Don't Wanna Fall in Love


"Don't Wanna Fall in Love" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Jane Child. Released in January 1990 as the second single from her first album, Jane Child, the single peaked at number two for three consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 from April 14 to April 28, 1990, kept from the top spot by "I'll Be Your Everything" by Tommy Page and Sinéad O'Connor's "'Nothing Compares 2 U". In addition, a new jack swing remix of the song was produced by Teddy Riley and reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.
When released around Europe, it also became successful albeit more modestly. In the United Kingdom, the single reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. In April 1990, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping 500,000 units.

Writing and composition

Child wrote the song in Los Angeles, after moving from New York City. During the session she was playing bass with one hand and pads with the other while singing. While the groove was coming along, lyrics were following closely. She wrote the entire song in that session, except for the second verse later. The intention of the lyrics were not written as a happy love song, reflecting more so on the pleasure vs pain principle.
On the finished track, Child uses multi-tracking to sing all the parts, and to play every instrument except guitar, which is played by James Harrah.

Music video

The music video was directed by cinematographer Derek M. Allen and shot in New York City at the request of Child, due to having written the song while living there. Shot in both black-and-white and color, the video shows Child walking through downtown Manhattan at night, alternating with scenes of the artist at work, singing into a studio microphone, laying down tracks on a Fairlight and mixing the results on a multitrack board. In several scenes, Child wears a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, paying homage to her hometown.

Track listings

All songs were written by Jane Child.Canadian and US cassette singleUS and Australian 7-inch singleJapanese mini-CD single
  1. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:04
  2. "World Lullabye" – 3:00Canadian and US 12-inch singleAustralian 12-inch and cassette single
  3. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 6:54
  4. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 5:03
  5. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:28
  6. "World Lullabye" – 3:00
  7. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:00
  8. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 5:31
  9. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 7:23
  10. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 2:59US maxi-CD single
  11. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 6:54
  12. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 5:03
  13. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:28
  14. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:00
  15. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 5:31
  16. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 7:23
  17. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 2:59
  18. "World Lullabye" – 3:00UK 7-inch and cassette singleEuropean 7-inch single
  19. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 4:20
  20. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 3:00UK 12-inch and CD single
  21. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  22. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  23. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 7:23
  • UK 12-inch posterpack singleEuropean 12-inch and CD single
  1. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 7:50
  2. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" – 5:06
  3. "World Lullabye" – 3:01Japanese mini-album
  4. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  5. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  6. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  7. "World Lullabye"
  8. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  9. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  10. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  11. "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
  12. "Welcome to the Real World"
  13. "Hey Mr. Jones"