Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Tainted Love
The Cure Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love

Now I know I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away, you don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love

Don't touch me, please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go

Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)

Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)

Tainted love
Tainted love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Cure's song Tainted Love convey a sense of frustration and despair caused by a toxic relationship. The singer expresses the feeling of being trapped in love that leads to pain and suffering, ultimately leading him to leave. The lines "I've lost my light" and "I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night" indicate the emotional toll the relationship has taken on the singer.


The chorus of the song serves as a powerful statement of the central theme of the lyrics. The repeated phrase "tainted love" suggests that the relationship is corrupted and poisoned, and that the love shared between the two individuals is not genuine or healthy. The singer realizes that he must escape this contaminated love and find something more authentic and fulfilling.


Overall, the lyrics of Tainted Love offer a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of certain romantic relationships. The message is universal, resonating with anyone who has ever experienced a toxic or unhealthy bond with another person.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I feel a strong need to


Run away, I've got to
Escape, I must


Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
Leave the hurt you cause me behind


The love we share
Our relationship


Seems to go nowhere
Is not progressing


And I've lost my light
I'm emotionally drained


For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
I am restless and sleepless


Once I ran to you (I ran)
I once sought you for help


Now I'll run from you
Now, I am fleeing from you


This tainted love you've given
The unhealthy love you offer


I give you all a boy could give you
I have given you everything I could


Take my tears and that's not nearly all
I have cried many tears because of you


Tainted love (oh)
The harmful love we share


Now I know I've got to
I realize now that I must


Get away, you don't really want any more from me
Depart from you, you do not need anything further from me


To make things right
To fix what has gone wrong


You need someone to hold you tight
You require someone to show affection


And you think love is to pray
You believe love is based on prayer


But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
However, I cannot comply with that belief


Don't touch me, please
Please keep your distance from me


I cannot stand the way you tease
I dislike the way you play with my emotions


I love you though you hurt me so
Despite causing me pain, I still love you


Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Now, I am going to leave with my belongings


Tainted love (oh)
The love that is harmful


Tainted love (oh)
The unhealthy love


Tainted love (oh)
The damaging love


Tainted love (oh)
The hurtful love


Touch me, baby, tainted love
Affect me with this poisonous and harmful affection, baby


Tainted love (oh)
The harmful love


Tainted love (oh)
The unhealthy and damaging love


Tainted love
The love that is toxic and unhealthy




Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@katarzynakaminska5026

Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away from the pain that you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Oh tainted love
Tainted love
Now I know I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
You don't really want it any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Oh tainted love
Tainted love
Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm going to pack my things and go
Tainted love, tainted love
Tainted love, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Tainted love
Tainted love
Tainted love




k can i get a "thanks"?



All comments from YouTube:

@itsjeffy8815

Sometimes I feel Iโ€™ve got to
WHOMP WHOMP
run away

@dlyth0

666 likes guys.
Don't touch this comment, now.
Perfect.

@ckmo984

@@dlyth0 too later so change your username to Nope

@dlyth0

@@ckmo984 Wait what-
I don't want to.
Kay.

@ckmo984

@@dlyth0 Nope

@healingandgrowth-infp4677

You are the reason there are children without dads. You are just a coward. Nothing to be proud of.

15 More Replies...

@peterkaboomitrain242

EVERYBODY GANGSTA TIL THE STARS START WALKING

@rossx1775

Peterkaboomi Train Stars start

@NinjaTomTom

Haha lol

@oldsoul1384

Imagine waking up to that shit though I'd run away
๐Ÿ˜‚๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽถ

More Comments

More Versions