(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" is a song by American alternative rock/power pop band Weezer. It was released as the first single from the band's seventh studio album Raditude. Initially scheduled to be released to American rock radio on August 25, 2009, the official release of the single to radio was moved up to August 18. The single debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Rock Songs Chart, and in the same position on the Alternative Songs chart. The music video features Odette Yustman. The song was first played live on August 23, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario at the Molson Amphitheatre. The main riff of this song bears a similarity to the main riff of The Jam song "Town Called Malice".

## Background

"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" saw official digital release on August 25, 2009. Nine days prior, on August 16, Wal-Mart accidentally put the entire song up for sale when they were only supposed to post a 30 second clip, as other online retailers such as Amazon.com did. Within an hour the song was leaked all over the internet via YouTube and Albumsix (which had a direct link to Wal-Mart's online Weezer store). Wal-Mart was quick to remove the song after a day or so, but fans were still leaking it through other sources. Due to the leak, the song began receiving radio station airplay as of August 18, sooner than originally planned.

The song was slow to catch on, but a full six months after release, it was the most-played song at Los Angeles radio station KROQ. An AOL Session version was recorded as a duet between Rivers Cuomo and singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, and a similar acoustic duet version was released on the Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day! EP in April of 2010.

During a conversation with Brian Bell about the lyrics, Cuomo revealed that the inspiration for the line "we watched Titanic and it didn't make us sad" came from the movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, in which the main characters are seen leaving a movie theater, laughing and smiling, after having watched Platoon. This conversation can be seen in this video at about 40:22.

In January of 2010, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas told radio station 101.7 WFNX that Dr. Luke, who worked with Rivers Cuomo on Raditude, had pitched a potential Strokes song that sounded very similar to "I Want You To"

## Music Video

The video was directed by Marc Webb and posted to YouTube on October 22.

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

The moon was shining on the lake at night

The Slayer T-shirt fit the scene just right

Through smeared mascara

I looked into your eyes and saw a light

You told me stories about your chickadees

They didn’t like BB guns or stupid archery

You charmed the lifeguard

He let them use the pool all day for free

[Pre-Chorus]

Then the conversation stopped, and I looked down at my feet

I was next to you and you were right there next to me

[Chorus]

Then I said girl, if you’re wondering if I want you to

(I want you to) I want you to (I want you to)

So make the move (make the move)

Cause I ain’t got all night

[Verse 2]

The rest of the summer was the best we’ve ever had

We watched Titanic and it didn’t make us sad

I took you to Best Buy

You took me home to meet your mom and dad

Your mom cooked meatloaf, even though I don’t eat meat

I dug you so much, I took some for the team

Your dad was silent

His eyes were fixed to what was on TV

[Pre-Chorus]

Then the conversation stopped, and I looked down at the ring

Your folks were next to you, and you were right there next to me

[Chorus]

And I said girl, if you're wondering if I want you to

(I want you to) I want you to (I want you to)

I swear it's true (swear it's true)

Without you, my heart is blue

Girl, if you’re wondering if I want you to

(I want you to) I want you to (I want you to)

So make the move (make the move)

Cause I ain’t got all night

[Bridge]

So much pain may come our way

There may come a day when we have nothing left to say

[Pre-Chorus]

When the conversation stops and we’re facing our defeat

I’ll be next to you and you’ll be right there next to me

[Chorus]

And I said girl, if you're wondering if I want you to

(I want you to) I want you to (I want you to)

I swear it's true (swear it's true)

Without you, my heart is blue

Girl, if you’re wondering if I want you to

(I want you to) I want you to (I want you to)

So make the move (make the move)

Cause I ain’t got all night

## See Also

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