Tainted Love
Part Of The Art Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I feel I've got to
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
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 (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 (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 (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)

Touch me, baby, tainted love
Touch me, baby, tainted love
Tainted love (oh)
Tainted love (oh)





Tainted love
Tainted love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Tainted Love" by Part Of The Art express the feeling of being trapped in a toxic relationship. The singer of the song feels like they have to run away from the pain the other person is causing them, and that the love they share is going nowhere. They have lost their light and cannot sleep at night because they are tossing and turning, unable to find peace in the relationship.


The chorus expresses the sentiment that the singer once ran to their partner, but now they will run from them. The love that the partner has given them is tainted and they are giving back all they can, including tears. The singer knows now that they have to run away and get away from the toxic situation since the other person does not want anything more from them. The song ends with the repeated chorus of "Tainted love,” emphasizing the importance of recognizing the toxicity in a relationship and leaving it behind.


Overall, the lyrics to "Tainted Love" are brimming with intense emotions and offer a relatable narrative of being stuck in a relationship that is causing more harm than good.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I experience the urge to


Run away, I've got to
Escape and avoid


Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
Flee from the emotional agony you inflict on me


The love we share
Our romantic relationship


Seems to go nowhere
Doesn't appear to be progressing


And I've lost my light
I've lost my optimism and enthusiasm


For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
I suffer from insomnia due to the distress caused by our relationship


Once I ran to you (I ran)
In the past, I sought refuge and comfort from you


Now I'll run from you
At present, I'm running away from you


This tainted love you've given
This corrupted and unhealthy love you've provided


I give you all a boy could give you
I've done everything I can to love and please you


Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Accept my tears as a token of my suffering


Now I know I've got to
Now I realize that I must


Get away, you don't really want any more from me
Escape because you don't want more from me than I've already given


To make things right
To fix our situation


You need someone to hold you tight
You require someone to embrace you affectionately


And you think love is to pray
Your concept of love is prayerful and spiritual


But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
Unfortunately, I cannot fulfill that expectation


Don't touch me, please
Please don't touch me


I cannot stand the way you tease
I can't tolerate your playful behavior


I love you though you hurt me so
Despite your hurtful actions, I still love you


Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
Now I intend to leave


Tainted love (oh)
Eroded and corrupt love


Tainted love
Eroded and corrupt love


Touch me, baby, tainted love
Physical contact, my dear, with corrupt love


Touch me, baby, tainted love
Physical contact, my dear, with corrupt love


Tainted love (oh)
Eroded and corrupt love


Tainted love (oh)
Eroded and corrupt love


Tainted love
Eroded and corrupt love




Writer(s): Edward Cobb

Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions