Released: March 11, 1990
Songwriter: Chris Lowe Neil Tennant
Producer: Pet Shop Boys Harold Faltermeyer
[Verse 1]
You live upon a stage and everyone's agreed
You're the brightest hope by far that anyone can see
So, when you take the limelight, you can guarantee
You're gaining fame and claiming credibility
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me, baby, are you gonna get high as a kite?
Tell me, baby, are you gonna let it happen every night?
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Verse 2]
You live within the law, and everyone assumes
You must find this a bore, and try something new
You're an intellectual giant, an authority
To preach and teach the whole world about ecology
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me, baby, are you gonna make any other claims?
Tell me, baby, are you gonna take any of the blame?
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
(Seriously)
(Seriously)
[Verse 3]
You live within the headlines, so everyone can see
You're supporting every new cause and meeting royalty
You're another major artist on a higher plane
Do you think they'll put you in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame?
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Tell me, baby, how you generate longevity
Tell me, baby, how you really hate publicity
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
Seriously
(Seriously)
Seriously
[Spoken Interlude]
"Do you have a message for your fans?"
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
(Seriously)
Seriously
(Seriously)
Seriously
Seriously
You live upon a stage and everyone's agreed
You're the brightest hope by far that anyone can see
So, when you take the limelight, you can guarantee
You're gaining fame and claiming credibility
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me, baby, are you gonna get high as a kite?
Tell me, baby, are you gonna let it happen every night?
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Verse 2]
You live within the law, and everyone assumes
You must find this a bore, and try something new
You're an intellectual giant, an authority
To preach and teach the whole world about ecology
[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me, baby, are you gonna make any other claims?
Tell me, baby, are you gonna take any of the blame?
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
(Seriously)
(Seriously)
[Verse 3]
You live within the headlines, so everyone can see
You're supporting every new cause and meeting royalty
You're another major artist on a higher plane
Do you think they'll put you in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame?
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Tell me, baby, how you generate longevity
Tell me, baby, how you really hate publicity
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
Seriously
(Seriously)
Seriously
[Spoken Interlude]
"Do you have a message for your fans?"
[Chorus]
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
[Post-Chorus]
(Seriously)
Seriously
(Seriously)
Seriously
Seriously
more tracks from the album
Behaviour: Further Listening 1990 – 1991
- Being Boring
- Only the Wind
- Miserablism
- This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave (Extended) [3" Version]
- So Hard (Extended Dance Mix)
- Being Boring (Extended Mix)
- We All Feel Better in the Dark (Extended Mix)
- Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) (Extended Mix)
- Jealousy (Extended Mix)
- DJ Culture (Extended Mix)
- Was It Worth It? [12" Version]
- The End of the World
- How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?
- This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave
- Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend
- My October Symphony
- It Must Be Obvious
- So Hard
- DJ Culture
- Jealousy
- To Face the Truth
- Generic Jingle
- Nervously
- Music for Boys (Part 2) [Ambient Mix]
From the albums
- Behaviour (1990)
- Behaviour: Further Listening 1990 – 1991 (2001)
Pet Shop Boys popular songs
- West End Girls
- It’s a Sin
- Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)
- Go West
- Always On My Mind
- Being Boring
- Suburbia
- What Have I Done to Deserve This?
- Domino Dancing
- The Pop Kids
- Left to My Own Devices
- Rent
- New York City Boy
- Love etc.
- Love is a Bourgeois Construct
- Burning the heather
- Dreamland
- Closer to Heaven 3
- Footsteps
- Closer To Heaven / Left To My Own Devices
- Je T’aime Moi Non Plus
- Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Coconut 1 12" Mix) [Disco 2 Version]
- In His Imagination
- Sail Away