Tainted Love
80s Hits Reloaded Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics for "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell, covered by 80s Hits Reloaded, deal with the pain and hurt of a tainted love. The opening lines "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" capture the sense of desperation and the need to escape a situation that is causing emotional pain. The love they once shared seems to have gone nowhere and has left the singer lost and unable to sleep at night.
The chorus repetition of "Tainted Love" expresses the idea that their relationship has become spoiled or corrupted, and has led to a toxic situation. The bridge "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" is a moment of clarity for the singer as they realize that they need to end this relationship and move on with their life. The lines that follow repeat the chorus twice, driving home the idea that the love they once shared is now tainted and that moving on is the only way forward.
Overall, "Tainted Love" is a powerful song about the pain of a broken relationship and the need to escape a situation that has become detrimental to one's emotional and mental well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I have to
Run away, I've got to
Escape and leave immediately
Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
Get away from your hurtful behavior which is causing me emotional suffering
The love we share
Our relationship
Seems to go nowhere
Doesn't seem to lead anywhere, doesn't progress
And I've lost my light
I have lost my sense of hope or happiness
For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
Your behavior keeps me up at night, I am restless
Once I ran to you (I ran)
I used to turn to you for help (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
Now I am fleeing away from you due to your tainted love
This tainted love you've given
Your love is contaminated, has negative influence on me
I give you all a boy could give you
I give you everything I could offer or give
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Take my emotions, and that's not even the extent of it
Tainted love (oh)
Referring to the current state of love, which is destructive
Now I know I've got to
I am now aware that I have to
Get away, you don't really want any more from me
You do not have any more love to offer from me
To make things right
To fix what is wrong
You need someone to hold you tight
You need someone to be with you closely
And you think love is to pray
You believe love is about prayer.
But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
Unfortunately, I don't believe that love is just about prayer.
Don't touch me, please
Please don't come near me
I cannot stand the way you tease
I cannot tolerate your teasing behavior
I love you though you hurt me so
I still love you even though you hurt me
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Now I am leaving and taking my things with me
Tainted love (oh)
Referring to the current state of love, which is destructive
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me with your contaminated love, baby
Tainted love (oh)
Referring to the current state of love, which is destructive
Tainted love
Contaminated love
Contributed by Caden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.