Unlike most boy bands, they formed independently and were later picked up by a record label, rather than being assembled by a label or a producer. They have sold over 10 million records worldwide and achieved eight top 40 singles in the U.S.
The group reunited for a one-time performance at Mixtape Festival in Hershey, PA in August 2012.
The hardest thing
98 Degrees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is wrong
And baby it's killing me
It's killing you
But both of us trying to be strong
I've got somewhere else to be
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me
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 have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending i don't love you
I know 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 Doctor Zhivago
All my love i'll be sending
And you'll never know
'Cause 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 have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending i don't love you
Maybe another time, another day
As much as I want to I can't stay
I've made up my mind
There's no turning back
She's been good to be
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 have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending i don't love you
The song "The Hardest Thing" by 98 Degrees is a song about a difficult decision. The song tells the story of a person who is in love with someone but can't be with them because they have to honor their commitments to someone else. In the first verse, he feels guilty for being with the person he loves because he knows it is wrong. However, he must stay loyal to the person he has promised his love. He realizes he must end their relationship and it will be the hardest thing he will ever have to do.
In the second verse, he emphasizes that he must be strong and cannot show his emotions when the other person starts to cry. He knows that if he shows any weakness, he may not be able to go through with the break-up. He also reassures her that they may meet someday, but right now, he must be cruel to be kind.
Ultimately, the song speaks about how hard it is to let go of someone you love but have to move on because it is the right thing to do, even if it means breaking someone's heart. The lyrics were written by Timmy Allen and released in 1999 on their album "Revelation."
Line by Line Meaning
We both know that I shouldn't be here
We are aware that my presence here is not right
And baby it's killing me
It is hurting me emotionally
It's killing you
It is hurting you emotionally as well
But both of us trying to be strong
We are both attempting to act tough
I've got somewhere else to be
I have other commitments to attend to
Promises to keep
I need to fulfill my obligations
Someone else who loves me
Another person cares for me deeply
And trusted me fast asleep
That individual trusts me completely
I've made up my mind
I have decided what to do
There is no turning back
I cannot change my decision
She's been good to me
She has treated me well
And she deserves better than that
She is worthy of someone who truly loves her
It's the hardest thing
It is the most difficult situation
I'll ever have to do
I will never experience anything more challenging
To look you in the eye
To confront you directly
And tell you I don't love you
And express that I do not have romantic feelings for you
To show no emotion
To refrain from displaying feelings
When you start to cry
When you begin to weep
I can't let you see
I must not allow you to witness
What you mean to me
What you represent to me
When my hands are tied
When I am restricted in my actions
And my heart's not free
And I am not emotionally unrestricted
We're not meant to be
We are not meant to be together romantically
To turn around and walk away
To pivot and depart
Pretending I don't love you
Falsely indicating that I am not in love with you
I know we'll meet again
I am aware that we will encounter each other in the future
Fate has a place and time
Destiny determines when and where
So you can get on with your life
So you can proceed with your life
I've got to be cruel to be kind
I need to be harsh to be compassionate
Like Doctor Zhivago
Similar to the singer of Doctor Zhivago
All my love I'll be sending
I will send all of my love to you
And you'll never know
And you will never be aware of it
'Cause there can be no happy ending
Due to the circumstances, a joyful conclusion is unattainable
Maybe another time, another day
Perhaps at another moment in the future
As much as I want to I can't stay
As much as I may desire it, I cannot remain
It's the hardest thing
It is the most challenging situation
To turn around and walk away
To pivot and depart
Pretending I don't love you
Falsely indicating that I am not in love with you
Contributed by Bentley L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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
@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..
@michaelc7866
Just dropped the homies off.....I can finally listen to what I want.
@Rue747
Lol