'Love Me Like You Mean It (Reimagined)' by Kelsea Ballerini – Lyrics & Meaning

OG Kelsea Ballerini fans might be familiar with a tune titled 'Love Me Like You Mean It' – co-written by Ballerini alongside Josh Kerr, Forest Glen Whitehead and Lance Carpenter – released in 2014 as her debut single, which eventually went on to become her first No. 1 hit.

Thanks to Ballerini, the track was given a new life a decade later as the CMA Award-winner re-recorded the tune in honor of her 10th anniversary in the country music industry.

Hitting all music streaming services on April 5 – just a few days shy of her hosting gig at the 2024 CMT Music Awards – fans were thrilled to take a trip down memory lane with the talented singer-songwriter, with some listeners even praising the sound of the reimagined version over the original.

With the original version of 'Love Me Like You Mean It' taking on a classic country tune reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s self-titled, Fearless and Speak Now albums, the reimagined version couldn't be more different, adding a much more alternative sound to the terrific tune.

Slowing down the tempo and giving the song an airy feel, the harmonies and backing track on the new and improved version draw quite a few similarities to what's heard in her 2023 Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP, altering the song to fit the more modern version of Ballerini we know and love.

"Oh, hey
Boy with your hat back
I kinda like that
If you wanna walk my way
I'll shoot you straight up
Show what you’re made of"

Ballerini sets the scene as her eye is caught by a boy with a backwards hat, however, she is looking for a man who is more than just his appearance.

Promising to shoot him straight, she follows it up by delving into the details of what she means in the pre-chorus and chorus.

"I don't have time to waste on the boys
That are playin' the games
And leavin’ the girls cryin' out in the rain
So, tell me, tell me, baby
Do you got what it takes?"

She admits that she doesn't have time for boys who only want to mess around, breaking hearts over and over again.

Asking this boy with the backwards hat whether or not he has what he takes to be a real man, she goes on to share what she's looking for in a significant other.

"Oh-oh-oh, if you're gonna hold me, hold me like I'm leavin'
Kiss me, kiss me like you need it
If you're not, you best get to leavin'
If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it
Talk the talk, you better walk it
You wanna keep me, keep mе like you lost it
You’re gonna say it, make mе believe it
If you’re gonna love me, love me like you mean it"

The chorus reveals that Ballerini is looking for a passionate man who cherishes her – holding her, kissing her and protecting her as if she is his whole world.

This is also where the Tennessee native introduces the title of the track, telling the boy with the backwards hat, “If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it.”

"Oh, hey
I've had my share of losers
Liars and users
Lookin’ for a heart to break
So if you're like that
Then take a step back"

Only having the highest of standards while looking for a significant other, Ballerini details why she's looking for such a perfect man, admitting that she has already dated “losers, liars and users” who broke her heart.

Because of this, she gives the boy a chance to walk away, telling him that if he is anything like the men she has dated in the past, he should “take a step back.”

Just a few days shy of its release, Ballerini took to Instagram to announce the reimagined version of 'Love Me Like You Mean It', sharing with her 4.1 million followers, “Ten years ago, I was twenty, naive, starry eyed, and absolutely relentless on putting my music out into the world. I’m proud to say, nothing has changed… except a DECADE of this wildly beautiful journey we’ve gotten to share full of tours and sing alongs, wins and losses, and growing up together.”

She continued, “Soooo, before we move into new music (yes, it’s coming I swear) I wanted to celebrate the beginning with you. The song that started it all, ‘Love Me Like You Mean It’ (reimagined and ten years later) comes out tomorrow night at midnight. Oh, and I’ll be performing it on the CMT Awards Sunday. See you there. Love you, mean it.”

Taking the stage at University of Texas tower – rocking a shimmery gold leotard over some sheer black tights, complete with her bleach blonde hair in a slicked back ponytail – it is safe to say that she blew attendees at the 2024 CMT Music Awards away with her stellar vocals, simultaneously teasing a brand new era of Kelsea Ballerini.

Oh, hey
Boy with your hat back
I kinda like that
If you wanna walk my way
I'll shoot you straight up
Show what you’re made of

I don't have time to waste on the boys
That are playin' the games
And leavin’ the girls cryin' out in the rain
So, tell me, tell me, baby
Do you got what it takes?

Oh-oh-oh, if you're gonna hold me, hold me like I'm leavin'
Kiss me, kiss me like you need it
If you're not, you best get to leavin'
If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it
Talk the talk, you better walk it
You wanna keep me, keep mе like you lost it
You’re gonna say it, make mе believe it
If you’re gonna love me, love me like you mean it

Oh-oh, oh-oh, love me

Oh, hey
I've had my share of losers
Liars and users
Lookin’ for a heart to break
So if you're like that
Then take a step back

I ain't got time to waste on the boys
That at the end of the day
Are just leavin' the girls cryin’ out in the rain
So, tell me, tell me, baby
Are you crazy or just crazy over me? Uh-uh

If you're gonna hold me, hold me like I'm leavin' (Leavin')
Kiss me, kiss me like you need it (Need it)
If you're not, you best get to leavin'
If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it
Talk the talk, you better walk it
You wanna keep me, keep me like you lost it
You're gonna say it, make me believe it
If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it

If you're gonna love me
Love me

If you're gonna love me like you mean it
Make me believe it, mm
If you're gonna

Talk the talk, you better walk it
You wanna keep me, keep me like you lost it
You're gonna say it, make me believe it
If you're gonna love me, love me like you mean it

(Gonna love me)
Love me
If you're gonna
Love me
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

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