"(I Like) The Way You Love Me" (originally titled "The Way You Love Me", also referred to as "Ways You Love Me") is a previously unreleased song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the third track from the Michael album. It was released as a single on July 8, 2011, serving as the fourth and final single from the album.
The demo was released earlier, as the fifty-sixth track from The Ultimate Collection. Said demo isn't currently available on streaming services, but is purchasable through iTunes.
Background[]
Originally written by Jackson and Brad Buxer (uncredited), the song was recorded under the working title "Hanson" for the music group of the same name. However, Jackson changed his mind, keeping the song to himself.[1] "The Way You Love Me" first began work in mid-1998, being considered for the Invincible album. However, it ultimately didn't make it in the final release.
Along with several demos from the Invincible sessions, "The Way You Love Me" was re-worked with Neff-U in 2008.
| “ | Michael would express to me the importance of giving the world a gift. Giving them songs that would last forever. This song was released in its early stages of development. He wanted to revisit, nurture, and define the song more because MJ was a perfectionist at everything and nothing is ever done until he is smiling and dancing! It was like watching a flower grow and blossom in the spring. | ” |
–Neff-U on Jackson as a perfectionist[2] | ||
Audio[]
A snippet of the 1999 mix of "The Way You Love Me" was leaked on April 21, 2023 on YouTube by a Swiss collector.[3]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Okay, this is the tempo
And this is the melody:
"I was alone in the dark when I met you..."
Drums
[Beatboxing]
Like that, you know?
[Verse 1]
I was alone in the dark when I met you (Ooh, ooh)
You took my hand and you told me you loved me
(Ooh, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
I was alone, there was no love in my life
(I was alone, there was no love in my life)
I was afraid of life and you came in time
(I was afraid of life and you came in time)
You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight
(You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight)
(Ooh, ooh)
[Chorus]
I like the way how you're holding me
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
I like the way how you're loving me
(It doesn't matter how you are loving me)
I like the way how you're touching me
(It doesn't matter how you are touching me)
I like the way how you're kissing me
(It doesn't matter how you are kissing me)
You'll see
[Verse 2]
It won't be long 'til we make vows, I bet you (Ooh, ooh)
I thank the Heavens above that I met you (Ooh, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
I was alone, there was no love in my life
(I was alone, there was no love in my life)
I was afraid of life and you came in time
(I was afraid of life and you came in time)
You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight
(You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight)
(Ooh, ooh)
[Chorus 2]
I like the way how you're loving me
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
I like the way how you're holding me
(It doesn't matter how you are loving me)
I like the way how you're touching me
(It doesn't matter how you are touching me)
I like the way how you're kissing me
(It doesn't matter how you are kissing me)
[Verse 3]
The world's a better place (The world's a better place)
'Cause you came in time (Cause you came in time)
You took away the rain and brought the sunshine
(You took away the rain and brought the sunshine)
I was afraid 'cause I was hurt the last time
(I was afraid cause I was hurt the last time)
(Ooh, ooh)
[Chorus]
I like the way how you're holding me
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
I like the way how you're loving me
(It doesn't matter how you are loving me)
I like the way how you're touching me
(It doesn't matter how you are touching me)
I like the way how you're kissing me
(It doesn't matter how you are kissing me)
You'll see
[Breakdown]
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
[Outro]
I like the way how you're holding me
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
I like the way how you're loving me
(It doesn't matter how you are loving me)
I like the way how you're touching me
(It doesn't matter how you are touching me)
I like the way how you're kissing me
(It doesn't matter how you are kissing me)
I like the way how you're holding me
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
I like the way how you're loving me
(It doesn't matter how you are loving me)
I like the way how you're touching me
(It doesn't matter how you are touching me)
I like the way how you're kissing me
(It doesn't matter how you are kissing me, you see)
(It doesn't matter how you are holding me)
[Verse 1]
I was alone in the dark when I met you
Ooh
You took my hand and you told me you loved me
Ooh
[Pre-Chorus]
I was alone, there was no love in my life
I was afraid of life and you came in time
You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight
Ooh
[Chorus]
I like the way how you are holding me
It does not matter how you are holding me
I like the way how you are loving me
It does not matter how you are loving me
I like the way how you are touching me
It does not matter how you are touching me
I like the way how you are kissing me
It does not matter how you are kissing me
You will see
[Verse 2]
It would not be long till we make vows, I bet you
Ooh
I thank the Heavens above that I met you
Ooh
[Pre-Chorus]
I was alone, there was no love in my life
I was afraid of life and you came in time
You took my hand and we kissed in the moonlight
Ooh
[Chorus]
I like the way how you are holding me
It does not matter how you are holding me
I like the way how you are loving me
It does not matter how you are loving me
I like the way how you are touching me
It does not matter how you are touching me
I like the way how you are kissing me
It does not matter how you are kissing me
You will see
[Verse 3]
The world is a better place because you came in time
You took away the rain and brought the sunshine
I was afraid because I was hurt the last time
Ooh
[Chorus]
I like the way how you are holding me
It does not matter how you are holding me
I like the way how you are loving me
It does not matter how you are loving me
I like the way how you are touching me
It does not matter how you are touching me
I like the way how you are kissing me
It does not matter how you are kissing me
You will see
[Outro]
Ooh
Gallery[]
![Info on "The Way You Love Me" (The Ultimate Collection booklet)[4]](/wiki/File:Twylmtuc.png "Twylmtuc.png (92 KB)")
Trivia[]
- At the start of the rework of "The Way You Love Me", a phone message is heard, in which Jackson explains the composition of the track to Buxer, and in which he sings the hook and describes the drum arrangement of the track.
References[]
[]
| Michael | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Hold My Hand" • "Hollywood Tonight" • "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" • "Best of Joy" • "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" • "Behind the Mask" • "Much Too Soon" | ||
|