Desire
Years & Years Lyrics


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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

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

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

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



All comments from YouTube:

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
.

9 More Replies...

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

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