I Want You To Want Me...

"I want you to..."  NOT  "I want that you..."

One of the most difficult points of English grammar for Spanish speakers is trying to translate ideas that are formed with the subjunctive in Spanish. For example, "Quiero que vengas conmigo." is often translated as "I want that you come with me."    The correct translation is "I want you to come with me."    The structure is very simple and works with many verbs including tell, ask, need, force, order, beg (rogar), etc.   It even works in the past exactly the same as in the present.   You simply have to conjugate the first verb.  That means that "Él quiere que lo hagas." is "He wants  you to do it" and " Él querría que lo hicieras." is "He wanted you to do it."  Simple, right?    Yes, it is simple.   The problem is remembering to use this form and resisting the urge (resistir la tentación) to say "I want that..."   So what is the solution?   Practice, practice, practice.   You can also listen to this song and sing along (cantar junto) to practice.    One more important thing you should know about this form is the two common exceptions to the rule, "make" and "let".    When using these two words you DO NOT USE THE "TO".    For examples, "Mis padres me obligan a estudiar." in English would be "My parents make me study." and "Nuestra maestra no nos deja hablar en la clase." is "Our teacher does not let us talk in class."

Another thing to notice (fijarse) in the sentence "I want you to want me." is  the second "want".  "Te quiero." can be "I love you." or "I want you." in English, but there is an important difference. "I want you." has strong sexual connotations and is closer to "Te deseo." in Spanish.

Vocabulary: The word "brand" means "marca" in Spanish and the phrase  "brand new" means " nuevo, sin estrenar".  The name of the group who wrote and first made this song popular is "Cheap Trick" which means "una mala pasada" in Spanish.  




I Want You To Want Me  by Cheap Trick
 

I want you to want me

 Quiero que me desees

I want you to want me  
Quiero que me desees

I need you to need me 
Necesito que me necesites

I'd love you to love me 
Me encantaría que me amaras

I'm beggin' you to beg me

Te suplico  que me suplicaras

I want you to want me

 Quiero que me desees

I want you to want me 
Quiero que me desees

I need you to need me 
Necesito que me necesites

I'd love you to love me
 Me encantaría que me amaras

I'll shine up the old brown shoes,

Puliré los antiguos zapatos marrones
Put on a brand-new shirt

Ponerme una nueva camisa 
 I'll get home early from work
 Llegaré pronto del trabajo

If you say that you love me

Si me dices que me quieres

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

No? No? No te he visto llorando?
Ohh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

Ahhh, no? No? No te he visto llorando? 

Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'

Sintiendome muy solo, sin amigos, sabes que sientes como si quisieras morir 
Ohh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

Ahhh, no? No? No te he visto llorando?

I want you to want me

 Quiero que me desees

I want you to want me 
Quiero que me desees

I need you to need me 
Necesito que me necesites

I'd love you to love me  
Me encantaría que me amaras

I'm beggin' you to beg me

Te suplico  que me suplicaras

I'll shine up the old brown shoes,

Puliré los antiguos zapatos antiguos
Put on a brand-new shirt

Ponerme una nueva camisa 
I'll get home early from work  
Llegaré pronto del trabajo

If you say that you love me

Si me dices que me quieres

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

No? No? No te he visto llorando?
Ohh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

Ahhh, no? No? No te he visto llorando? 

Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'

Sintiendome muy solo, sin amigos, sabes que sientes como si quisieras morir 
Ohh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

Ahhh, no? No? No te he visto llorando?

Ohh
Ahh 

Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'

Sintiendome muy solo, sin amigos, sabes que sientes como si quisieras morir 
Ohh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

Ahhh, no? No? No te he visto llorando?

Ohh

Ahh

I want you to want me

 Quiero que me desees

I want you to want me 
Quiero que me desees

I need you to need me 
Necesito que me necesites

I'd love you to love me  
Me encantaría que me amaras

I'm beggin' you to beg me

Te suplico  que me suplicaras

I want you to want me 
Quiero que me desees 
I want you to want me
Quiero que me desees
I want you to want me
Quiero que me desees  

Note:  Here  is a more recent version of the song by the band  Letters From Cleo from the movie 10 Things I Hate About You.