Tainted Love
May Imelda 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
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
'Cause I toss and turn I can't sleep at night (ooh)
Once I ran to you (ooh)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a girl could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love
Oh, tainted love (ooh)
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 that love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a girl could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love, ooh
Oh, tainted love
Oh
Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you but you hurt me so
So I've got to pack my things and go
Once I ran to you
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a girl could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love
Oh, oh, tainted love
Oh, tainted love
Oh, tainted love
Don't touch me with your tainted love
I don't want this tainted love
Yeah, I quit your tainted love
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
May Imelda’s “Tainted Love” is a powerful and emotional declaration of a woman who is trying to escape a toxic and painful relationship. The opening lines, “Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away, I’ve got to get away”, expresses the singer’s feelings of extreme emotional pain and the need to escape the unbearable situation they find themselves in. This feeling is further illustrated in the following line, “From the pain you drive into the heart of me” which highlights the agony and heartbreak of a toxic relationship. The chorus’ repetition of “tainted love” emphasizes the singer’s belief that the love they once shared has become corrupt and polluted, causing their relationship to fall apart.
The singer lays bare their emotions in the verse, “Take my tears and that’s not nearly all”, lamenting the extent of suffering they have gone through in the relationship. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that love should be about support, affection, and offering a listening ear. “You need someone to hold you tight” implies that the partner needs emotional support, but the singer is not the one to give that due to the toxicity in the relationship. The final lines of the song “Don't touch me with your tainted love, I don't want this tainted love” make it clear the singer has had enough and is leaving the relationship to find a different one.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel I've got to
I am frequently overwhelmed and compelled to
Run away I've got to
Flee from the current situation
Get away
Escape to safety
From the pain you drive into the heart of me
Because the emotions you evoke are excruciating
The love we share
The relationship between us
Seems to go nowhere
Appears to be stagnant and unfulfilling
And I've lost my light
As a result, my hope has faded
'Cause I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
I cannot stop thinking about it and it is preventing me from resting peacefully
Once I ran to you
I used to run to you for safety and comfort
Now I'll run from you
But now, I will run from you
This tainted love you've given
This damaged and corrupted love that you have shown me
I give you all a girl could give you
I have given you everything I possibly can
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
You have seen me cry, but that is not the extent of my suffering
Oh, tainted love
This affection between us is poisoned and corroded
Now I know I've got to
I am now aware that I must
You don't really want any more from me
You do not desire more from me
To make things right
To rectify the situation
You need someone to hold you tight
You require intimacy and connection
And you think love is to pray
You believe that love is a subservient and passive act
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
But I do not subscribe to that belief system
Don't touch me please
Do not make physical contact with me
I cannot stand the way you tease
I cannot tolerate the manner in which you use playfulness to manipulate me
I love you but you hurt me so
I have deep feelings for you, but your actions are causing me pain
So I've got to pack my things and go
Therefore, I must gather my belongings and depart
Don't touch me with your tainted love
Do not attempt to reach out or connect with me with this corrupted, damaged affection
I don't want this tainted love
I do not desire or seek out this type of contaminated, negative love
Yeah, I quit your tainted love
I am choosing to end my association with this poisoned, hurtful relationship
Oh, oh
Expressing strong emotion
Oh, oh
Expressing strong emotion
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Edward Cobb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trevorbantleman916
Love her energy and delivery , great voice.
@donb3557
This lady is the real deal she sings Rock like the devil and sings a ballad like an Angel and she does it live, a tremendous talent
@arthurmurfitt7698
LOVE HER!!!
that guitar player is amazing too!
@jimharris8473
Love this,Imelda is awesome and Darrel is king.This is so tight and really is why I love Gretsch guitars
@hugointhecity
Incredible! She is amazing and her band is awesome. At a loss to describe any further how good this performance is.
@luke6613
Ciao Imelda, don't forget to come in Italy. Here you have a lot of fans. We adore you.
@BobBenham
The sign of a true talent: when a performer can make a song their own. Beautiful video, too.
@tlcndc
Love her style ... and how could anyone "disliking" this?!?
@lycia69
Rockabilly+Imelda May+Tainted Love=Heaven!!!!!!!!!!!
@marychris9665
Supreme Imelda