The Hardest Thing
98ー Lyrics


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We both know that I shouldn't be here
This is wrong
And baby it's killing me, it's killing you
Both of us trying to be strong
I've got somewhere else to be
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me
And trusts me fast asleep
I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that

[Chorus]
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry
I can't let you see
What you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my hearts not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever had to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you
I know that we'll meet again
Fate has a place and time
So you can get on with your life
I've got to be cruel to be kind
Like Dr. Zhivago
All my love I'll be sending
And you will never know
There can be no happy ending

[Chorus]

Maybe another time, another day
As much as I want to, I can't stay
(Ooh)
I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that
(Repeat Chorus)




I don't want to live a lie
What can I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Hardest Thing" by 98 Degrees tells the story of a man who is caught between his love for two women. He is with one woman, but he knows that he shouldn't be there because his heart belongs to another woman who he will be leaving. He is struggling with the emotions of those around him and is trying to be strong. He has promises to keep, and someone else who loves him and trusts him is fast asleep. The man has decided that he needs to leave the woman he is with because she deserves someone who will love her and stay true to her.


In the chorus, the man proclaims that it is the hardest thing he will ever have to do to tell her that he does not love her. He has to lie, pretending to show no emotion while she cries, and he can't let her see what she means to him. The man knows that they are not meant to be, and he must turn around and walk away, pretending that he doesn't love her. He believes that they will meet again someday, but the relationship will not have a happy ending.


The lyrics are emotive and heartfelt, capturing the pain and struggle that come with letting someone go, even if it's for the right reasons. The song showcases the band's ability to blend pop and R&B, delivering a track that is both melancholic and catchy.


Line by Line Meaning

We both know that I shouldn't be here
I am aware that I should not be with you at this moment


This is wrong
Being together like this is morally incorrect


And baby it's killing me, it's killing you
Our situation is causing both of us pain


Both of us trying to be strong
We are both attempting to be emotionally resilient


I've got somewhere else to be
I have other obligations that I must attend to


Promises to keep
I have commitments that I need to fulfill


Someone else who loves me
There is another person who cares for me


And trusts me fast asleep
That person is currently sleeping and trusts me completely


I've made up my mind
I have come to a decision


There is no turning back
I will not reconsider my choice


She's been good to me
My partner has been kind and supportive towards me


And she deserves better than that
She warrants more than being cheated on and left for another person


It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
Ending our relationship is the most difficult action I will ever have to take


To look you in the eye
To confront you directly and truthfully


And tell you I don't love you
To admit that I do not have romantic feelings for you


To show no emotion
To hide my emotions and feelings from you


When you start to cry
When you become emotional and begin to cry


I can't let you see
I cannot allow you to witness


What you mean to me
The significance you hold in my life


When my hands are tied
When there are external factors limiting my choices


And my hearts not free
When I am emotionally preoccupied or conflicted


We're not meant to be
We are not destined to be in a romantic relationship


To turn around and walk away
To leave and move forward in a new direction


Pretending I don't love you
Acting as if I have no romantic feelings for you


I know that we'll meet again
I am certain that we will cross paths in the future


Fate has a place and time
Our eventual reunion is determined by fate and timing


So you can get on with your life
You can continue living your life without me


I've got to be cruel to be kind
I must be harsh now for your benefit in the long run


All my love I'll be sending
I will still harbor affection for you


And you will never know
You will never be aware of my continued love


There can be no happy ending
Our relationship cannot have a positive outcome


Maybe another time, another day
Perhaps our paths will cross again in the future


As much as I want to, I can't stay
Although I desire to remain with you, I cannot


I don't want to live a lie
I do not want to persist in our relationship while being untruthful


What can I do
What actions can I take to rectify our predicament?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID FRANK, DAVID MARTIN FRANK, STEPHEN KIPNER, STEPHEN ALAN KIPNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@pandainthehouse6945

We both know that I shouldn't be here
This is wrong
And baby it's killing me, it's killing you
Both of us trying to be strong
I've got somewhere else to be
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me
And trusts me fast asleep
I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion when you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied and my hearts not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing
I'll ever had to do
To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you
I know that we'll meet again
Fate has a place and time
So you can get on with your life
I've got to be cruel to be kind
Like Dr. Zhivago
All my love I'll be sending
And you will never know
There can be no happy ending
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my hearts not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever had to do
To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you

I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion
When you start to cry
I can't let you see
What you mean to me
When my hands are tied
And my hearts not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever had to do
To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you

📞👽👌



@annamariapiotrowicz511

in 90's it was a battle of the boy bands
backstreet boys in 90's were not part a battle of the boys
stode the test of music did their own music
so battle of the boy bands end in early 2000's
all the 90's boy bands went nowhere
some just disapear from music all together and others just could not keep up with music changes just break up
but backstreet boys who were not part of battle of the boy bands
stode the test of music time and last known 90's boy band
stayed together and stright into 2000's music changes
and open doors for boy bands like one dirction and other 2000's unknown to come by do their own music



All comments from YouTube:

@infinitygauntlet101

I don't care what everyone says, this is a straight HOOD classic.

@jimbojones8208

"HOOD" yea sure kid. Go back home to your "cul de sac" and act like you're from "da hood"

@Gatorchick1991

I refuse to believe that I am the only one who as a kid LOVED this song then got older and listened to it again, realized what they're saying, and went "Now, wait a minute!!!"

@opulence_prime

Literally a song about cheating 😅

@jasonsong86

@@opulence_prime Not really about cheating. I mean there are many reasons people are not meant to be.

@mellobello8424

Lmfao! I came to the comments hoping I wasn’t the only one thinking this! They literally say “Someone else who loves me And trusts me fast asleep She's been good to me And she deserves better than that”

@dbongoloid9541

This song isn't about cheating. Unfortunately this song is about falling out of love with someone you genuinely thought you were in love with.

Sadly, sometimes. The only way to reasonably end a relationship like that is to cut all ties and don't turn back. It helps to get over something like that fast. That's why the video is him boxing, he's fighting the urge to stay to avoid the inevitable pain.

@robiapicca5967

@@dbongoloid9541 The song is about a guy who has a wife at home and a mistress on the side, and it's his struggle with breaking it off with his mistress even though he loves her more, mainly because he has somebody at home relying on him and he can't let them down.... so, it is 100% about a cheating asshole, but it's little bit deeper than that, as well..

17 More Replies...

@michaelc7866

Just dropped the homies off.....I can finally listen to what I want.

@Rue747

Lol

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