WHY?       
(words and music by Rick Springfield)          


I don't know how 
To tell you who I am 
Try to justify 
You'd still deny I'm a man

I never understood it 
So I don't expect you to 
But I can't change now, Love
Just for you

Maybe it's better 
That you know at last 
Though  I am sorry 
It all happened so fast

We might have lasted longer 
If I told you when we met 
But it's an old song 
You'd best  forget

Why did you love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why did she never understand me 
Why did she love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why is it so hard to be yourself

Maybe it's better 
That you know at last 
Though  I am sorry 
It all happened so fast

I never understood it
So I don't expect you to
But I can't change now, Love
Just for you

Why did you love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why did she never understand me 
Why did she love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why is it so hard to be yourself

(Now that it's over)
Why did you love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why did she never understand me 
Why did she love me 
Lord did I let her down 
Why is it so hard to be yourself

(total playing time: 3:59)

Song Facts: this can be found on Beginnings.  This song was originally titled "Why It's So Hard to Be Yourself"

According to US 

Now we go from my selection for a remake, to the one that makes me sad. Every time I listen to it, I just find myself asking more questions that I'll probably never get the answer to. Then I wonder, well...is it the questions in the song that make me ask more questions? It's questionable :-) So now I'm gonna make you all go, hmmm.

I realized on about oh the 100th listen thru that only male songwriters are mature enough to express their emotions to the whole world like this. The first two stanzas of the song would put me in a puddle of tears if I had received them written from someone I loved. "I don't know how to tell you who I am. Try to justify you'd still deny I'm a man" What in the heck is he trying so hard to say? He screwed up because he's a man? I'm lost here. Why does he have to tell me who he is? "I never understood it, so I don't expect you to but I can't change now, love just for you." How come? Doesn't love or being in love make you want to be a better person? The next stanza sounds to me like he is trying to break up or break off this relationship, and he hates to have to do it, but he is anyway. "Maybe it's better that you know at last though I am sorry it all happened so fast" Their relationship? Sex? But then he sings, "We might have lasted longer if I told you when we met, but it's an old song you'd best forget". Told me what? How would "we" have lasted longer?

Okey dokey, on to the chorus, "Why did you love me, Lord did I let her down. Why did she never understand me, why did she love me". Sigh. I wish I knew. Especially the last line, "Why is it so hard to be yourself". No one knows the easy answer to that one.

I gave up. All I know is, I know why this song is titled "Why?". That's what I keep asking every time I listen to it. Why did you write it? Why is it on the album now? (after Come on Everybody-a very upbeat, light song) He he...I just realized those last two questions can be sung in tune with the song. Now I KNOW I've listened to it too much.  - Michelle P.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS WRITTEN IN A SOMEWHAT TONGUE-IN-CHEEK MANNER, so please don't take it too seriously.

I've listened to this song several times over the last month while getting more familiar with the songs on this album.  I always thought of it as a sweet love gone wrong song, loved Rick's voice, but never really concentrated on what I thought he was talking about.  Then one day the line "I never understood it", just hit me smack in the face.....what is "it"?   "maybe it's better that you know at last"....know what??????  Then it hits me.....OMG this is Rick Springfield's coming out of the closet song.....he's gay.....this made so much sense...."you'd deny I'm a man", "Why is it so hard to be myself"........but no, it couldn't be.  Then, about a week after this concept came to me, in comes the calendar, and I flip to June......I see the left side picture and I think "there is not a heterosexual gene in this man's body".....The wife, the kids, his fixation on breasts lately....it's all a cover up......

Ok, I don't really think he's gay, and the next verse "we may have lasted sooner, if I told you when we met" kind of blows that theory anyway, if he had told her sooner, it would have ended then.  I do believe that "it" is something very specific though and it's a mystery I'd love to see solved.  What was "it" he was hiding/covering up that she found out about that ended the relationship.  I'm dying to know. - rlh

The ominous feel of the opening music is perfect, reminding me of the background music in a thriller movie, and it gives the listener a feeling of anxiousness. What a great way to start this song! I imagine that was Rick's intention, for us to feel his sense of fear & doubt. Well, he certainly created that feeling in this song. I just love how he puts these emotions out on the table. The indecisiveness of the lyrics, "what should I say? what should I do?," sound like he's questioning whether or not to plunge into the sometimes cruel world of the music business. Other great lines---"people are so often hard," and "facing the world is so hard, do you know what I mean?" Yes, many of us do know what he means. The background voices are awesome. "Why are you waiting?"---It's as if he were pressured or encouraged by friends, family & colleagues to take that step (often a blind step) and follow his dreams. OR...is it his own inner voices, questioning his delay? And what about the voices of optimism (or possibly voices of comfort & reassurance) that so abruptly come in (sounding adamant maybe?), almost before he finishes the word fail & say "you won't fail." Whether it's meant to be the persistence of those who had total faith in his decisions, or that inner voice, I think it's cool to interpret the song with different meanings. Interesting how Rick's writing was reflecting double meanings from so early on in his career. I adore his talent for doing that with his lyrics.

Some of my favorite parts in this song would have to be the guitar solo half way through & then the way it builds back up into somewhat of a frenzy again. Also, the best part, the very thing that has hooked me with this song, are the sounds of desperation in Rick's voice. It's simply beautiful, in a strange kind of way. I really like the uncertainty as he sings, "what if I fail?," especially the last few times he says it, as if it's his last & final plea for reassurance. How many people can relate to that feeling?! I know I can. The raw emotion in his voice is a major aspect in my opinion. It only adds to the anxiety of the music. This will surely remain a favorite of mine. When I'm at my wits end & feeling that people & the world are hard to deal with, I know I can play this song and somehow find some comfort.  - Kelley Pearson