Just the Way You Are
joe williams & Carmen McRae Lyrics
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You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times; I'll take the bad times
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you?
I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are
The song "Just The Way You Are" is a beautiful love ballad sung by Joe Williams and Carmen McRae. The lyrics signify the enduring nature of love and the message is clear - true love means accepting someone unconditionally. The opening lines, "Don't go changing to try and please me, you never let me down before" convey a sense of security and promise. The partner is simply asking the other to be who they are without changing for their sake.
The lines, "I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble, we never could have come this far, I took the good times, I'll take the bad times, I'll take you just the way you are" reflect the idea of love that is not situational, but a force that is consistent throughout the ups and downs. The partner is reassuring the other that they will stand by them no matter what life throws their way.
The song goes on to say, "I don't want clever conversation, I never want to work that hard, I just want someone that I can talk to, I want you just the way you are." This line seems to indicate that while being attracted to the physical attributes of a person is easy, true love means accepting all parts of another person, including their true personality.
Overall, "Just The Way You Are" is a touching tribute to unconditional love that accepts a person with all their imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't go changing to try and please me
I don't want you to change for me, just be yourself
You never let me down before
You've never disappointed me in the past
Don't imagine you're too familiar
Don't assume you know me completely
And I don't see you anymore
I might not see you often, but my feelings for you remain the same
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
I'll be there for you when you need me
We never could have come this far
Our relationship wouldn't be where it is today if we didn't care for each other just the way we are
I took the good times; I'll take the bad times
I'll stand by you no matter what happens in our lives
I'll take you just the way you are
I love you for who you are, flaws and all
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't feel like you have to change your style to impress me
Don't change the color of your hair
Your appearance isn't what matters most to me
You always have my unspoken passion
My love and desire for you might not always be obvious, but it's always there
Although I might not seem to care
Even if it doesn't seem like it, my feelings for you are strong
I don't want clever conversation
I don't need you to impress me with your wit or intelligence
I never want to work that hard
Our relationship should be easy and natural, not forced or overly complicated
I just want someone that I can talk to
All I really need is someone who I can be open and honest with
I want you just the way you are
I love you for exactly who you are, no changes necessary
I need to know that you will always be
I need to be reassured that you'll be there for me in the future
The same old someone that I knew
I want you to remain the person who I fell in love with
What will it take till you believe in me
What do I need to do to earn your trust and faith in me?
The way that I believe in you?
I believe in you unconditionally, can you do the same for me?
I said I love you and that's forever
My love for you will never fade or go away
And this I promise from the heart
These words are coming straight from my heart and I mean them with all my being
I could not love you any better
I love you with all of my being, there's no way to love you any stronger or deeper
I love you just the way you are
I love every part of you, just the way you are
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind