You Make Me Wanna… by Usher Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Complications of Modern Love
Lyrics
This is what you do
This is what you do
This is what you do
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (ooh yeah)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do (ooh baby)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with
You make me (you make me)
You make me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with
Start a new relationship with you (ohh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
This is what you do (yeah, yeah)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with
You make me
You make me
Before anything began between us
You were like my best friend
The one I used to run and talk to
When me and my girl was having problems (that’s right)
You used to say it’ll be ok
Suggest little nice things I should do (uh-huh)
And when I go home at night and lay my head down
All I seem to think about was you
And how
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (ooh yeah)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do (oh yeah)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with
You make me
You make me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with
Start a new relationship with you (ooh, baby)
This is what you do (come on, come on, come on, come on)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with
You make me (you make me)
You make me
Now what’s bad is you’re the one that hooked us up
Knowing it should have been you
What’s sad is that I love her but I’m falling for you (uh-huh)
What should I do?
Should I tell my baby bye-bye?
Should I do exactly what I feel inside?
‘Cause, I, I don’t wanna go, don’t need to stay
But I really need to get it together
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (oh, ooh, baby)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do (say, what you do)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with (oh, yeah)
You make me
You make me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with
Start a new relationship with you (ooh, baby)
This is what you do (come on, come on, come on, come on)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with
You make me
You make me
At this point the situation’s out of control (say what?)
I never meant to hurt her
But I gotta let her go (gotta let her go)
And she may not understand it
While all of this is going on
I tried, I tried to fight it
But the feeling’s just too strong
You make, make, make me (you make me wanna, wanna)
You make me wanna (ayy)
You make me wanna (oh)
Oh, you make, make, me, me
You make me wanna
You make me wanna (ooh, oh babe)
You make me wanna (gon’ baby, do your thing)
You make me wanna (ooh, ooh-ooh yeah)
Come along wit’ it
You makin’ me, you makin’ me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (oh, ooh, baby)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do (say, what you do)
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with (oh, yeah)
You make me
You make me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with
Start a new relationship with you (ooh, baby)
This is what you do
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with (ayy)
You make me
You make me (you makin’ me)
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (leave the one I’m with)
Start a new relationship with you (ooh, you makin’ me, you makin’ me, you makin’ me)
This is what you do
Think about a ring and all the things that come along with (ohh)
You make me
You make me
You make me wanna leave the one I’m with (wanna leave the one I’m with)
Start a new relationship with you
This is what you do
Hovering in the liminal space between fidelity and yearning, ‘You Make Me Wanna…’ by Usher remains a pivotal R&B anthem that captures the complexity of modern relationships. With its smooth melody and candid lyrics, the song delves into the emotional whirlwind of being torn between an established relationship and a tantalizing new possibility.
The track from Usher’s second album, ‘My Way’, released in 1997, proves to be timeless in its exploration of love, desire, and the choices that define us. It’s a soul-searching confession set to music, providing a raw look at the singer’s intimate struggles between loyalty and temptation.
A Soulful Conundrum: Love Divided
The gut-wrenching decision to leave the familiar for the unknown is the core of Usher’s ‘You Make Me Wanna…’. It isn’t just about lust or infatuation; it’s about recognizing a deep connection with someone who was initially just a confidant. Usher’s smooth crooning leads us through his internal debate between staying in a committed relationship or pursuing a new love that seems to promise more.
Despite the seeming clarity of his emotions, Usher’s portrayal is rife with indecision. His voice conveys both the pain of potentially hurting someone he cares for, and the undeniable pull towards this new flame who ignites a passion in him that he thought was unreachable.
The Lyrical Tightrope: Walking Between Guilt and Desire
‘You make me wanna leave the one I’m with…’ The opening line is a candid admission of Usher’s inner conflict. Tension builds with each verse as the lyrics sway back and forth between guilt for contemplating betrayal, and the overbearing weight of his feelings—feelings that refuse to be rationalized or dismissed.
Every word is soaked in an authenticity that many can relate to; it’s the universal struggle of choosing between the comfort of the present and the promise of what could be. Usher doesn’t offer us a resolution within the song—instead, he leaves us in the midst of his turmoil, reflecting the reality that sometimes, there are no easy answers in love.
The Irresistible Force: When Friendship Blurs into Love
Much of the song’s emotional heft comes from the backdrop of a platonic relationship evolving unexpectedly into something more. Usher’s confessions of laying down at night, plagued with thoughts of his friend, rather than his significant other, turns a common narrative on its head; the ‘other’ woman isn’t a stranger, but someone deeply interwoven into his life.
It challenges listeners to reflect on the nature of their relationships. How often do we find ourselves cultivating deep emotional bonds with friends, only to be shocked when those bonds begin to mimic the ones we share with our romantic partners? Usher’s situation is a portrayal of the precarious dance between friendship and romance, and the surprises it can hold.
Decoding the Hidden Meaning: Vulnerability Behind the Confession
‘You Make Me Wanna…’ isn’t just a tale of romantic turmoil—it underscores the vulnerability that comes with confronting one’s emotions. Usher’s willingness to lay bare his dilemma speaks not only to a personal crossroads but also to his artistic bravery in revealing the less flattering facets of human emotion.
The song’s hidden meaning lies in its embrace of the complexities of the heart. Usher doesn’t present himself as a victim of circumstance but rather as an active participant in his emotional journey. Through this lens, the song becomes a poignant commentary on the unpredictability of love and the courage it takes to acknowledge our deepest desires.
Memorable Lines that Echo with Relatability
‘What’s bad is you’re the one that hooked us up / Knowing it should have been you.’ Here, Usher touches on the irony and sting of unintended consequences. It serves as a testament to the song’s staying power, with lines that resonate with anyone who has experienced the bittersweet tangling of love, timing, and choice.
The hauntingly relatable lyrics resonate on a personal level, prompting listeners to reconsider the ‘what-ifs’ in their own lives. Each verse acts as a mirror, reflecting the internal struggle of emotions vs. obligation, and the universality of these themes is what cements ‘You Make Me Wanna…’ as a modern classic in R&B history.
