You got me runnin', goin' out of my mind
You got me thinkin' that I'm wastin' my time

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down

You wanna stay out with your fancy friends
I'm tellin' you, it's got to be the end

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down

Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down

What happened to the girl I used to know?
You let your mind out somewhere down the road

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down

You're always talkin' 'bout your crazy nights
One of these days, you're gonna get it right

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down

Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down, groos
Don't bring me down

You're lookin' good, just like a snake in the grass
One of these days, you're gonna break your glass

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down

You got me shakin', got me runnin' away
You got me crawlin' up to you everyday

Don't bring me down
No, no, no, no, no
Ooh-ooh-hoo
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down, down, down, down, down, down

I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down


Lyrics submitted by Kenobi65, edited by demonearl88, Mal12345

Don't Bring Me Down Lyrics as written by Jeff Lynne

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Don't Bring Me Down song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    A common mondegreen in the song is the perception that, following the title line, Jeff Lynne shouts "Bruce!" . However, according to liner notes, he is actually saying a made-up word "Groos". This is similar to a German word for "greeting", Gruß possibly referring to the Bavarian greeting Grüß Gott the group would have heard while recording the album in Munich. However, after the song's release, so many people had misinterpreted the word as Bruce that the band actually changed the lyrics and began to sing the word as Bruce.

    The song is dedicated to the NASA Skylab space station, which reentered the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia on July 11, 1979.

    cyberiouseon February 13, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Yes we all know about the Gross / Bruce thing...

    This song is, like many of Jeff's, is very simple!

    He's met someone who's ruining his mood :) Don't bring me down!

    jadeiaon June 06, 2016   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Yes, "grroosss" is the actual word (taken straight off the lyric sheet). Jeff Lynne says it's just a word he made up, although Mack (the German engineer who worked on this album) noted that it sounded kind of like the German word for "good morning." Most folks think it sounds like they're singing "Bruce;" for that reason, when the song is performed these days, Jeff will sing "Bruce" instead.

    Kenobi65on June 18, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song has a sound totally unique to itself. Great beat, combined with powerful phrases make it one of my favorites. A guy is done with a girl who could care less about him. Now he is walking out.

    Ander Knighton December 09, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I was all rocking out when this came on "Super 8". Again I can remember dancing to this with my sisters but on "American Bandstand". :)

    Thia007on December 02, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always thought it was Bruce...now I know. Great song.

    allenegirlon May 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is brilliant.

    ELO, top feel-good music.

    robbro7on May 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ELO rocks, Showdown is a Kick A song too

    mixmastrmatton August 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    lol, bruce too

    SwoopSwoop_RockRocon July 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This was my first favorite ELO song (although, I also grew to love "Telephone Line" and "Sweet Talkin' Woman").

    Major Valoron September 26, 2006   Link

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