Give me time to realize my crime
Let me love and steal
I have danced inside your eyes
How can I be real?

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Precious kisses, words that burn me
Lovers never ask you why

In my heart the fire is burning
Choose my color, find a star
Precious people always tell me
That's a step, a step too far

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?

Words are few I have spoken
I could waste a thousand years
Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
Come inside and catch my tears
You've been talking but believe me
If it's true you do not know
This boy loves without a reason
I'm prepared to let you go

If it's love you want from me
Then take it away
Everything's not what you see
It's over again

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?
Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you really want to make me cry?


Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me Lyrics as written by Jonathan Moss George O'dowd

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

22 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    Why do people who profess love for another often cause that person so much harm?

    Arcadianon June 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love it when they make fun of Boy George on "The Wedding Singer" but this is a good song and Im not afraid to admit it!

    NicoleInWonderlandon May 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i can see that im the only one who will admit they like this song!

    NicoleInWonderlandon June 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i like the video - he's in a law court and he's wearing pyjamas - what the f**k!?? mark

    markipon June 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the song, and I adore Boy George, but...Did he have to do that dancing around stuff in the video? Well, let's just let him get down with his gay self.

    Master_Bateson June 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    LOL

    NicoleInWonderlandon June 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard that he wrote this song for his boyfriend, Jon Moss...Jon was never really comfortable about the relationship. In the video, you can even see him sort of looking at Jon sadly. But then in the video, you also see him dancing around in the 30s and the 50s, times when homosexuality was very unacceptable, so the song might also be asking people to accept who he is.

    TheYipskeeon January 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such a great song yet little comments. why won't people open up and admit they like this song? im not sure of the meaning though so please excuse my ignorance

    so_fetch!on January 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Boy George/Culture Club had some songs with absolutely awesome LYRICS (not all there songs, but some are amazing). Anyone know if they wrote their own stuff???

    I admit the music does sound a dated in 2006, but come on the lyrics to this are still awesome. Great songwriting.

    Songs like this and "Crying Game" need to be covered more. But they aren't; because people are afraid of the gay/transsexual connotation with these songs. They are so afraid that if they cover these beautiful songs people will point, laugh and yell "GAY!"

    It's such a shame!!

    Oh, and the meaning of this song is so obvious so I don't need to go into that.

    ohwhocareson May 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude with my post. I didn't realize that the person right above me said they didn't get the meaning of the song.

    Well, there is an old saying "You hurt the ones you love" and there you go. That's the meaning of the song.

    ohwhocareson May 23, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.