Playin' uptown Northeast Philly
back in summer '83
You been talkin' and a laughin'
always leanin' down hard on me

But then I hit the bright lights and
you became my best friend
When my dreams got shattered
why should I take your imitation hand

Don't waste my time on the matter
Cause you don't care about me
If what you say is on the level
But behind my back you turned on me
Yeah, yeah

Chorus:
Sympathy, ah you don't care, ah no
Don't need your sympathy
you weren't there, you weren't there
Sympathy, don't come around, oh no
Don't need your sympathy
You don't care, oh, no
Sympathy

There's a place where you had grown up
You give it all that you got
A taker comes along and
Takin' everything that you've got that you're savin'

Don't waste my time on the matter
Cause you don't care about me
If what you say is on the level
But behind my back you turned on me
Yeah, yeah

Chorus:
Sympathy, ah you don't care, ah no
Don't need your sympathy
you weren't there, you weren't there
Sympathy, I'm better off alone
Don't need your sympathy
You don't care, oh, no
Sympathy wooooooh

Ah yeah, sympathy
You don't care, ah no
Don't need your sympathy,
I don't care, you don't care

Sympathy
ah you don't care, oh no
Don't need your sympathy
I don't care, you don't care
Oooh yeah, sympathy
I'm better off alone