Don't Love Me

## Single by Ne-Yo

"**Don't Love Me**" is a song by Ne-Yo, released through Motown Records as the fourth single and fifth track from his eighth studio album, *Self Explanatory* (2022). It began as an open letter to his wife, Crystal Williams. He shared in an interview, "We were forced to sit in each other's faces and talk about things we wouldn't have talked about otherwise, and really and truly figure out a way to navigate ourselves back to what it is we wanted to be together as a couple. I mean, everybody says that relationships are hard, but this was a whole new level of that, being forced to sit around and talk about the things that are uncomfortable. Being painfully honest with somebody about everything is not easy, especially because you have to turn that finger that you've been pointing at everybody else around on yourself and realize that you've made absolute mistakes before, and these mistakes have become detrimental to your situation. Having to admit that to yourself is never an easy thing. It is, however, inspiring... and it makes for great song lyrics."

He performed an exclusive version on the COLORS stage for Black Music Month.

## Background

Smith confessed to *ET* that when he first shared it with his wife, "[I]t reminded her of the time we were in when I wrote the song," when they were about to get a divorce. He continued, "I didn't realize it in the moment but I can say this now, that the open letter was me trying to cop out. It was me trying to tell her that I couldn't be who she deserves. Once I realized what I wanted and who I needed to be for her, [boom] we're in a great place. [...] If you are in a relationship and you don't want to be in a relationship you're never going to give your all to that relationship. You're never going to be for that person who they need you to be, so don't lie to yourself. Be honest with yourself. If you know that that's not what you want to do, then by all means cut the ties. It's only going to get more and more toxic until you guys eventually start resenting each other and then there's almost no going back from that place. And I thank God that we didn't get to that place because I know it's very hard to come back from there. And, above that, just listen to each other."

## Credits and personnel

* Asha Solai – A&R coordinator
* Calvin "Mister" Hay, Gelareh "G" Rouzbehani – A&R
* Curtis "Sauce" Wilson – vocal producer, recording engineer
* Gene Grimaldi – masterer
* Jamal Rashid – producer
* Kevin "KD" Davis – mixer
* Liz Isik – A&R admin
* Mally Mall – producer
* Shaffer Smith – vocals, writer

## Music video

The official music video, set in black and white, stars *P-Valley*'s Tyler Lepley and *Empire*'s Serayah, where they face difficulties in their relationships. Eventually Lepley is the first to say they need to take a break.

## Videos

Ne-Yo - Don't Love Me (Audio)Ne-Yo - Don't Love Me (Lyric Video)Ne-Yo - Don't Love Me (Behind the Scenes)Ne-Yo - Don't Love Me (A Colors Show)
## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

(*Mally Mall*)

[Verse 1]

And I really wanna see you happy

I really wanna see you secure (Mm)

Confident in your sexy

I know you don't feel that with me anymore

[Pre-Chorus]

You should walk away

It'd be selfish of me to ask you to stay

When I know that I cannot love you the way you deserve

I can't sit and watch you make these same mistakes

Ones I know that you're willing to make

[Chorus]

(Oh) Please, oh, please, don't love me

Walk away, you'll be better for it (Oh)

I can't be, your happy

Walk away, you'll be better for it, girl (Ooh, ooh-ooh)

I'm only gonna hurt you (Ooh, ooh), you'll be better for it, girl (Ooh, ooh-ooh)

Find someone that deserves you, babe, ooh (Ooh, ooh)

[Verse 2]

Running after all these thots, steady telling you I'm not

Lying to your face done got, too easy for me to not

Even though I love you a lot (Hey)

All I'ma wind up doin' is making you hate me

I broke your self-esteem and made you feel crazy

[Pre-Chorus]

So walk away

I'm the reason that the tears run down your face

I'm the reason that you've felt so out of place as of late

And to stay with me, it would be a mistake

One I know that you're willing to make

[Chorus]

(Oh) Please, oh, please, don't love me (Don't love me)

Walk away, you'll be better for it (Oh, yeah)

I can't be (I can't be), your happy (I can't be your happy)

Walk away, you'll be better for it, girl (Ooh, ooh-ooh, hey)

I'm only gonna hurt you (I'm only gonna hurt you), you'll be better for it, girl (Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh)

Find someone that deserves you, babe, oh, oh-oh (Mm-hmm)

[Outro]

Ah, ah-ah, ah

Ah, ah-ah, ah

Ah, ah-ah, ah

Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah

Ah, ah-ah, ah

## References

1. ↑ Schreffler, Laura (June 28, 2022). "Ne-Yo Is Back And Better Than Ever After A 4-Year Hiatus. The Reason Is Self-Explanatory.". *Haute Living*.
2. ↑ "@colorsxstudios". *Twitter*. June 22, 2022.
3. ↑ Melendez, Miguel (June 24, 2022). "Ne-Yo on Writing 'Don't Love Me' Amid Potential Divorce From Wife: It 'Was Me Trying to Cop Out' (Exclusive)". *ET*.
4. ↑ Abraham, Mya (May 17, 2022). "Ne-Yo Narrates Being The Bigger Person In New Visual, "Don't Love Me"". *Vibe*.