The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League
The Human League’s lead singer, Phil Oakey, wrote “Don’t You Want Me” after reading a photo-story in a romance magazine for teen girls. The song tells the story of a man who falls for a cocktail waitress—he turns her into a star, but their love sours.
Oakey originally recorded the song as a male so...
[Verse 1: Philip Oakey]
You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don't forget, it's me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too
[Pre-Chorus: Philip]
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
[Chorus: Philip]
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
[Verse 2: Susan Ann Sulley]
I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
That much is true
But even then I knew I'd find a much better place
Either with or without you
The five years we have had have been such good times
I still love you
But now I think it's time I live my life on my own
I guess it's just what I must do
[Pre-Chorus: Philip]
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
[Chorus: Philip]
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus: Philip]
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, oh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don’t You Want Me was written by Jo Callis & Philip Adrian Wright & Philip Oakey.
Don’t You Want Me was produced by Martin Rushent & The Human League.
The Human League released Don’t You Want Me on Fri Nov 27 1981.