Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Louis Armstrong 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

Louis Armstrong's song "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" talks about the internal conflict and struggles of a person who is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. In this song, the devil represents temptations and desires that he knows are not good for him while the deep blue sea represents the troubles of life. He doesn't want his love interest, but the thought of losing her scares him. He forgives her for the hurt she has caused him, and even though he ought to move on, his heart belongs to her.


The lyrics in this song highlight an internal battle that many people go through in relationships. They are unsure whether they should let go or keep holding on to something that might make them miserable. Even though the song is about love, it can apply to any situation where a person feels trapped between two opposing forces. It is a reminder of how tempting something can be, even when we know it is not good for us.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you
I have mixed feelings towards you, as I do not desire you, but I also do not wish to lose you.


You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I am in a difficult situation where I have to choose between two equally daunting options.


I forgive you, 'cause I can't forget you
Although I still hold a grudge against you, I cannot help but remember the good times we shared and thus forgive you.


I ought to cross you off my list
It would be best for me to remove you from my life completely.


But when you come a-knocking at my door
However, when you come back into my life unexpectedly,


Fate seems to give my heart a twist
My emotions become conflicted and unpredictable due to our history together.


And I come running back for more
I cannot resist the temptation to be with you again.


I should hate you, but I guess I love you
Logically, I should despise you for the pain you have caused me, but instead I cannot help but still feel something towards you.


You've got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Once again, I am faced with a difficult choice between two equally challenging options.


The devil and the deep blue sea
This phrase is repeated multiple times to emphasize the severity of the situation, as both options are extremely daunting.




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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Comments from YouTube:

@Trombonology

Louis was always sublime, but I have a special fondness for both his material and manner of presentation in this period. His vocal, complete with lyrical alteration ("I should hate you but, Mama, I guess instead I love you") and aside ("Oh, you little devil"), is beautifully phrased. Though never closely associated with the use of mutes as certain other trumpeters are, at this time he was still fairly frequently employing a straight mute, as here, in which takes all but the last four bars of a full 32-bar chorus muted before going open for the the last four bars of that chorus and an additional eight bars. In his open passage, you can hear figures that one of his keenest admirers, the great Bunny Berigan, would adopt.

@BensPhonographs07

Wonderfully put, I agree.

@Trombonology

@@BensPhonographs07 Thank you!

@yaelpalombo4604

❤️❤️❤️🙏🌹🙏

@thomassmith5400

1:40

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