Want You Back

Album: Youngblood (2018)
Charted: 22 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from 5 Seconds of Summer's third album is a slick synthy tune that finds the guys reminiscing about an ex and wondering what went wrong.

    You know even when I say I've moved on
    You know even though I know that you're gone
    All I think about is where I went wrong
    Yeah I still dream of you


    "It's about wanting someone back" vocalist Luke Hemmings explained to Radio.com. "Or not even someone, even like the feeling of losing something and wanting it back, so it doesn't necessarily have to be about a particular person. It can be about a feeling you are trying to chase."
  • The song was the last one penned for the 5SOS's third album and it came easily. "It was quite an organic procedure writing it, the process wasn't strenuous; it was very free flowing," bassist Calum Hood said. "It was actually the last song we wrote over the one and a half year process of writing the record, so it was very relieving to hit the jackpot at the end."
  • In an interview with Beats 1, drummer Ashton Irwin explained why the guys chose to lead their third album with this track. "'Want You Back' articulates the band we were, we are now, and what we're gonna be," he said. "That's why I like it and that's why we picked it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.