Some thoughts on the song Babe by Take That: a thread.
& #39;I come to your door to see you again
But where you once stood was an old man instead& #39;

Confusing mixture of tenses here but I’ll let it slide.
& #39;I asked where you’d be, he said she’s moved on you see
All I have is a number you’d better ask her not me& #39;

Come on, old man. She gave you that number in good conscience, in case she had something posted to her old address by accident. Not to give to her ex.
& #39;So I picked up the phone and dialled your number
Not sure to put it down or speak& #39;

I know it doesn’t scan but there really needs to be a ‘whether’ in here.

Also, an aside: my sister used to make me listen to the way Mark Owen sings ‘dialled’ over and over and over again.
& #39;Then a voice I once knew answered in a sweet voice
She said hello then paused before I began to speak& #39;

Is it & #39;you& #39; or is it & #39;she& #39;, Take That? Come on, this is basic stuff.
& #39;Babe, I’m here again
I tell you I’m here again
Where have you been?& #39;

Where has she been? Where the fuck have you been?
& #39;Babe, I’m back again
I tell you I’m back again
Where have you been?& #39;

Seriously, if you’re ‘back’, you’re clearly the one who went away.
& #39;You held your voice well, there were tears I could tell& #39;

Tears, or pure rage?
& #39;But where were you now, was you gonna tell me in time?
Just give me a town and I’ll be straight down
I’ve got so much to tell you about where I have been& #39;

Oh, *he& #39;s* got stuff to tell *her*, has he?
& #39;As I walk down your road, can’t wait to be near you
I can’t keep the feeling in inside& #39;

You can’t just put an extra ‘in’ in the line to make it scan.
& #39;As I stand at your door you answered in a sweet voice
You said hello then paused before I begin to speak& #39;

These tenses are all over the place.
& #39;Babe, I’m here again
I tell you I’m here again
Where have you been?& #39;

Look, she’s just made a single house move. He& #39;s been gone for YEARS.
& #39;Babe, I’m back again
I tell you I’m back again
Where have you been?& #39;

Just stop it already.
& #39;As I looked away I saw a face behind you
A little boy stood at your door& #39;

Final verse plot twist!
& #39;And as I looked again I saw his face was shining
He had my eyes, he had my smile& #39;

So now we get to it. She’s been raising his child alone for god knows how many years (note: little boy, not baby, not even toddler) while he’s been gallivanting. And he& #39;s asking where she& #39;s been?
& #39;Babe, I’m back again
I’m back again
Where have you been?
Baby, please take me back
Take me back
Back here again& #39;

Er, no.
& #39;Babe, I’m back again
Can’t you see that I’m back again
I’m here for you& #39;

Yes, she can see you. It’s the fact that she hasn’t seen you for so bloody long that’s the problem.
& #39;Baby, just me and you
You and me
Ooh& #39;

I really don’t think he understands how having a child works.
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