Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Bob Crosby & His Orchestra Lyrics

The lyrics to Bob Crosby & His Orchestra's song "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" explore the complexity of a love-hate relationship. The singer is conflicted within himself as he is drawn to his lover but at the same time, he knows that the relationship has no future. The first two lines of the song state, "I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you" which seems like a contradictory statement. He doesn't want to keep his lover in his life, yet the thought of losing her terrifies him. The following line, "You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea" reinforces this internal conflict as he feels trapped in the middle of nowhere.

The chorus then repeats twice to emphasize the struggle he is experiencing, and he realizes that he should be cutting his lover out of his life. But, at the same time, he can't resist her love and ultimately comes back to her. The final lines, "I should hate you, but I guess I love you, You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea" encapsulate the singer's conflicting emotions. He knows that the relationship is not healthy, but he can't help but love her and feels trapped by his own emotions.

Overall, the song explores the classic trope of the struggle between head and heart in a romantic relationship. It shows the audience that love is not always rational, and that people can get caught in difficult situations that can be hard to break away from.