Tainted Love
Jay-Z Vs. Marilyn Manson Lyrics


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Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away from the pain you drive in 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 run from you
This tainted love you've given
I'll 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
Need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I run from you
This tainted love you've given
I'll 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 going to pack my things and go

Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love

Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I run from you
This tainted love you've given
I'll give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love, oh
Tainted love, oh




Tainted love, oh
Tainted love, oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jay-Z Vs. Marilyn Manson's song Tainted Love describes a complicated love affair that is causing the singer a lot of emotional pain. The song is about the struggles of trying to hold onto love when it is no longer reciprocated, or when the love you give is not enough. The opening lines of the song "Sometimes I feel I've got to run away I've got to get away from the pain you drive in the heart of me" describe how the singer feels trapped in a painful relationship and feels the need to escape.


As the song progresses, we learn that the love they share seems to be going nowhere and that the singer has lost their light. They can't sleep at night as they toss and turn, trying to make sense of their situation. They want to make things right but don't know where to start. The chorus of the song is haunting and explains how the love they have been given is tainted and how they need to run away from it, as it's causing them so much pain. The song ends with the singer packing their things and leaving the relationship for good.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel I've got to
I experience a feeling at times where I am forced to


Run away I've got to
Escape the situation at hand


Get away from the pain you drive in the heart of me
Remove the emotional anguish that you have caused me


The love we share
The romantic connection that we have


Seems to go nowhere
Does not progress or advance in any direction


And I've lost my light
I have lost the happiness or spark that love usually brings


For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
I am unable to sleep at night due to worry or anxiety


Once I ran to you (I ran)
Previously, I would seek comfort from you


Now I run from you
Now, I try to avoid you


This tainted love you've given
The toxic and damaging love that you have provided


I'll give you all a boy could give you
I have provided you all that I can as a young man


Take my tears and that's not nearly all
The sadness and hurt I feel goes beyond just my tears


Tainted love, oh
Admitting the harm that your love has caused


Now I know I've got to
I realize that I must


Get away
Escape from this relationship


You don't really want any more from me
You do not actually desire anything more from me


To make things right
To reconcile or fix this situation


Need someone to hold you tight
You require someone to comfort and care for you


And you'll think love is to pray
You believe love is a form of devotion and worship


But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
However, I cannot express love through religion or spirituality


Don't touch me please
Do not touch me


I cannot stand the way you tease
I cannot tolerate the way you mock or provoke me


I love you though you hurt me so
Despite the pain you have caused me, I still love you


Now I'm going to pack my things and go
I will now leave this relationship


Touch me baby, tainted love
Highlighting the damaging and unhealthy nature of our physical touch


Tainted love, oh
Emphasizing that this love is harmful and not pure




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Edward Cobb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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