perder
Nath Mng
"Desire"
I must be tough
I must behave, I must keep fighting
Don't give it up
I want to keep us compromising
Open your arms and pray
To the truth that you're denying
Give in to the game
To the sense that you've been hiding
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Give me that rush
I want to show you what you've been missing
Am I enough
To keep your other lovers hidden
Where are you taking me?
I can't be blamed
I want you to want me again
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me
You need it now
You know that you've got me
You've locked me down
You tell me you want me now
Is it desire
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you
I want desire
Cause your love only gets me abused
Is it desire?
Or is it love that I'm feeling for you?
I want desire
I wanna see what you're willing to lose
Sandra D
7 years old already...........this song will ALWAYS be a CLASSIC
Diana
FunfairCoaster why 😭
Lamse
I agree
Max Robinson
sorry sandra but can you count ?
Charlotte Koopman
@Max Robinson it is 7 years ago
.
Raafia Usmani
I remember being obsessed with this song when it was first released, I came back to obsess over it again
Diana
me 😭 11 yr old me was so obsessed with them ugh nd still am ... started binge listening to y&y agajn outta nowhere
Lilian Kammenga
Same 🤩
I don't wanna be anonymous
Ikr. And then, as you growing up, you'll see this song have a different meaning in every stage of your life. When I was firs time heard this song, I was thinking this is about confusion that you had in your first romantic relationship.
Then when I was in my high school, I thought this is about a person in a sorta abusive relationship..
Then now, I'm 22, this is more than just that. this is for me now is about finding yourself, your true identity, and what you want.
I mean, especially when u also see the video with tove lo's featuring in it, you will understand what I'm talking now.
Blessing
Me too