Tainted Love
KITCHEN - Soft Cell Lyrics
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Run away, I've got to
Get away
From the pain you drive into the heart of me
The love we share (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
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'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, 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
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 (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, 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 gonna pack my things and go
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Tainted love
The lyrics to "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell express the feelings of a man who is trapped in a relationship that is causing him pain. He feels like he has to run away to escape the pain that his partner is causing him, and that the love they share seems to go nowhere. He has lost his light and is unable to sleep at night because of the torment he's experiencing in the relationship. He acknowledges that he once ran to his partner, but now he will run away, as the tainted love she has given him is too much to handle.
Throughout the song, he acknowledges that he has given his partner everything he possibly could, including his tears, but it's not enough to make things right. He knows that she needs someone to hold her tight, but he's unable to provide that for her. He also acknowledges that she thinks love is to pray, but he does not have the same beliefs. He cannot stand the way she teases him, but despite the hurt she's caused him, he loves her. Ultimately, he decides that he cannot take it anymore and will pack his things and leave, as the tainted love has become too much to handle.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I have a strong urge to
Run away, I've got to
Escape and leave behind everything
Get away
Distance myself from the present situation
From the pain you drive into the heart of me
From the hurtful emotions you cause me to feel
The love we share (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
The affection we had between us
Seems to go nowhere
Doesn't fulfill or lead us to anything positive
And I've lost my light
My happiness or vitality has diminished
For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
I'm restless and have trouble sleeping at night
Once I ran to you (I ran)
I used to come to you for safety or comfort
Now I'll run from you
Now, I'll flee from you for safety or self-preservation
This tainted love you've given
This affection you've provided that was unhealthy or damaging
I give you all a boy could give you
I've done everything I could as a man
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Take my tears as a symbol of the pain you've inflicted and it's just a fraction of it
You don't really want any more from me
You don't actually need anything else from me
To make things right
To try to repair what's gone wrong or make amends
You need someone to hold you tight
You need someone who can embrace and support you
And you think love is to pray
You believe that love is a spiritual experience
But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
But unfortunately, I cannot share that belief or sentiment with you
Don't touch me please
Do not attempt to touch me
I cannot stand the way you tease
I can't tolerate the way you mock or provoke me
I love you though you hurt me so
Despite the pain you cause me, I still have an attachment or affection for you
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Now, I'm going to prepare my belongings and leave
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Even if you touch me, the love we had was unhealthy or damaging
Tainted love
Our love was toxic or unhealthy
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Edward Cobb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind