⸻ [Intro – band hits / tambourine shake] (Lead – spoken) Baby… don’t you do me like that… (Horns stab — groove kicks in) ⸻ Verse 1 You say you love me, but you treat me wrong Keep me waitin’, stringin’ me along Every promise, every little lie Got me breaking down inside (Backing – soft echo) Inside… I gave you everything I had to give Every dream I tried to live Now you’re acting like you don’t care But I still see you standing there ⸻ Pre-Chorus (build) (Lead) I can feel my heart start to shake (Backing) Shake! (Lead) Every word you say starts to break (Backing) Break! ⸻ Chorus (explosive, near-shouted) (Lead) STOP — don’t leave me hanging on tonight! (Backing) Don’t leave me hanging! (Lead) STOP — don’t you know it just ain’t right! (Backing) Ain’t right! (Lead) I gave you love, I gave you all of me Don’t leave me hanging on tonight! ⸻ Verse 2 Every time you walk away from me I lose a little more of what I used to be You got a hold that I can’t deny But I’m too weak to say goodbye (Backing) Oh no… I try to stand strong, try to let you go But my heart just won’t say no Every time I hear your name I fall right back again ⸻ Chorus ⸻ [Break – stop-time, drums + tambourine] (Lead – spoken, dramatic) Wait… wait a minute now… You think you can just walk away? After everything… I gave you? (Horns hit — band slams back in) ⸻ Bridge (emotional lift) (Lead) If you’re leaving, set me free Don’t keep holding onto me I can’t live in this in-between Where you’re gone but still unseen (Backing – rising) Let her go… let her go… (Lead – pushing harder) Either love me or let me go! (Backing) Let her go! (Lead) Don’t keep me hanging on no more! (Backing) No more! ⸻ [Instrumental Break – horns + rhythm groove] (tight Motown riffs, building intensity) ⸻ Breakdown (call & response) (Lead) Say you love me! (Backing) Love you! (Lead) Say you need me! (Backing) Need you! (Lead) If it’s true, don’t let me fall! (Backing) Don’t let her fall! ⸻ Final Chorus (biggest peak) (Lead – full power) STOP — don’t leave me hanging on tonight! (Backing) Don’t leave me hanging! (Lead) STOP — don’t you know it just ain’t right! (Backing) Ain’t right! (Lead) I gave you love, I gave you all of me DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING ON TONIGHT! ⸻ Outro (ad libs + band hits) (Lead ad libs) Don’t do it… no no no… You better love me… or let me go… (Backing) Don’t leave her hanging… (Lead – final cry) DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING ON TONIGHT! (Band hit — stop)
