Produced by New Order.
Released January 1989 on Technique.
Guilty Partner
New Order Lyrics
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I know what I'm saying
But lord it don't come easy
To admit that I was wrong
It took me far too long
I counted on you
To give me a reason
Why the Sun don't shine in the season
I'm not some kind of foolish lover
I couldn't take this from no other
You're not being cool with me
'Cause I always know you'll come back to me
Yes, you'll come back to me
'Cause I always know
What it takes to make you my lover
You once said to me
That I was a cruel man
And you know
That I almost believed you
I was blind, and I couldn't see
You took my sight from me
And all of these words
And all this emotion
Can't explain my hopeless devotion
Or change what had to be
I'm not some kind of foolish lover
I couldn't take this from no other
You're not being cool with me
'Cause I always know that you'll come back to me
Yes, you'll come back to me
Yes, you'll come back to me
I'm not some kind of foolish lover
I couldn't take this from no other
You're not being cool with me
'Cause I always know that you'll come back to me
Yes, you'll come back to me
I'm not some kind of foolish lover
I couldn't take this from another
It's no good being cool with me
'Cause I always know
What it takes to make you my lover
In "Guilty Partner," New Order explores the complexity of a broken relationship between two people who still care for each other, despite their hurtful actions towards one another. The song appears to be a conversation between two people who are trying to reconcile and rebuild what was lost. The first verse, sung by Bernard Sumner, is a plea for understanding and forgiveness. He admits his wrongs but acknowledges how difficult it is to apologize. He also touches on the idea that sometimes things just don't work out, as evidenced by the dreary weather in the season.
The chorus is where the song takes a more upbeat turn, with Sumner expressing confidence in their future together. He insists that he knows how to make things work and even though the other person has been hurt by him, they will always come back to him. The second verse, sung by guest vocalist Denise Johnson, continues the reconciliation theme, with her acknowledging that she too was blinded by their problems and could not see how much they meant to each other. She also expresses her unwavering love and devotion to the other person, despite the hurt that has been caused.
Overall, "Guilty Partner" is a song about the difficulties and complexities of relationships, but also about the potential for reconciliation and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to me
Pay attention to what I am saying
I know what I'm saying
I am confident in what I am saying
But lord it don't come easy
However, it is difficult to say this
To admit that I was wrong
To acknowledge that I made a mistake
It took me far too long
It took me a considerable amount of time
I counted on you
I relied on you
To give me a reason
To provide me with an explanation
Why the Sun don't shine in the season
Why there is no sunshine during this time of year
Grey sky surrounded me
I felt enveloped in a bleak atmosphere
You're not being cool with me
You're not treating me right
'Cause I always know you'll come back to me
I have faith that you will return to me
Yes, you'll come back to me
I am certain that you will return to me
You once said to me
In the past, you told me
That I was a cruel man
That I was a heartless person
And you know
You are aware
That I almost believed you
I nearly accepted what you said as true
I was blind, and I couldn't see
I was ignorant and unaware
You took my sight from me
You made me realize what I was missing
And all of these words
All of my speech
And all this emotion
And all of these feelings
Can't explain my hopeless devotion
Cannot convey the depth of my unwavering commitment
Or change what had to be
Or alter what was necessary
I couldn't take this from no other
I could not accept this behavior from anyone else
It's no good being cool with me
It is not acceptable to treat me in this manner
Cause I always know
Because I am always certain
What it takes to make you my lover
What I need to do to make you want to be with me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PETER HOOK, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, BERNARD SUMNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind