I Want You

Elvis Costello

Oh my baby, baby
I love you more than I can tell
I don't think I can live without you
And I know that I never will
Oh my baby, baby
I want you so it scares me to death
I can't say anymore than "I love you"
Everything else is a waste of breath
I want you
You've had your fun, you don't get well no more
I want you
Your fingernails go dragging down the wall
Be careful darling, you might fall
I want you
I woke up and one of us was crying
I want you
You said "young man I do believe you're dying"
I want you
If you need a second opinion as you seem to do these days
I want you
You can look in my eyes and you can count the ways
I want you
Did you mean to tell me but seem to forget?
I want you
Since when were you so generous and inarticulate?
I want you
It's the stupid details that my heart is breaking for
It's the way your shoulders shake and what they're shaking for
I want you
It's knowing that he knows you now after only guessing
It's the thought of him undressing you or you undressing
I want you
He tossed some tattered compliment your way
I want you
And you were fool enough to love it when he said
"I want you"
I want you
The truth can't hurt you, it's just like the dark
It scares you witless
But in time you see things clear and stark
I want you
Go on and hurt me then we'll let it drop
I want you
I'm afraid I won't know where to stop
I want you
I'm not ashamed to say I cried for you
I want you
I want to know the things you did that we do too
I want you
I want to hear he pleases you more than I do
I want you
I might as well be useless for all it means to you
I want you
Did you call his name out as he held you down?
I want you
Oh no my darling, not with that clown
I want you
I want you
You've had your fun, you don't get well no more
I want you
No one who wants you could want you more
I want you
I want you
I want you
Every night when I go off to bed and when I wake up
I want you
I'm going to say it again 'til I instill it
I know I'm going to feel this way until you kill it
I want you
I want you
I want you


Lyrics submitted by dev0n

I Want You Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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I Want You song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    It was a splendid performance by Fiona. She seemed so taken by the power of the song that she almost looked a bit afraid. Like: "Will I survive this?" She did survive it and did it very well. The only time I thought "Oooh no, too bad" was the part when the Me of the song imitates the new lover saying I want you, "and you were fool enough to love it when he said: "Iiii waaaant yooouu"". It´s so great how EC makes it seem like the most stupid, untalented thing to say, ever, when it comes from the lips of this clown, but then he says it himself like a hunded times in the song. I don´t think Fiona seemed to understand that part of it being a quote, and therefor she didn´t have that mocking, sarcastic tone in her voice as she sang that line.

    I agree with those of you who hear a betrayed man in the song. I don´t know anything about the details of EC´s lovelife, and I don´t care. This song is bigger than that. I think you could apply the term cuckold to the Me of the song, cause eventhough he is being cheated on, and suffering from this, he also likes parts of it, wanting to know the most painful details, wanting to hear that her new lover is actually better in bed than he is. Oh, I could go on and on forever about this song, but I´ll leave it at that.

    andolaon June 08, 2007   Link

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