The lyrics to the Backstreet Boys' song "I Want It That Way" are famously ambiguous and have been described as nonsensical by the band members themselves. The song was written by Swedish producers whose English was not very strong at the time, which led to lyrics that don't have a clear, literal meaning. The band has said that the meaning of the song is open to individual interpretation and that it is more about conveying an emotional tone or feeling rather than telling a straightforward story. In the song, the phrase "I want it that way" is understood to refer to the conflicting emotions and complexities in a relationship, where one person expresses desire and passion ("You are my fire, the one desire"), but there is also distance and misunderstanding ("But we are two worlds apart"). The chorus talks about heartache and mistakes, indicating a troubled relationship, but the exact meaning of "that way" is never clearly defined. The Backstreet Boys and commentators have suggested that the song works as an emotional expression of longing and heartache rather than a narrative with precise lyrics. The band even acknowledged an alternate version of the song with more logical lyrics, but chose to release the famous version because it sounded better. In summary, "I Want It That Way" is a pop song with intentionally vague lyrics that evoke the pain and confusion of a relationship without giving a concrete explanation of the story or "way" referred to in the title and chorus. It resonates emotionally with listeners despite—or because of—its lyrical ambiguity.