The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(Keep me hanging on)
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
Get out my life why don't cha, babe (ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really need me
But you just 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
Set me free why don't cha, babe
Get out my life why don't cha, babe (ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be just 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, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, 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) 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)
'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
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)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh)
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
Get out my life why don't cha, babe (ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really need me
But you just 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
Set me free why don't cha, babe
Get out my life why don't cha, babe (ooh, ooh, ooh)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
No, you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up you still just wanna be just 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, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, 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) 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)
'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
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)
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Lyrics submitted by ImaniTheGreat
You Keep Me Hangin' On Lyrics as written by Lamont Dozier Edward Holland Jr.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song is so good! The last 2 months I was in love (and still am) with a girl who's long-time-"friend" does the same shit to her. Saying they're still friends, but nevertheless playing with her heart anytime, so she fails to let go. He's litterally destroying her, and she still calls him a good friend.
I know how this feels.
Is this a bon jovi cover?
no it's not, it's a diana ross cover. it's not a kim wilde song. who's the bozo that put it here?
well - technically its a supremes cover. Dunno wher eyou got Bon Jovi though mate!
i love itttttt
One of the worst things in life is a one sided friendship/relationship. And the only way to help yourself is to get away from it immediately. You can't always rely on it to just die out on it's own; you must extinguish it. She doesn't want anything to do with this guy anymore; he's only a distraction. As she tries to focus on her own life, he catches her eye and she follows him. But once she gets close, he disappears. When she looks back at her life, she sees that she's missed out, and for nothing. Just gotta let go and ignore
This is a song about a guy who is playing very selfish - after relationship , he wants to have his ex girlfriend as a ,,background option,, , always to be there for him, actually he doesnt want to let her go with her life and to find another guy, making her to wait for him. She realizes that he cares only for his own needs, and not about her feelings. This is a good lesson - cut off selfish ex from your life.