Tainted Love
Duffy Lyrics
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I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
From the pain
That you drive
Into the heart of me
The love we share
And I've lost my lights
I toss and turn
I can't sleep at night
Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love
You've given
I give you all a boy
Could give you
Take my tears
And that's not
Nearly all
Tainted love
Tainted love
Now I know I've got to
Run away
I've got to get away
You don't really want
Any more from me
To make things right
You need someone
To hold you tight
You think love
Is to pray
I'm sorry
I don't pray
That way
Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love
You've given
I give you all a boy
Could give you
Take my tears
And that's not
Nearly all
Tainted love
Tainted love
Don't touch me please
I cannot stand
The way you tease
I love you though
You hurt me so
Now I'm going to pack
My things and go
Touch me baby
Tainted love
Touch me baby
Tainted love
Touch me baby
Tainted love
Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love
You've given
I give you all a boy
Could give you
Take my tears
And that's not
Nearly all
Tainted love
Tainted love
Tainted love
The lyrics of Duffy's song "Tainted Love" speak of a relationship that has gone wrong. The singer of the song feels trapped in a love that has become toxic and is causing her pain. She reflects on the futility of their love, which seems to have lost its way, leading her to feel lost and unable to sleep at night.
The chorus of the song is a confession of her decision to leave the relationship. She has realized that the love she's been given is tainted, and she cannot endure it anymore. She acknowledges the love she gave, noting that she has given everything a boy could offer but still feels unfulfilled. She is taking her tears and leaving because things have gone too far.
The last part of the song has the singer pleading with her partner not to touch her because the teasing and hurt have become too much to bear anymore. She loves him despite the pain he causes her, but she has to leave to make a fresh start. She acknowledges that it's tainted love that's bringing them down, and there's nothing she can do about it.
The song speaks of a relationship that has failed, and rather than staying to fix things, the singer knows she has to leave to seek healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes
At times
I feel I've got to
I have a strong urge to
Run away I've got to
Escape from this situation
Get away
Get some distance
From the pain
From the hurt
That you drive
You are causing
Into the heart of me
Deep in my soul
The love we share
Our relationship
Seems to go nowhere
Is not progressing
And I've lost my lights
I feel lost
I toss and turn
I can't sleep
I can't sleep at night
I'm restless
Once I ran to you
I used to come to you
Now I'll run from you
Now I'll flee from you
This tainted love
Our relationship is corrupt
You've given
It's because of you
I give you all a boy
I gave you everything I had
Could give you
I was willing to offer
Take my tears
You drained me emotionally
And that's not
But it's more than that
Nearly all
Almost everything
Now I know I've got to
Now I realize I need to
You don't really want
You don't genuinely desire
Any more from me
Anything else from me
To make things right
To fix our problems
You need someone
You require someone
To hold you tight
To embrace you tightly
You think love
Your idea of love
Is to pray
Is to have faith in a higher power
I'm sorry
I apologize
I don't pray
I don't have that belief
That way
That way of thinking
Don't touch me please
Don't come near me
I cannot stand
I can't bear
The way you tease
How you taunt me
I love you though
Despite that, I still care about you
You hurt me so
But you damage me greatly
Now I'm going to pack
Now I'm going to gather
My things and go
My belongings and leave
Touch me baby
Physical contact, my dear
Tainted love
Our sick relationship
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@april-lilyxx1472
Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love
Now I know I've got to
Run away, I've got to
Get away, you don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love
Don't touch me, please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love
Tainted love
@Royalblood405
Wish she was still producing music. An amazing voice!
@chloenarcisse1873
She is amazing, her voice is unique, I love her
@jacksonj69
Chloe Narcisse she sings like a 1950-1960’s female singer
@milesgeary9213
@Jesse Jackson
Yeah, she sounds like Ronnie Spector
@rafaelalopezz
She can sing anything!! It's so amazing
@rocknroller1986
Wow, the best cover of this 80's hit. Love Duffy for life.
@Backs4more
rocknroller1986 The original is by Gloria Jones in 1964 and covered about 4 times in the 60’s and 70’s.
@ericcarraway6821
rocknroller1986 please tell us you know enough about music to know that it's actually an American 60s soul song, covered by a British New Wave group which makes it a 60's hit as well
@johnpastore7685
It's was also done in 1964. Gloria Jones
@michaeldonovan4258
@Eric Carraway The original was a B side flop.
Soft Cell made the song MASSIVE all around the world.