Meaning of "You Really Got Me" by Robert Palmer

"You Really Got Me" portrays the all-encompassing nature of infatuation and desire. The repetition of the phrase "You really got me" emphasizes the speaker's complete surrender to the object of their affections. The inability to sleep at night suggests restless longing and a preoccupation with thoughts of the loved one. By pleading, "Please don't ever set me free, I always want to be by your side," the speaker reveals a fear of losing this intense connection. The song captures the sense of being lost in love, consumed by the other person to the point of confusion and disorientation. It portrays a dependency and longing that transcends reason, highlighting the irrational yet undeniable power of love.