Tainted Love
Hannah Peel (Soft Cell) Lyrics


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Sometimes 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
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
Now I run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a girl 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
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way

Once I ran to you
Now I run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a girl 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





Tainted love, oh
Tainted love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hannah Peel's "Tainted Love" reflect the emotional pain and confusion someone feels when they realize that the love they have is toxic and unhealthy. The opening lines, "Sometimes I feel I've got to, run away I've got to, get away," express the desire to escape the relationship and the hurt that it brings. The love that was once shared between them now feels tainted and empty, leading the singer to feel like they have lost their light and cannot sleep at night.


The chorus of the song, "Once I ran to you, now I run from you, this tainted love you've given, I give you all a girl could give you, take my tears and that's not nearly all, tainted love," highlights the conflict that arises when one person wants to leave but the other is still holding on. The lyrics express a sense of desperation to get away, but also a willingness to give everything they have to make the relationship work. However, the love they share is no longer pure, it's been damaged and it's not enough to fix what's broken.


Overall, "Tainted Love" is a powerful and emotional song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of a toxic relationship. The lyrics speak to the complexity of love and how difficult it can be to let go when it's no longer healthy.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I experience a pressing need to


Run away I've got to
Escape and break free


Get away
Leave and distance myself from a situation


From the pain that you drive
The anguish that you cause


Into the heart of me
Piercing my emotions


The love we share
Our relationship


Seems to go nowhere
Has no future, heading towards a dead end


And I've lost my light
I'm devoid of joy, my spirit has been dimmed


For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
I'm deeply troubled and restless, unable to sleep


Once I ran to you
I used to run towards you, seeking comfort and love


Now I run from you
However, now I flee from you, avoiding any contact


This tainted love you've given
This toxic and corrupted love that you've offered


I give you all a girl could give you
I've given you everything a woman could offer


Take my tears and that's not nearly all
You've taken my sorrows but that's not the only thing you've taken from me


Now I know I've got to
I've realized that I need to


You don't really want any more from me
You're not interested in anything I have to offer you anymore


To make things right
To reconcile our relationship


You need someone to hold you tight
You require someone to give you a tight embrace


And you think love is to pray
You associate love with the act of praying


But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
Unfortunately, I don't share your belief


Don't touch me please
Please don't come close to me


I cannot stand the way you tease
I find it unbearable and unpleasant when you tease me


Tainted love
Truly corrupted and harmful love


Tainted love
Toxic and destructive love




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: E. COBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@karenkk2017

That moment when you realize that basically most of the relationships on AHS can be based off of this song 😍

@jasonpetersen1127

well, yeah. that's the point lol. the whole season was about infidelity.

@sismaryeunice5336

Haha true

@ashplays8899

Okay but you're not wrong

@joshuahughes-davies7124

This is definitely my fav version of the song

@loveforfarmiga3147

For sure!! Better even than the original one

@Darknessdeathify

Listen to the Marilyn Manson version, so epic and so cool. Tbh the best version i think...

1 More Replies...

@claudiaariza8007

Murder house - Tainted love
Asylum - Dominique
Coven - The house of the rising sun
Freak show - Carrousel
Hotel - Hotel california
Roanoke - Sycamore tree
Cult - Excessum
Apocalypse - Devil's playground

@jjprentiss9192

I think Coven is edge of seventeen by Stevie Nicks. or something Fleetwood Mac

@jjprentiss9192

or Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac for coven

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