"I want it that way" is the Backstreet Boys' signature song, and commercially it reached the number-one spot in more than 25 countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The single topped the Eurochart Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. In Australia it peaked at number-two. In the United States, the song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight non-consecutive weeks, while it topped the AC and Mainstream Top 40 charts.
Back Street Boys – I want it that way (1999)
Became their signature song.
Re the lyrics, in 2018 the official Backstreet Boys Twitter account attempted to clarify the song's meaning "Don't wanna hear you say that you want heartaches and mistakes... or to be 2 worlds apart. We don't want you to want "it" that way - that's the way we want it... for you to not want it that way".
[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
[Chorus: Brian, All, Nick, AJ]
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 (Don't wanna hear you say)
I want it that way
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say (Never wanna hear you say, yeah)
I want it that way
[Outro: AJ]
'Cause I want it that way
[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 [Chorus: Brian, All, Nick, AJ] 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 (Don't wanna hear you say) I want it that way Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a heartache Ain't nothin' but a mistake Tell me why I never wanna hear you say (Never wanna hear you say, yeah) I want it that way [Outro: AJ] 'Cause I want it that way