He told us: "I used to love listening to people's conversations on buses. And in order, I suppose, to make it appear more confessional and more personal, I would often mess with which person it was written, whether it was I, or he, or she. 'I Confess' was only partly autobiographical. A lot of other references point to a story I'd seen in a magazine about how a guy screwed his wife's sister on their wedding night. That was taking it a bit far.
But it made me think that how people can get very sorry for themselves in any sort of situation regardless of their own actions. And so two things in it that were really personal for me was that I found that I ruined three lives, but didn't care, till I found out that one of them was mine. And the second thing was, I noticed in my own life and in the young friends' love affairs that were going on, that when things started to go wrong in them, the argument was often about who loved each other the most, and the accusation was that the other person didn't love as much as you did.
And so it seemed to me that the hardest confession to make in those sort of situations were they were right, you didn't actually care very much. And so really the deepest of the confessions for me in that song was if it's all the same to you, I'll stay indifferent."
The opening piano solo and the Latin-tinged rhythms that follow were a big departure from the group's previous Ska-oriented sound. Lyrically, the subject matter was also far removed from the band's previous material, which was much more political.
Thanks to MTV airplay of this song and "Save it for Later," this album hit #39 in the US (it was #21 in the UK), their only single/album to chart in the States.
* The Beat were known as "The English Beat" in North America to avoid confusion with a similarly named American group.
I Confess
English Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I confess I've ruined three lives
Now don't sleep so tight
Because I didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine
Night after night time time after time
Done too much of both types of whining
Still wasn't right fight after fight
No it's not a joke it's cards on the table time
I could have phoned I could have spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dying
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight
Always searching for paradise,
I'll admit that I'm good as blind
Darling I confess yes I've ruined three lives
And didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine
I confess
Our love seems like a punishment
And I confess,
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
No-one wins and there's no denying,
Don't pretend like you don't know why,
Just a little word here a little push there darling
I confess look I confess that I don't really care
I confess I confess I confess
Out like a light
Another boy who's given up trying
Blinded by fright
He scream my life's not open
Please get out,
I know I'm shouting,
I like to shout
It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
I could have phoned I could spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dying
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight
Always searching for paradise,
I'll admit that I'm good as blind
Darling I confess yes I've ruined three lives
didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine
I confess
I deserve some type of punishment
I confess
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
The song "I Confess" by English Beat explores a theme of guilt and confession. In the first stanza, the singer admits to destroying three lives out of spite but only began to care when he found out that one of them was his own. This reveals that the singer's actions were reckless, and he didn't consider the consequences until it affected him personally.
The chorus "Cards on the table time, sometimes it's right to say goodnight" suggests that honesty is the best policy, and sometimes it's better to end a relationship than to continue living a lie. The singer struggles with his feelings, admitting that their love seems like a punishment.
The second verse suggests that the singer is indifferent and does not care about the damage he has caused. He admits that he deserves punishment but continues to remain indifferent. In the bridge, the singer emphasizes the importance of being honest and confessing but acknowledges that it's not easy to break the news without breaking someone's heart.
Overall, "I Confess" is about the struggle between guilt and indifference and emphasizes the importance of honesty in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Just out of spite,
I confess I've ruined three lives
Now don't sleep so tight
Because I didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine
I did what I did out of pettiness and malice, and I admit that I've wrecked three different lives. I hope you don't rest easy at night because I was selfishly indifferent towards my actions until I realized that one of the lives ruined was my own.
Night after night time time after time
Done too much of both types of whining
Still wasn't right fight after fight
To get out of my life get away from me get away from that gun
I whined all the time, both during day and night, but none of it seemed to help. Even though I argued and fought to get you out of my life, I couldn't escape the consequences of my careless behavior.
No it's not a joke it's cards on the table time
I could have phoned I could have spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
I'm not playing games, it's time to be honest. I could have communicated clearly, but I didn't know how to tell you without causing you pain.
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dying
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight
Dying itself doesn't cause any pain; it's the process of dying that is painful. It's time to be frank and open with each other, and sometimes that means it's best to say goodbye.
Always searching for paradise,
I'll admit that I'm good as blind
Darling I confess yes I've ruined three lives
And didn't care till I found out that one of them was mine
I've been seeking something perfect, but I've honestly been ignorant of everything around me. I'm ashamed to confess that I broke three people's lives without a second thought, only realizing the gravity of it when I realized that I had ruined my own life as well.
I confess
Our love seems like a punishment
And I confess,
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent
I have to admit, our love feels like a hardship or burden to me. And to be honest, I'd rather just stay apathetic instead of trying to fix this.
No-one wins and there's no denying,
Don't pretend like you don't know why,
Just a little word here a little push there darling
I confess look I confess that I don't really care
Nobody comes out ahead in situations like these, it's undeniable. Don't act like you don't know what's happening. Even though it would only take a little bit of effort to make things right, I'll admit that I really don't care at all.
Out like a light
Another boy who's given up trying
Blinded by fright
He scream my life's not open
Please get out,
I know I'm shouting,
I like to shout
He's out of commission like a switch, another guy who's given up on trying. He's totally terrified and can't even see straight. He screams that his life isn't an open book, asking me to leave. I know I'm shouting, and it's because I like to shout.
It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
It's not a joke it's cards on the table time
I could have phoned I could spoke
But how to break the news without beaking your heart
Being dead don't hurt,
No only dying
Cards on the table time,
Sometimes it's right to say goodnight
I'm dead serious, it's time to be genuine and direct. I could have easily contacted you, but didn't know how to tell you without causing heartbreak. Dying itself isn't painful, it's the process of dying that is. We need to be real with each other, and sometimes that means it's time to say goodbye.
I confess
I deserve some type of punishment
I confess
If it's all the same to you I'll stay indifferent
I admit that I should be penalized in some way for my actions. Honestly, I'd just rather stay uncaring if that's okay with you.
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I confess I confess I confess
I'm admitting my faults and misdeeds by repeating it over and over again; I confess.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WESLEY MAGOOGAN, DAVID WAKELING, ROGER CHARLERY, DAVID STEELE, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON, D WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oliverstanley3227
If you searched for this video and are watching it I donβt care who you are I love you
@kristinaluking
β€β€
@kristinaluking
Can't wait to see them in St Louis in March.
@kiransingh1665
And I love you too so much
@rob0191
right back at you β€β€β€β€
@chops4986
β€
@sunnyseacat6857
"I confess I ruined three lives. I did not care until I found out one of them was mine."
One of the best lines ever written in a song!
@briseboy
You apparently missed the poetic and evocaative ageless poetry of "Won't you take me to Funkytown?" with its Shakespearean " Talk about, it, talk about, it talk about it."
@JeffMartini-cb4ny
I know Iβm shouting - I like to shout
@cgembee1066
Heard this playing at a store....almost broke out singing with it! Love it.β€