The British rock group Lovejoy released the song Call Me What You Like (abbreviated as CMWYL) in February 2023. At the start of 2023, the song quickly rose to the top of the charts, which was a particularly good sign for the band because Lovejoy, which was created in 2020, was Wilbur Soot’s idea for the Internet. The band is already gaining followers even in the US thanks to its new songs. People were definitely interested in learning more about the song’s significance, so in this piece, we’ll do just that. The full lyrics are included at the conclusion.
Call Me What You Like: the lyrics & their meaning
The song Call Me What You Like is about a difficult romantic relationship. The protagonist describes how much he wants this girl in the lyrics, despite the fact that she isn’t engaged to him. He is aware that she occasionally dates other guys, that this tale won’t end well, and that he cannot keep hoping indefinitely. She is the source of the phrase “call me what you like,” which means, “Whatever I am for you, boyfriend or occasional lover, call me and be with me tonight.” He still hopes she will call him tonight in whatever capacity or role she desires from him.
The opening verse of the song contains one lyric in particular that sums up the protagonist’s uncertainties:
Darling, what am I to do?
The opening verse of the song contains one lyric in particular that sums up the protagonist’s uncertainties:
His misgivings about the importance he places on her as a result of all his insecurities about this relationship: He plainly states in the chorus that she doesn’t need him and probably doesn’t want him either, but he is still present in the hopes of sharing another tender moment with her.
I’m not sure if you want it
Not sure if you need me, too
And you can taste thе beer
On every guy that talks to you
But you can’t stay awake forever
No, you can’t stay awake forever
The singer counts on the time when she is asleep as the only dimension accessible to be someone meaningful for her; ideally, at that time, they can share a bed and be a real couple, at least in his views.
However, the protagonist is fully aware that this is a fruitless path because he knows he would run up against her rejection head-on and suffer a horrible heartbreak. When we need to let love go, it’s not always simple to do so. There is always a time when we are aware of it and try to think it through slowly in order to make ready for the decision that will follow. We feel torn, driven by our emotions, and pulled toward the person we still love even though we know it’s not good for us till the preparation phase is complete. The second verse of Call Me What You Like’s lyrics describes the tension as follows:
This just in: I am a total f**ing dumba–
And I’ve come to the uncomfortable conclusion I’ll be spending the rest of my life in a state of constant paranoia
Just let me follow you
And I’ll proceed to bang my head on every doorway and doorframe you see suitable for us to go through And I’ve found that the road to happiness is paved
With rows and rows of very tempting parking spaces
I’m not paranoid, I’m a realist
I know you’re gonna kill me!
The path to happiness is anything but simple, and you face the urge to give up every mile. This partnership appears to be a moment spent parked away with the knowledge that he should be returning to drive toward happiness. Instead, he is merely trailing her. His unusual height—6’6 or nearly 2 meters—means that if he isn’t careful, he will wind up knocking his head on every entryway and doorframe. And from the way he says, “every doorway and doorframe you see suitable for us to go through,” his lady doesn’t seem to be paying much attention.
After all, this is what the song’s words, “Call Me What You Like,” really mean. Even if you don’t appear dedicated to me, I need you and I can’t help it; I know this will kill me, but I have no other choice. I only want you right now, not my happiness or my self-preservation. Irresponsibly. The mixed emotions of being in love with someone who doesn’t reciprocate our feelings are brilliantly captured in a song.
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The complete lyrics
I never was a fan of the internet
She never felt that safe in her own head
We both hate the news
There for the grace of God goes you
Smiling when I ask if she’s bored yet
Wonder if we took it too far
Both taste confused
Darling, what am I to do?
I like to think that I’m
The only guy she’ll see tonight
You can call me what you like
As long as you call me
And you can kiss the skin from my lips til it makes you feel good
I’m not sure if you want it, not sure if you need me too
And you can taste the beer on every guy who talks to you
But you can’t stay awake forever
No you can’t stay awake forever
So I find myself in your mum’s bedroom
Fighting with the pink roller blinds
It’s on pay-per-view
Place your bets on who’s lost their mind
Take a pirouette under duvet set
Sigh with perfect pitch and with time
I’m not made for you
But what else is new?
Oh, lord she tells me that it’s nothing
I really hope it’s nothing
And you can kiss the skin from my lips til it makes you feel good
I’m not sure if you want it, not sure if you need me too
And you can taste the beer on every guy who talks to you
But you can’t stay awake forever
No you can’t stay awake forever
This just in: I am a total f**ing dumba–
And I’ve come to the uncomfortable conclusion I’ll be spending the rest of my life in a state of constant paranoia
Just let me follow you
And I’ll proceed to bang my head on every doorway and doorframe you see suitable for us to go through And I’ve found that the road to happiness is paved
With rows and rows of very tempting parking spaces
I’m not paranoid, I’m a realist
I know you’re gonna kill me!
And you can kiss the skin from my lips til it makes you feel good
I’m not sure if you want it, not sure if you need me too
And you can taste the beer on every guy who talks to you
But you can’t stay awake forever No you can’t stay awake forever