Careless Whisper

George Michael

I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad good-byes

I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh

Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find

I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend (should've known better, yeah)
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh

Never without your love

Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say

We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now, who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay

And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh

(Now that you're gone) now that you're gone
(Now that you're gone) was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone?


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by graybook, deborah305

Careless Whisper [Album Version] Lyrics as written by George Michael Andrew J. Ridgeley

Lyrics © Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Careless Whisper song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

54 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +11
    General Comment
    In his book..>george admits writting this song, while on a city bus. He was rather young. He had one girl he was seeing...but starting seeing another. He cheated...and felt guilty about it..and wrote the entire song on that bus ride. However, now...he doesnt really "like" the song. YES, he still sings it at all his concerts..but it doesnt weigh on his heart like it did decades ago. And rightly so. For me...and it seems for others...this song, is a timeless classic. It never looses value. It never looses meaning for the broken hearted. I cant listen to it..with out tearing up.I lost the love of my LIFE..over foolish mistakes Ive made. Foolish choices. Foolish everything. There gets to be a point,where they have had "enough". Rightfully so. The lyrics kill me. Just stab me in the heart... To the heart and mind ignorance is kind there's no comfort in the truth pain is all you'll find Sometimes, the truth is better off left unsaid. Ive learned this. "Though it's easy to pretend I know you're not a fool I should have known better than to cheat a friend And waste a chance that I've been given So I'm never gonna dance again the way I danced with you" Its self exsplanitory....you dont cheat friends or lovers. The only one who ends up alone...is YOU in the long run.
    mickey606on August 23, 2010   Link
  • +6
    General Comment
    the phrase "So I'm never gonna dance again the way I danced with you" brings chills down my spine. It says so much like I gave you everything but things didn´t work out. And now nothing will be the same in me again
    teejeyon May 26, 2005   Link
  • +5
    General Comment
    It's like the video he cheated and his ass got caught and he messed up he is begging for her (it was a her in the video) to come back because noone else can take her place and he wont feel that same feeling with anyone else.
    classy26on August 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    hi, this colum goes in the beginning: Time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend To the heart and mind, ignorance is kind there's no comfort in the truth pain is all you'll find Should've known better
    letuison June 04, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Okay who re-wrote these lyrics......"We could have been so good together......" It should read. Come on...I was there in the beginning when George Michael started in the Wham Days.....come on if your going to pretend that your a fan, please try to make a effort.....thanks
    ourladypaulinaon June 06, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    to me it is about a man that messed up in a loving relationship, now he can't 'dance' (be in a relationship) again, I believe it ties to his song one more try, where I think he is talking about this one relationship that he can't be in, so he stays away from them all
    pgtallon May 04, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Mickey is right on. George actually hates this song and says he feels "no connection" to it because it's a series of "soap opera-type images." He wrote this song in his teens before he started writing personal songs. As a result, this song isn't really about anything or anyone at all. It's just a killer melody and some lyrics wrapped around it trying to tell the made-up story of some drama.
    texasbrianon December 26, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I have to disappoint you, he said in an interview that it actually doesn't mean anything to him, it wasn't about someone special, he just wrote the song.
    SuperFluxxxon April 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    A British reporter investigated George Micheal and interviewed the girl it was about. George and her were friends in school and had a romantic relationship. He dated someone else behind her back and felt guilty. George actually ended the relationship. The ex never knew. He made a demo tape of the song and played it for her but she didn't know it was about his relationship with her. When she found out years later she said it made sense.
    stacey1020on November 26, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Just read anything by Michel Foucault and you'll understand how messed up Georges was
    exobscuraon February 21, 2022   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
High On Life
Viyaa
This track marks the first collaboration between the artists. It was produced in its entirety by Datbeatgod and released for public consumption on January 1, 2021.
Album art
Better Than Feeling Lonely
Olivia O'Brien
This standalone single is the latest in the artiste's album run out. It was produced by Rogét Chahayed, Taylor Dexter & Wesley Singerman, and released via major streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.
Album art
Breathe
80vii
This standout song was released to close out the year and was produced in its entirety by 80vii. The track was released via major streaming platforms on December 27, 2020.
Album art
Blue Lights X 216
Jorja Smith
This standalone single was produced in its entirety by Elfi Vomberg, and released on December 29, 2020.
Album art
Anyone
Justin Bieber
This standalone single marks the latest loosie that the Canadian pop superstar is dropping in anticipation of his next studio album. The track was produced by watt, The Monsters & Strangerz & Jon Bellion, and was released via digital streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.