More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cab_Calloway
Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea
Cab Calloway & His Orchestra Lyrics
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But I hate to lose you,
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I forgive you,
Cause I can't forget you,
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I ought to cross you off my list,
But when you come knocking at my door,
Fate seems to give my heart a twist,
And I come running back for more.
I should hate you,
But I guess I love you,
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
The lyrics to Cab Calloway's song Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea are about a person who is torn between two choices, both of which have negative consequences. The first line states that the singer doesn't want the other person, but they hate the idea of losing them. This is a classic example of the struggle between love and fear of abandonment. Next, the singer forgives the other person because they cannot forget them, expressing the difficulty of letting go even when someone has wronged us.
The chorus highlights the conflict and feeling of being stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. The phrase "the devil and the deep blue sea" is an idiom that refers to being caught between two equally unpromising and difficult options. The singer acknowledges that they should cross this person off their list, but fate seems to twist their heart, and they come back for more. The final line of the chorus emphasizes the complicated nature of the singer's emotions towards the other person, as they should hate them, but instead, they love them. Overall, this song explores the complex emotions that come with being caught between contradictory desires and choices.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want you
I don't have a desire for you
But I hate to lose you
But I don't want to lose the comfort you provide
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I'm at a crossroads where each option will cause suffering or discomfort.
I forgive you
I pardon you
Cause I can't forget you
Because I'm not able to stop thinking of you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I'm at a point where each choice has an undesirable outcome.
I ought to cross you off my list
I should remove you from my thoughts
But when you come knocking at my door
But when you show up in my life again
Fate seems to give my heart a twist
Destiny causes my emotions to shift and change
And I come running back for more.
And I return to you once again
I should hate you
I should have animosity towards you
But I guess I love you,
But I suppose I still feel affection towards you
You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I'm in a difficult position where there are no easy solutions.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, S.A. MUSIC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CapAnson12345
It's a shame many people only know Calloway from Minnie the Moocher and the Blues Brothers.. his vocal talent was truly astounding.
@oliverbender3764
Well, I heard him playing on the radio and shortly thereafter saw a short video from him when he appeared on CBC. I never heard about “Minnie the Moocher” or knew that he played with the Blues Brothers.
@donkeykongisbetterthanmari7495
and BioShock
@kfl611
I like to watch him dance too ! He always seems so full of energy.
@musicformonsters
An astounding singer .. and entertainer in general - love the arrangements too- wish they had the video for this one
@MuffinEnjoyer
@@donkeykongisbetterthanmari7495Bioshock introduced me to old music. Now I have long Playlists of old music and jazz. Jazz has become my second favorite genre after space rock and psychedelic music.
@brittneybrisbin744
Wasn't expecting a song I randomly came across to be so relatable. Oof. On another note, Cab is absolutely delightful!
@MegaSean45
This song sounds like something you would hear, like if you're sneaking somewhere, not trying to get attention, but you accidentally hit the record player while sneaking, and then this song comes on, and the guard's like, "HEY, YOU!"
@michaelinelegant1289
Haha random but accurate 😆
@TheJackster-tl8oi
What a very specific situation, but I guess I understand 😂