I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys

“I Want It That Way” is a pop ballad by the American boy band Backstreet Boys, released on April 12, 1999. The song became a defining hit of the late 1990s, known for its catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics. Written by Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, it was the lead single from their third studio album, Millennium.

Lyrics

[Intro: AJ]
Yeah

[Verse 1: Brian]
You are my fire
The one desire
Believe when I say
I want it that way

[Verse 2: Nick]
But we are two worlds apart
Can’t reach to your heart
When you say
That I want it that way

[Chorus: Nick, All]
Tell me why
Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain’t nothing but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way

[Verse 3: AJ, AJ & Brian]
Am I your fire?
Your one desire
Yes, I know it’s too late
But I want it that way

[Chorus: AJ, All, Brian]
Tell me why
Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way

[Bridge: Kevin, Kevin & AJ, All]
Now I can see that we’ve fallen apart
From the way that it used to be, yeah
No matter the distance, I want you to know
That deep down inside of me

[Verse 4: Howie, Nick, All]
You are my fire
The one desire
You are (You are, you are, you are)
Don’t wanna hear you say

[Break: All, Nick]
Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache (Hey, yeah)
Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake (Don’t wanna hear you say)
I never wanna hear you say (Oh, yeah)
I want it that way

Song Details

• Duration: 3:33
• Key: A
• Genre: Pop
• Year Released: 1999
• Language: English

Legacy

“I Want It That Way” achieved massive commercial success, topping charts in over 25 countries and earning multiple Grammy nominations. Its music video became a cultural phenomenon, and the song remains a staple in pop music history.