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You Do Lyrics

You stay the night at his house
with no ride to work
and I'm the one who tells you
he's another jerk
but you're the one who can succeed
you've only got to prove your need--
and you do
you really do


The sex you're trading up for
what you hope is love
is just another thing that
he'll be careless of
but though there are caveats galore
you've only got to love him more--
and you do
you really do
even when it's all too clear


You write a little note that
you leave on the bed
and spend some time dissecting
every word he said
and if he seemed a little strange
well, baby--anyone can change
and you do
you do
you really do
Song Info
Submitted by
ice On Jul 04, 2001
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4 Meanings

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Cover art for You Do lyrics by Aimee Mann

Generally speaking, I agree with deediddum.

but though there are caveats galore you've only got to love him more-- and you do you really do even when it's all too clear

The narrator is telling her friend that the relationship is clearly riddled with problems. The friend refuses to acknowledge this or thinks she can change the man if she loves him more. So the narrator is saying to the friend, "even though it's clear that he's a jerk and that this will not work out, you think you can change the outcome by loving him more." The narrator knows this is headed for disaster--the guy is a jerk, and nothing will change that. The friend is only setting herself up for a fall.

and if he seemed a little strange well, baby--anyone can change and you do you do you really do

I absolutely love this verse. It's just so goddamn sad.. Here the narrator is playing with that idea of "I can change him." The friend thinks she can change him if she loves him enough blah blah blah. But instead of him changing, the only one who will change is the friend. She will change herself to suit him, and it will only do more damage to her in the long run.

Yep, that's clearly it. Great song. And username :)

Not Valid
Cover art for You Do lyrics by Aimee Mann

She loves him, he doesnt love her the same way (uses her as affair?)...but she doesnt (want) to recognize his intentions about the relationship; she is blind for love and doesnt (want to?) recognize that it would never "work" out, no matter how hard she tried. ...neverless, anyone can change: "and if he seemed a little strange well, baby--anyone can change and you do you do you really do"

Cover art for You Do lyrics by Aimee Mann

What a beautiful song. While I agree with the gist of what Agatha has said, although personally I think this song is more objective than subjective, she is not singing about herself. Instead it is that classic situation where someone can clearly see that a friend is in a relationship that will not work out. That frustration of knowing they are making a mistake but knowing a friend can only tell them this...no more. Only the girl herself can change the relationship "you've only got to love him more-- and you do you really do".

Cover art for You Do lyrics by Aimee Mann

Totally agree with EnidCaulfield and love the username too. Oh the stupid stupid crap we put up with for love...