Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Jimmy Deuchar 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 Jimmy Deuchar's song "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" express the complicated emotions of a person who is caught between the desire to move on from a toxic relationship and the fear of losing someone they love. The opening line, "I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you," highlights the ambivalence of the singer who is torn between their own feelings and the reality of the situation. The phrase "devil and the deep blue sea" refers to the idiom that means having to choose between two equally unpleasant or difficult options. The devil represents the familiar pain and turmoil of the current relationship, while the deep blue sea represents the unknown and uncertain future without the person.


The lyrics explore the singer's struggle to let go of the past and wishful thinking about the future. They acknowledge the faults of their lover but cannot forget them completely, leading them to forgive them. The internal conflict is heightened in the lines "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." The singer seems to know that they should end the relationship and move on, but when the person returns, they cannot resist the pull of their emotions.


Overall, the song conveys the idea that love and logic do not always coincide. The singer acknowledges that they should hate the person for the pain they have caused them, but they cannot deny their love for them, making them trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I don't desire you to be with me, still, it would be painful if you leave me


You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I'm stuck in a difficult and problematic situation and you are the cause of it


I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
I pardon you for your mistakes as I can't remove you from my memory


You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I'm ensnared in a challenging and unpredictable situation, and it's because of you


[Repeat: x2] I ought to cross you off my list
I should exclude you from my life as you cause me pain and anxiety


But when you come a-knocking at my door
Whenever you come back to me and request, I can't resist your temptation


Fate seems to give my heart a twist
It looks like destiny is playing with me and giving me false ideas


And I come running back for more
Despite being hurt before, I still come back to you hoping that things will turn out differently


I should hate you, but I guess I love you
It's reasonable to hate you due to your actions, but I think I still have affection for you


You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Once more, I'm trapped in a problematic and challenging situation due to you


The devil and the deep blue sea
A metaphorical phrase indicating being in a risky and hazardous situation with two equally bad outcomes




Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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