What Do You Mean?

Producers

Justin first announced “What Do You Mean?” a month ahead of its release on Ryan Seacrest’s nationally-syndicated radio show. When asked about the song’s meaning, Justin… Read More

Aug. 28, 20153 viewers1.8M views

What Do You Mean? Lyrics

[Intro]

[Chorus]
What do you mean? Oh, oh
When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no
What do you mean? Hey, yeah
When you don't want me to move, but you tell me to go
What do you mean? Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're runnin' outta time, what do you mean?
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind, what do you mean?

[Verse 1]
You're so indecisive of what I'm sayin'
Tryna catch the beat, make up your heart
Don't know if you're happy or complainin'
Don't want for us to end, where do I start?

[Pre-Chorus]
First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right (Right)
Wanna argue all day, makin' love all night (All night)
First you're up, then you’re down, and then between ('Tween)
Oh, I really wanna know

[Chorus]
What do you mean? Oh, oh
When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no
What do you mean? Hey, yeah
When you don't want me to move, but you tell me to go
What do you mean? Oh, what do you mean?
Said you're runnin' outta time, what do you mean?
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean? Better make up your mind
What do you mean?

[Verse 2]
You're overprotective when I'm leavin'
Tryna compromise, but I can’t win
You wanna make a point, but you keep preachin'
You had me from the start, won't let this end

[Pre-Chorus]
First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right
(Turn right)
Wanna argue all day, makin' love all night (All night)
First you're up, then you’re down, and then between ('Tween)
Oh, I really wanna know

[Chorus]
What do you mean? Oh, oh (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no
What do you mean? (Oh, what do you mean?) Hey, yeah
When you don't want me to move, but you tell me to go
What do you mean? (I wanna know, ooh)
Oh, what do you mean? (Ooh)
Said you're runnin' outta time, what do you mean? (Oh, baby)
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean? Better make up your mind
What do you mean? (Don't be so selfish, baby, yeah, yeah) Oh, oh
When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no
What do you mean? (You're so confusin', baby) Hey, yeah
When you don't want me to move (Hey), but you tell me to go
What do you mean? (Be more straightforward)
Oh, what do you mean? (Hey, ah, ah, ah)
Said you're runnin' outta time, what do you mean? (Hey, ah, ah, ah)
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
Better make up your mind, what do you mean?

Embed

About

Genius Annotation

Justin first announced “What Do You Mean?” a month ahead of its release on Ryan Seacrest’s nationally-syndicated radio show. When asked about the song’s meaning, Justin referred to the indecision and veiled sentiments he often heard when talking to women:

Girls are often flip-floppy. They say something, and then they mean something else. “What do you mean?“ … I don’t really know, that’s why I’m asking.

To build anticipation, Justin enlisted a series of celebrities to help count down and preview the song on Twitter. Nine days before the official release, Justin leaked the lyrics in “the coolest way ever” (according to MTV) by sending them in parts to his loyal fans (the Beliebers) via direct messages on Twitter.

The unique marketing worked. “What Do You Mean?” become the fastest song to reach number one on iTunes after its release, and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the 23rd song ever to accomplish the feat.

Surprisingly, this was Justin’s first number one hit.