Lyrical Analysis

1. Music Video Narrative – Lyrical
Analysis
‘You’ –The Pretty Reckless

2. You don’t want me, no
You don’t need me
Like I want you, oh
Like I need you
From the beginning, the audience can tell this is a
typical heartbreak song. The use of repetition
from the first few lines highlights the artist’s
desperation to be loved in return. The use of the
pronouns ‘you’ and ‘I’ displays the differences
between each person’s desires and also make it
personal for the listener as they feel like the singer
is discussing their personal feelings and emotions.
The possessive verbs ‘ want’ and ‘need’ suggests
her over-controlling desire to be loved by this
person; she feels as if she cannot live without him.
This verse is very similar to the first part of the
song. However, the structure goes ‘you’, ‘I’, ‘you’,
‘I’ compared to the beginning where the song
went ‘you’, ‘you’, ‘I ‘ ,‘I’ therefore the same
message is still being expressed but in a different
order. When she sings about seeing him it
describes how she sees him for who he truly his
and loves him for all his flaws yet he is unable to
see her in the same way – she is nothing special to
him. ‘Like you have me’ suggests that the person
she loves has some kind of control over her.
This chorus is very simple and literally explains her
wishes in the easiest way possible. The artist feels
like they don’t have to describe their emotions
subtlety anymore and wants to put their true
inner feelings out in the open. As she feels there is
no hope anymore, she has nothing else to lose.
And I want you in my life
And I need you in my life
You can’t see me, no
Like I see you
I can’t have you, no
Like you have me
And I want you in my life
And I need you in my life

3. Love
Love
Love
The repetition of the noun ‘love’ suggests how
much she craves it and how much she wants to
reach out to this person and tell them that she
loves them yet the unenthusiastic way she sings it
in the song may mean she is sick of the idea as
she cannot be loved back.
Each verse in the song is very similar – this again
emphasises the simplicity. There is no use of
figurative language because the meanings are all
very literal. By the song being so literal, the artist
can describe their feelings and desires in the
clearest way possible, making the song easy to
relate to for many listeners. As certain words are
also repeated, it may explain the continued pain
she has gone through, knowing that nothing can
be done to fix the circumstances. For example
although she may have known this person wasn’t
right for her, she couldn't stop loving him either
way portraying a constant cycle that is never
resolved. The verb ‘’stole’ also describes how this
person has stolen her true inner self – she has
changed because of this person and doesn’t
know who she is any more because he has taken
over her life.
This is the chorus repeated once again, displaying
how because she is influenced by this person so
much, she feels like she has to have him in her
life.
You can’t feel me, no
Like I feel you
I can’t steal you, no
Like you stole me
And I want you in my life
And I need you in my life

4. La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
These lyrics are normally found in a more
happy up-beat song therefore it is quite
unusual to see them placed at the end of a
slow song such as this one. The use of ‘la’
may have perhaps been use for irony and
the way they are sung is also very
unenthusiastic – contrasting with the way
they should normally be sung in a livelier
song. ‘La’ is often associate with music and
happy emotions therefore the way it is used
within this song juxtaposes with the usual
connotations.