Mixed Emotions
Rosemary Clooney Lyrics


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i have mixed emotions
when it comes to loving you
i know i shouldnt like the things you shouldnt do
but if you were perfect
it wouldnt be the same
to a tiger a tiger's not a tiger if he's tame

but when you're near me i am happy just alone with you
but when you're far away from me i'm awfully blue
you're the bitter and the sweet combined
so what am i to do
i have mixed emotions over you

(musical interlude)

i have mixed emotions
when it comes to loving you
i know i shouldnt like the things you shouldnt do
but if you were perfect
it wouldnt be the same
to a tiger a tiger's not a tiger if he's tame

but when you're near me i am happy just alone with you
but when you're far away from me i'm awfully blue
you're the bitter and the sweet combined




so what am i to do
i have mixed emotions over you

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics, Rosemary Clooney expresses her mixed emotions towards her lover. She acknowledges that she should not like the things that he does, but at the same time, if he were perfect, it wouldn't be the same. She uses the metaphor of a tiger to explain that if her lover were tamed, he wouldn't be the same wild and unpredictable person that she fell in love with. She also acknowledges that being alone with her lover makes her happy, but when he's far away, she feels blue. She highlights the fact that her lover has both bitter and sweet qualities, making it difficult for her to understand her emotions towards him.


The repeated line "I have mixed emotions over you" emphasizes the internal struggle that Clooney is experiencing. She knows that her lover is flawed, but she cannot help but love him. The lyrics suggest that love is not always straightforward and simple; it can be a complex and difficult emotion to navigate.


Overall, the lyrics of "Mixed Emotions" express the conflicting emotions one can feel towards a lover. The song showcases the messiness of love and how it can be challenging to understand and articulate one's emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

i have mixed emotions
I feel conflicted about my feelings towards you.


when it comes to loving you
When it comes to my romantic feelings for you.


i know i shouldnt like the things you shouldnt do
I understand that I shouldn't like the things you do that are not good for us, but I still do.


but if you were perfect
If you were flawless


it wouldnt be the same to a tiger a tiger's not a tiger if he's tame
Our relationship wouldn't be as exciting or enjoyable if you didn't have any flaws. Just like how a tiger wouldn't be a tiger if it was domesticated.


but when you're near me i am happy just alone with you
I am content and happy when I am in your presence, just the two of us.


but when you're far away from me i'm awfully blue
When we are apart, I feel very sad and lonely.


you're the bitter and the sweet combined
You have qualities that are both good and bad.


so what am i to do
I am unsure of how to deal with my conflicting emotions.


i have mixed emotions over you
I feel conflicted about how I feel about you.




Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

George Evans

So cute and precious.

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