Respect Me [Dennis DeYoung]

Respect Me
Written by 
Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

When you gonna treat me like a lover
The way you promised to
When you gonna treat me like no other
And respect my point of view
I gotta know, I gotta know, I gotta know
What you’re gonna do

And now you gonna treat me like an equal
The way that it should be
'Cause if you're gonna treat me like a sequel
Well honey just set me free
I gotta know, I gotta know, I gotta know
What’s it gonna be

Well I’m living here in Vertigo
I'm never sure which way to go with you
Tell me are you Jekyll are you Hyde
You always seem dissatisfied with me

Oh baby, respect me. baby baby baby baby
Respect me, oh baby
Respect me, please, please, please, please
Respect me

And when I try my best to please you
It’s never quite good enough, (isn’t it?)
I’m always feeling down on my knees to
'Cause loving you is so tough
And did you think I never would leave you
No matter what you do
And did you think forever was a promise
For me and not for you
Tell me, I gotta know, I gotta know, I gotta know
What you’re gonna do

Well I’m never right, I’m never sure
I’ll always feel so insecure with you
Well I live in fear of what’s in store
'Cause you've got one foot out the door, it’s true

Hey, respect me, I say please, please, please, please
Respect me, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon
Respect me
Alright

Hey, respect me, please, please, please, please, please
Respect me, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon
Respect me, respect me
Respect me, oh baby, baby, baby
Respect me, respect me
Respect me

[Featured on the original, Canadian release]

Interpretation

Why can't you respect my point of view sometimes?  We should be equals in this relationship, but you seem to want to compare me to you're previous man. It's like I have vertigo, always off balance, unsure which way to go, because you're like Jekyll and Hyde, and I never know which you will be. Nothing I do is ever good enough for you, so I always feel I need to apologize, to be treated like everything I do is wrong makes me insecure. We promised each other we would stay together forever, but if you can't show me some respect, you may just have to leave. 

Love and respect go hand in hand in a relationship. To feel loved but not respected can be confusing, frustrating, and even demoralizing.

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