Not too sure what "alternate take" means, but since my take is an alternate version, here goes:
Hey, slow it down, what do ya want from me? = basically, he is saying that though he is bombarded by the emotions of the other, he still isn't sure what the other wants from him.
I'm afraid = obvious...afraid to allow the other to affect him, to give in when it isn't clear what the other wants. This is a classic symptom of not being able to fully trust that the other is genuine with their affections which there is probably a significant reason for that.
There might have been a time I would give myself away, oh, once upon a time I wouldn't give a damn but now here we are...what do ya want from me = Once upon a time he found that he was easily disillusioned and didn't heed to that understanding because he didn't care if he got hurt for he knew immediately he would. Now, he understands the pain isn't wroth it so he is leery of this other.
Yeah, it's plain to see that baby you're beautiful and there's nothing wrong with you...it's me, I'm a freak, but thanks for loving me 'cause your doing it perfectly = he does see this person as beautiful and is taken aback by this persons emotional honesty [?] or ability to be open at least because he normally isn't. He genuinely cares about the other and is gracious for the "love" the other has shown and in any normal situation would be exactly what he needed and he feels a bit remorseful for not being able to return the same.
There might have been a time I would let you slip away I wouldn't even try but I think you could save my life = obviously there are attachments and strings to this other or else he wouldn't be trying and would have walked away without hesitation a long time ago.
Still, while he doesn't want the other to give up, he needs time to sort through his own thoughts and emotions. Probably what this other has done was create some sort of fabricated mess (it messed me up, need a second to breathe) that he is completely uncertain about and where nothing is clear, no facts are straight and it seems more to be a cat and mouse game which is cool as long as it is strictly fun and games and no strings attached. While this other seems to profess their undying love and he does realize that a few years of this proves the persons aim is true, he still does not know what the person wants from him. He doesn't want the person to give up on him as he try's to figure it out and he understands that his inability to return the gestures will eventually cause the person to give up which he doesn't want either. He understands what it means to give and take and for balance/harmony, but he can't trust, therefore he cannot drop his guard. Just a thought...
![Cover art for Whataya Want From Me [Alternate Take] lyrics by Adam Lambert](../../../images/art-default.webp)
Not too sure what "alternate take" means, but since my take is an alternate version, here goes:
Hey, slow it down, what do ya want from me? = basically, he is saying that though he is bombarded by the emotions of the other, he still isn't sure what the other wants from him.
I'm afraid = obvious...afraid to allow the other to affect him, to give in when it isn't clear what the other wants. This is a classic symptom of not being able to fully trust that the other is genuine with their affections which there is probably a significant reason for that.
There might have been a time I would give myself away, oh, once upon a time I wouldn't give a damn but now here we are...what do ya want from me = Once upon a time he found that he was easily disillusioned and didn't heed to that understanding because he didn't care if he got hurt for he knew immediately he would. Now, he understands the pain isn't wroth it so he is leery of this other.
Yeah, it's plain to see that baby you're beautiful and there's nothing wrong with you...it's me, I'm a freak, but thanks for loving me 'cause your doing it perfectly = he does see this person as beautiful and is taken aback by this persons emotional honesty [?] or ability to be open at least because he normally isn't. He genuinely cares about the other and is gracious for the "love" the other has shown and in any normal situation would be exactly what he needed and he feels a bit remorseful for not being able to return the same.
There might have been a time I would let you slip away I wouldn't even try but I think you could save my life = obviously there are attachments and strings to this other or else he wouldn't be trying and would have walked away without hesitation a long time ago.
Still, while he doesn't want the other to give up, he needs time to sort through his own thoughts and emotions. Probably what this other has done was create some sort of fabricated mess (it messed me up, need a second to breathe) that he is completely uncertain about and where nothing is clear, no facts are straight and it seems more to be a cat and mouse game which is cool as long as it is strictly fun and games and no strings attached. While this other seems to profess their undying love and he does realize that a few years of this proves the persons aim is true, he still does not know what the person wants from him. He doesn't want the person to give up on him as he try's to figure it out and he understands that his inability to return the gestures will eventually cause the person to give up which he doesn't want either. He understands what it means to give and take and for balance/harmony, but he can't trust, therefore he cannot drop his guard. Just a thought...