This song is timeless, and nearly 20 years after its creation, still possesses the mystique it did the first time i heard it ~1994. To me, at first blush, all those years ago, it had some kind of homo-erotic allure. The line "so that the others may do" tells of something which must be done for others to follow suit. It felt like like some kind of roxy-glam-pop invitation to sexual liberation.
Upon further introspection I think the song may not have an intrinsic meaning, but simply represents a sort of "holding open the door" for people who otherwise might be affronted by this song/band's unusual style. I know, as a sort of armchair rock-historian, that there have been few bands so daring and so true to the sound that wanted to emerge from within, whether the creator wanted it or not. This band handled it with elegance and grace seldom, if ever, seen.
This feels so wrong, I'm so confused
You give me love, but you can't be true
You say you need your space and time
With or without you I'll lose my mind
Oh yes I know if meant to be
In the future we'll be hand in hand
But girl right now you're killing me
'Cause I know you're making love to another man
[Chorus:]
Do you really want to be just friends
Don't you s'til love me
It's so hard for me to understand
You say you love me
You call me for some time to spend
Just long as I'm out your door by 10:00pm
Platonic love will have to suffice
Can't bear the thought of you out of my life
I've tried to end this misery
But I'm always picking up that phone
Swallow my pride, I beg and plead
But you always sing the same ole song, "We can be friends"
[Chorus]
[Solo]
[Chorus out]
You give me love, but you can't be true
You say you need your space and time
With or without you I'll lose my mind
Oh yes I know if meant to be
In the future we'll be hand in hand
But girl right now you're killing me
'Cause I know you're making love to another man
[Chorus:]
Do you really want to be just friends
Don't you s'til love me
It's so hard for me to understand
You say you love me
You call me for some time to spend
Just long as I'm out your door by 10:00pm
Platonic love will have to suffice
Can't bear the thought of you out of my life
I've tried to end this misery
But I'm always picking up that phone
Swallow my pride, I beg and plead
But you always sing the same ole song, "We can be friends"
[Chorus]
[Solo]
[Chorus out]
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