Careless Whisper is one of those songs.
They type many people don’t even know they know.
If you ask them if they have ever heard Careless Whisper, they may say they haven’t.
But if you play them the song, they will recognize it the second the saxophone starts playing.
The Careless Whisper lyrics meaning is less know, but not because the lyrics are hard to decipher.
Most simply have never thought about it.
If you have and you want to know for sure what they are about, keep reading. You will learn exactly what George Michael was singing about and where he got his inspiration.
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Careless Whisper Lyrics And Meaning
George Michael released Careless Whisper in 1984. Michael co-wrote this famous song with Andrew Ridgley, who was his bandmate in Wham!
The pair wrote it together when they were just 17 in 1981. In his autobiography Bare, George writes, “I was on my way to DJ at the Bel Air when I wrote Careless Whisper. I have always written on buses, trains, and in cars. It always happens on journeys.”
The song features an iconic saxophone solo that increased the popularity of the song and has made it what it is today. Michael became obsessed with the solo during production, because he wanted it to sound just right.
This meant he even replaced his original saxophone player, Steve Gregory, with a new player, who was then able to nail the solo exactly as Michael had imagined
It’s this attention to detail that showed Michael’s commitment to the song’s emotional authenticity, even if in later years he detached from Careless Whisper and it’s apparently simple lyrics.
Careless Whisper achieved large amounts of commercial success and topped many different global charts. The song became a defining moment in Michael’s career, because it resonated with so many different fans.
The song was written and recorded in Miami, Florida, and the music video was also shot in this city. It helped reflect the feelings of guilt that are shown in the lyrics of the song.
The video takes place on a yacht and in a hotel, where Michael and his partner are having a great time until she discovers that he is having an affair. The end of the video sees both women leave Michael and he finds himself all alone.
The director didn’t enjoy shooting the music video, because they faced many challenges. He has even been quoted as calling it a disaster. This is largely down to losing footage of kissing scenes.
Many people agree that the music video is most famous for Michael’s hairstyle, which closely resembled Princess Diana’s at the time. Michael described the video as “a glamorous version of something that happened to me.”
Careless Whisper was officially released under Wham! However, it was seen as Michael’s first breakaway single from the band.
The song has remained huge, even in modern times, with the music video reaching one billion views on YouTube in 2023. Careless Whisper has also been covered by Gloria Gaynor and Bananarama.
Careless Whisper Lyrics
Verse 1
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand
And lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes
Chorus
I’m never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool
Should’ve known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I’ve been given
So I’m never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Verse 2
Time can never mend
The careless whispers
Of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There’s no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you’ll find
Chorus
I’m never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool
Should’ve known better than to cheat a friend
(Should’ve known better, yeah)
And waste a chance that I’ve been given
So I’m never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Never without your love
Bridge
Tonight, the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it’s better this way
We’d hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now, who’s gonna dance with me?
Please stay
Chorus
And I’m never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool
Should’ve known better than to cheat a friend
And waste a chance that I’ve been given
So I’m never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
(Now that you’re gone)
Now that you’re gone
(Now that you’re gone)
Was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone?
Careless Whisper Meaning
The main meaning of Careless Whisper comes from the guilt a person feels after they’ve cheated on their partner or spouse. Michael uses the lyrics of this song to express the sense of guilt and loss, which is especially apparent through the line “guilty feet have got no rhythm.”
This line underpins the theme of the song as the protagonist sings about the end of a relationship due to his actions. He sings that he’s caused irreversible harm.
Careless Whisper became particularly popular due to its themes of love, betrayal, and regret, which deeply connected listeners from across the world.
Also in his biography, Michael explains that much of the song is about his childhood and the track was influenced by a girl he had a crush on called Jane. Michael started seeing Jane but then developed a relationship with another girl called Helen.
The whole idea of Careless Whisper came from the idea of the first girl finding out about the second girl, but he says she never actually did in real life.
Careless Whisper Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
Was the Careless Whisper lyrics meaning what you thought it was? I bet most readers had a good idea what the song was about, but just weren’t 100% sure.
As for the actual inspiration from George Michael’s youth, that’s a piece of trivia I did not know before doing my research either. But I’m glad I learned. I always like finding out little tidbits about where artists found their inspiration.
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