Have you got colour in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can’t shift
The type that sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you’re in deep?
I dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
‘Cause there’s this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep
Spilling drinks on my settee
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day
Crawling back to you
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few?
‘Cause I always do
Maybe I’m too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawling back to you
So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart’s still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down and pucker up
I’m sorry to interrupt. It’s just I’m constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you
I don’t know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day
Crawling back to you (crawling back to you)
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few? (you’ve had a few)
‘Cause I always do (’cause I always do)
Maybe I’m too (maybe I’m too busy) busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawling back to you
(Do I wanna know?)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day
(Do I wanna know?)
Too busy being yours to fall
(Sad to see you go)
Ever thought of calling darling?
(Do I wanna know?)
Do you want me crawling back to you?
Yearning and Vulnerability: The Heart of “Do I Wanna Know?”
Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?” masterfully captures the restless uncertainty that comes with longing for someone who may or may not feel the same. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of late-night doubts, replayed memories, and the desire for emotional honesty. Questions linger, such as whether feelings are mutual and if secrets are being kept. The song’s narrator oscillates between confessing vulnerability and holding back, all while haunted by the hope that love might be reciprocated.
The Pull of Familiar Emotions
Throughout the song, the recurring theme of “crawling back to you” emphasizes the magnetic pull of unresolved feelings. The narrator’s internal struggle—balancing the fear of rejection with the hope for connection—is relatable and timeless. Lines about calling after a few drinks and being “too busy being yours” reveal the depth of attachment and the difficulty of moving on, highlighting the bittersweet nature of longing.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Alex Turner
- Release Year: 2013
- Label: Domino Recording Company