Tempted
Squeeze Lyrics
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A flannel for my face
Pajamas, a hairbrush
New shoes and a case
I said to my reflection
"Let's get out of this place"
Passed the church and the steeple
The laundry on the hill
Billboards and the buildings
Memories of it still
Keep calling and calling
But forget it all, I know I will
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Now that you have gone
There's no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I'm at the car park, the airport
The baggage carousel
(The people keep on grindin')
Ain't wishing I was well
I said it's no occasion
(It's no story I could tell)
At my bedside empty pocket
A foot without a sock
Your body gets much closer
I fumble for the clock
Alarmed by the seduction
I wish that it would stop
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Now that you have gone
There's no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I bought a novel, some perfume
A fortune all for you
But it's not my conscience
That hates to be untrue
I asked of my reflection
Tell me what is there to do?
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
What's been going on
Now that you have gone
There's no other
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
The song "Tempted" by Squeeze is about a man who is struggling with temptation and cheating on his partner. He starts by listing the things he has bought for himself, as if trying to distract himself from his own thoughts. As he travels around town, memories of his partner keep calling to him, but he tries to forget them. Soon, he realizes that he has been tempted by someone else's love, but now the truth has been discovered and he must deal with the consequences.
The lyrics explore the complicated emotions that come with infidelity, including guilt, regret, and the fear of losing something important. The man is both tempted and disgusted by his own desires, and he seems to be searching for a way to justify his actions. Ultimately, he realizes that he cannot hide from the truth, and he must face the fact that he has hurt someone he cares about.
The song's melody and rhythmic structure reflect the chaos of the man's thoughts, as the tempo and chords change frequently throughout the song. The chorus repeats the phrase "Tempted by the fruit of another" several times, emphasizing the man's temptation and desire. The use of the word "fruit" is symbolic, as it refers to something sweet and desirable but ultimately forbidden.
Line by Line Meaning
I bought a toothbrush, some toothpaste
I prepared myself to leave by gathering toiletries.
A flannel for my face
I even bought a washcloth to keep myself clean.
Pajamas, a hairbrush
I made sure to have comfortable clothes to wear and a tool to fix my hair.
New shoes and a case
I even got new shoes and something to carry my belongings.
I said to my reflection
"Let's get out of this place"
I was determined to leave and even talked to myself about it.
Passed the church and the steeple
As I left, I saw landmarks that were familiar to me.
The laundry on the hill
I witnessed everyday sights that added to my memories.
Billboards and the buildings
I saw commercials and structures that reminded me of the place I was leaving behind.
Memories of it still
I couldn't help but remember all the experiences I had while living there.
Keep calling and calling
Despite leaving, I felt a desire to stay or return due to the endless memories.
But forget it all, I know I will
However, I managed to overcome these feelings and forget about them.
Tempted by the fruit of another
I was enticed by the allure of something new.
Tempted but the truth is discovered
However, I later found out that this new experience was not what it seemed.
What's been going on
Now that you have gone
There's no other
I thought about what happened in my absence and realized that there was no replacement for me.
I'm at the car park, the airport
The baggage carousel
I found myself in typical transportation areas.
(The people keep on grindin')
I observed the ongoing daily activities of other people.
Ain't wishing I was well
Despite being in a new place, I still didn't feel content.
I said it's no occasion
(It's no story I could tell)
I didn't know what to say or make of the situation I was in at the moment.
At my bedside empty pocket
A foot without a sock
As I lay in bed, I realized my pockets and socks were empty.
Your body gets much closer
I fumble for the clock
Someone else's presence distracted me from my thoughts and I tried to check the time.
Alarmed by the seduction
I wish that it would stop
I was taken aback by the attempt to seduce me and wished it would end.
I bought a novel, some perfume
A fortune all for you
I tried to impress someone else by buying them gifts.
But it's not my conscience
That hates to be untrue
I wasn't bothered by my own guilt, but rather worried about being caught by others.
I asked of my reflection
Tell me what is there to do?
I started questioning myself and wondering what my next steps should be.
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I was lured by something new, but I later found out that it wasn't worth it.
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I was tempted before and it didn't turn out well.
Tempted by the fruit of another
Tempted but the truth is discovered
I was tempted again, but I knew better because of my past experience.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Difford, Glenn Tilbrook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
Tempted is a great song by Squeeze.
@imnotagoldenoldie39
Me too.
Played next door to where I lived in Tempe.
Played a hide and seek game with him backstage.
It was a weird but pretty funny story.
I had to lead black coffee in bed as he kind of lost track.
Ya had to be there.
Was hilarious but awesome.
Glad I got to see a great show.
@DisneyUpBoilerUp
42 years later and this is still one of my favorite songs of all time!😊
@patrickshorey6730
Real musicians playing real instruments, take a bow Mr Carrack
@johngregory4410
Still sounds great
@blakegoss932
Good really good
@emiliacanet9960
Same
@ocdeadly
@@emiliacanet9960 15 years here :)
@benhaven7501
This is a vocal masterpiece. Everything about this song is fantastic
@kildogery
3 incredible singers in one band.
It's amazing Glenn and Phil let him sing this.
Amazing song
@bertowens3100
I have to agree. They don't do them like this anymore!