The song "Mean to Me" was originally written by Fred E. Ahlert and Roy Turk in 1929 and has been covered by various artists over the years, including Julie London. The lyrics depict a relationship where the narrator feels mistreated by their partner. In the song, the narrator wonders why their partner is mean to them, expressing confusion and sadness at the situation. Despite their mistreatment, the narrator continues to stay at home, eagerly waiting for their partner's promised phone calls that never come. This leaves them feeling alone, singing the blues and sighing. The partner's behavior is described as consistently cold and scolding, particularly when others are around. The narrator hints at the partner deriving some kind of pleasure from seeing them cry. They lament that it must be enjoyable for the partner to be mean to them, questioning if the partner understands the impact of their actions. Overall, the song portrays a one-sided and unhappy relationship where the narrator is caught in a cycle of mistreatment, loneliness, and longing for their partner's affection.
