Harry James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is… Read Full Bio ↴Harry James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he re-organized and was active again with his band from then until his death in 1983. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone, and was extremely influential on up-and-coming trumpet players from the late 1930s into the 1940s. He was also an actor in a number of films that usually featured his band.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Harry James & His Orchestra Lyrics

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I don't want you, but I'd 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

[Repeat: x2]
I ought to cross you off my list
But when you come a-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

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
The devil and the deep blue sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Harry James & His Orchestra describe a conflicted relationship. The singer admits that they don't want their lover, yet they can't bring themselves to let go. They feel caught "between the devil and the deep blue sea," a phrase meaning caught between two dangerous options. The devil represents the trouble that comes from staying in a bad relationship, while the deep blue sea represents the uncertainty and fear of being alone. Despite the pain their lover has caused, the singer forgives them because they can't forget them.

In the chorus, the singer expresses their dilemma by saying they should cross their lover off their list, but they can't resist when their lover comes back into their life. Fate seems to "give their heart a twist," causing them to run back and succumb to their lover's charms. They should hate their lover for their actions, but they admit that they still love them. The song ends by repeating the title phrase, emphasizing the singer's feeling of being stuck in a difficult situation.

Overall, the lyrics of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" capture the complexity of relationships, especially those that are toxic or hurtful. The singer acknowledges the pain that their lover has caused, but they also can't bring themselves to let go. The title phrase is a perfect metaphor for the feeling of being stuck between two bad options and not knowing which way to turn.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I don't really want you in my life but at the same time I cannot bear to lose you.

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
You have put me in a very difficult position where I am faced with two bad choices and have to choose between them.

I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
Even though you have hurt me, I can't seem to forget the good times we had and that's why I forgive you.

I ought to cross you off my list
I know that I should forget about you and move on with my life.

But when you come a-knocking at my door
However, when you come back into my life, things get complicated again.

Fate seems to give my heart a twist
It feels like destiny is playing a cruel trick on me by bringing you back into my life and making me feel conflicted.

And I come running back for more
Despite my best intentions, I cannot resist the pull of my feelings for you and I end up coming back to you every time.

I should hate you, but I guess I love you
I know that I should hate you for what you've done to me, but the truth is that I still love you.

You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Once again, you are putting me in a difficult position where I have to choose between two bad options.

The devil and the deep blue sea
A metaphor for a situation where one is faced with two equally difficult choices and are unsure which path to take.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , S.A. MUSIC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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