Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra Lyrics

The lyrics to Perry Como's "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea," performed with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra, offer a glimpse into the frustrations and complexities of a relationship that is difficult to escape. The opening lines, "I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you," demonstrate the conflicted emotions that the singer is experiencing. It seems that the object of the singer's affection has caused them pain and heartache, but they still feel attached to that person in some way.

The central metaphor of the song, "between the devil and the deep blue sea," suggests that the singer is caught in a difficult situation with no easy way out. The phrase "devil and the deep blue sea" refers to a choice between two equally unpleasant options, with no clear solution. In this case, the singer is torn between their desire to move on and their continued attachment to the person who has hurt them.

Despite the challenges of their situation, the singer seems unable to stay away from their ex-lover. They try to tell themselves that they should "cross [the other person] off [their] list," yet they cannot resist when that person "come[s] a-knocking at [their] door." Ultimately, the singer admits that they "should hate [the other person], but [they] guess [they] love [them]." The song is a poignant reflection on the pain and complexity of relationships, and the difficult choices that we must sometimes make when our hearts are torn between two opposing forces.