It has subsequently been covered by many other artists and been featured in numerous high profile movies and television series and advertisements, so much so that Dazed magazine questioned whether it might be the most influential love song in modern music.
Composition:
The song is in the key of B Dorian performed in what AllMusic describes as a "brooding, sorrowfully conflicted" tone.
Often interpreted as a ballad about unrequited love, Isaak himself has said that the song was inspired by a telephone call from a girl seeking to arrange a casual sexual liaison and is about "what happens when you have a strong attraction to people that aren't necessarily good for you." It was written in short order following the call.
Through several years, many different versions and arrangements of the song were made before the final version was released. Both the bassline and drums (except the cymbals) were sampled from previous recordings of the song and then looped. James Calvin Wilsey played the distinctive lead guitar solo on the song.
Music videos:
There are two different music videos for this song. The most well-known music video of the song was directed by Herb Ritts, shot in Hawaii at what was formerly known as Kamoamoa beach in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island in Hawaii. The newly-formed black sand beach was created from lava from Kilauea Volcano flowing into the ocean about a mile away. The beach was covered by lava not long after the video was shot. The video featured supermodel Helena Christensen rolling and frolicking on the beach with Isaak. It was mostly filmed in black and white. Isaak and Christensen were shirtless through most of the video, although her nudity was concealed by clever camera angles. In the middle of the video, Christensen was seen only in her black lace bra & panties. The video won the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video, Best Cinematography and Best Video from a Film. It was ranked #13 on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos, #4 on VH1's 50 Sexiest Video Moments, #73 on Rolling Stone magazine's The 100 Top Music Videos, and #1 on Fuse's 40 Sexiest Videos in 2010.
Another video was commissioned for the Wild at Heart VHS release and was directed by David Lynch himself. It features scenes of Lula (Laura Dern) and Sailor (Nicolas Cage) from the film, interspersed with black and white footage of Isaak performing the song.
Wicked Game
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you
And I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (with you)
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I (this world is only gonna break your heart)
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
Nobody loves no one
The lyrics of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game capture the tension between the intensity of emotions felt in a romantic relationship and the fear of getting hurt. The first two lines set the tone for the song, highlighting the despair and the helplessness that one feels when the world seems to be closing in on them, without anyone to help them. However, the singer finds solace in the person he is singing to. He acknowledges the foolishness that desire can cause in people and notes that he never expected to meet someone like them. However, despite this, he fears losing that person and exposes his vulnerability.
The chorus of the song is an admission that the desire has taken over and the need to return to a state of emotional safety is important to the singer. Despite the passion he feels, he acknowledges that the world is cruel, and falling in love can lead to heartbreak. He grapples with the inherent conflict between the desire to love and the anxiety around getting hurt. The rest of the song retells the struggle between his desire for the one that he is with and the apprehension that this will lead to a failed relationship.
Overall, Wicked Game is a song that captures the conflicting emotions of desire, passion, and fear. The lyrics touch upon the complexities of love, and the power that it holds over people.
Line by Line Meaning
The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
I was in a desperate situation and you were the only one who could help me.
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
Desire can make people behave irrationally and do foolish things.
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
Meeting someone as amazing as you was beyond my imagination.
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you
Losing someone as special as you was something I never thought would happen to me.
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
I'm hesitant to fall in love because this world can be cruel and heartbreaking.
What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
Your actions towards me are manipulative and hurtful.
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you
Leading me on by letting me believe you feel the same way is a cruel thing to do.
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way
Telling me you never felt the same way about me is a heartless thing to say.
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you
Leading me on by letting me believe you feel the same way is a cruel thing to do.
With you
Despite everything, there is still a part of me that wants to be with you.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
I still have reservations about the harsh and unforgiving nature of the world.
No, I (this world is only gonna break your heart)
I'm still hesitant about the world and the potential for heartbreak.
(This world is only gonna break your heart)
The world can be a difficult and heartbreaking place to live.
Nobody loves no one
At the end of the day, it can seem like love is hard to find and maybe even nonexistent.
Lyrics © Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Isaak
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind