Wham!

Released: October 23, 1984

Songwriter: George Michael

Producer: George Michael

[Verse 1]
Another summer, another vacation is over
It’s September now with the sun and the smell of the clover
Down by the gate, we sit and watch all our friends go by
And pretend we don’t hear the bell
That rings through the summer sky

[Pre-Chorus]
I was happy with the kisses she gave me
It’s just that happy was all she made me
Happy that was, until I saw you

[Chorus]
Heartbeat, heartbeat
What do you bear me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me, in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat
It’ll end in tears, oh

[Verse 2]
I need a lover, when love’s such dangerous place to be
Oh, if we were meant for each other
Then why don’t you answer me?
Don’t keep me waiting, you know I long to be by your side
We could even be together, tonight

[Pre-Chorus]
I was happy with the kisses she gave me
But now there’s nothing on Earth to save me
Why should I care? I can’t have you, oh whoa

[Chorus]
Heartbeat, heartbeat
What do you bear me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me, in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat
It’ll end in tears

[Instrumental Interlude]

[Chorus]
Heartbeat, heartbeat
What do you bear me now?
Oh, you hurt me, desert me, in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat
What do you fail me now?
You hurt me, desert me, in my darkest hour
Heartbeat, heartbeat
Why do you keep me here?
How could I help but admire her beauty
Standing on the line between desire and duty
Heartbeat, heartbeat

Wham! were an English pop group, formed in 1981 by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Despite how brief their career was, the duo had a lot of impact and George Michael went on to become a successful solo artist.

Their first moment in the limelight came in 1982 when they were picked to go on Top of the Pops, and performed the single “Young Guns (Go for It!)”. It was an overnight sensation and peaked at #3 in the UK charts, paving the way for further singles “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)”, “Bad Boys” and “Club Tropicana”. By the time they released their debut album Fantastic in 1983, Wham! had become one of Britain’s biggest pop acts. International recognition came with Make It Big in 1984, along with a string of hit singles — “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” entered the charts around the world at #1, as well as “Careless Whisper” (issued as George Michael solo piece), “Freedom” and “Last Christmas”, which made it to #2 after “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, where George Michael also participated.

By 1986, George Michael wanted to distance himself from Wham! and launch a solo career, so a final greatest hits album The Final (marketed as Music from the Edge of Heaven in the US and Japan) was released. Farewell single “The Edge of Heaven” went to #1 in the UK and made it to the top 10 in America.

more tracks from the album

Make It Big

From the album

Make It Big (1984)

Wham! popular songs

HeartbeatWham!

Wham!

Make It Big