Lyric discussion by OneNOnlyNatie 

Cover art for I Want It That Way lyrics by Backstreet Boys

This isn't about an offical relationship between a man and woman. It think it is about when you love someone who doesn't really know you love them. You are wanting to reveal your true feelings for them, but you don't know how they feel about you or how they will react. This explains the: "You are, my fire. The one, desire, Believe, when I say I want it that way." The man is secretly in love with the woman and is saying he wants her and only her. He wants it to stay that way. The only way that could change is if he gets rejected. They are "two world apart" and he can't "reach to her heart." So, he is keeping his feelings to himself at first. He is afraid if he tells her how he loves her "that way" she won't love him "that" same way. She may not feel "that" same way about him. This is what it means by: "Am I, your fire? Your one, desire, Yes I know, it's too late, But I want it that way" "Tell me why, Ain't nothin' but a heartache, Tell me why, Ain't nothin' but a mistake, Tell me why, I never wanna hear you say, I want it that way" The girl and him are not together but he want to be with her. He wants things to be one way but they are both living is two different worlds and there is no guarantee that she wants things "That" way.

Theme: He is in love with a woman but he doesn't want to get rejected. But, she may not feel the same way about him. Regardless if she wants things the be the same way he does he will still continue to love her and want things to be "that" way even if they never will be.