About the Song
Background
- Release: Released in 1965, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” became a massive hit for The Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- Songwriters: The legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland writing team crafted the song, responsible for many of The Supremes’ greatest hits.
- Motown Sound: The song exemplifies the signature Motown sound – a blend of pop, soul, and R&B with a driving beat, catchy melodies, and powerful vocals.
Themes
- Unresolved Love: The central theme is the frustration and pain of being stuck in a dead-end relationship. The narrator feels strung along by a partner who doesn’t fully commit.
- Empowerment: While expressing vulnerability, the lyrics also hint at a desire for self-worth and moving on.
- Female Agency: The song can be seen as an anthem for women who are taking charge of their emotional well-being and demanding clarity in their relationships.
Lyrics
The lyrics are simple yet powerful, using strong verbs and repetition to convey the emotional turmoil:
- Repeated Lines: “You keep me hangin’ on” becomes a desperate plea throughout the song, highlighting the narrator’s constant state of limbo.
- Directness: Lines like “Set me free, why don’t cha, babe?” and “Why don’t you be a man about it and set me free” directly confront the partner’s lack of commitment.
- Contradictions: The lyrics express both a desire for the relationship to work (“Although we broke up, you still wanna be just friends”) and a frustration with its limitations (“But how can we be friends when seeing you only breaks my heart again?”).
Video
Lyric
Set me free, why don’t cha, baby?Get out my life, why don’t cha, baby?‘Cause you don’t really love meYou just keep me hangin’ onYou don’t really need meBut you keep me hangin’ on
Why do you keep a-comin’ aroundPlayin’ with my heart?Why don’t you get out of my lifeAnd let me make a new start?Let me get over youThe way you’ve gotten over me, hey
Set me free, why don’t cha, baby?Let me be, why don’t cha, baby?‘Cause you don’t really love meYou just keep me hangin’ onNow you don’t really want meYou just keep me hangin’ on
You say, although we broke upYou still wanna be just friendsBut how can we still be friendsWhen seein’ you only breaks my heart again?And there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it
set me free, why don’t cha, baby?(Whoa-oh-oh) get outta my life, why don’t cha, baby? (Ooh-ooh)Set me free, why don’t cha, baby?Get outta my life, why don’t cha, baby?
You claim you still care for meBut your heart and soul needs to be freeNow that you’ve got your freedomYou wanna still hold on to meYou don’t want me for yourselfSo let me find somebody else, hey-ey
Why don’t you be a man about itAnd set me free? (Ooh-ooh)Now if you don’t care a thing about meYou’re just using me (ooh-ooh)Go on, get out, get out of my lifeAnd let me sleep at night (ooh-ooh)‘Cause you don’t really love meYou just keep me hangin’ on