Tainted Love
Scorpions 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 that 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

[Chorus]
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
Oh tainted love
Tainted love

Now I know I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
You don't really want IT any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you'll think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way

[Chorus]

Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm going to pack my things and go
Tainted love, tainted love
Tainted love, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Touch me baby, tainted love
Tainted love




Tainted love
Tainted love

Overall Meaning

In Scorpions' cover of "Tainted Love," the singer is expressing his feelings of pain and frustration in a failed relationship. He feels trapped and suffocated by the love he shares with his partner, as it only brings him sorrow and heartache. He describes the intensity of his emotional distress, noting that he cannot sleep at night and is constantly tormented by his thoughts. He recognizes that he must escape this toxic relationship and leave behind the tainted love that has been given to him.


The chorus of the song emphasizes his decision to leave the relationship behind, using powerful imagery to show the extent of his determination. He ran to his partner before, but now he will run away from them, symbolizing his desire to break free from the pain they have caused him. In the second verse, he acknowledges that his partner no longer wants him and that they need someone else to make them happy. He knows that the love between them is no longer enough, and he is unwilling to stay in a relationship that is one-sided and unfulfilling.


The final verse is a plea to his partner to stop teasing him and causing him pain. He loves them despite the hurt they have caused him, but he is resolved to leave and move on with his life. The repetition of "tainted love" in the chorus emphasizes the concept of this love that has become toxic and corrupted by pain and heartache.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel I've got to
There are times when I feel a strong urge to


Run away I've got to
Escape from the situation I am currently in


Get away
Physically remove myself from the environment causing me pain


From the pain that you drive into the heart of me
The extreme emotional hurt you cause me


The love we share
The relationship we have


Seems to go nowhere
Feels stagnant, like it's going nowhere


And I've lost my light
The happiness and joy I once had is now gone


For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
I find myself unable to sleep peacefully and instead, I suffer from anxiety


Once I ran to you (I ran)
I used to come to you for support and guidance


Now I'll run from you
I am now trying to escape from you


This tainted love you've given
The unhealthy, poisoned love you have given me


I give you all a boy could give you
I have given you everything that I could possibly give as a young man


Take my tears and that's not nearly all
You have taken my tears and caused me even more pain


Now I know I've got to
I am now conscious of the fact that I have to


You don't really want IT any more from me
You don't seem to want anything from me anymore


To make things right
To correct the issues in our relationship


You need someone to hold you tight
You require someone to comfort you and give support


And you'll think love is to pray
You believe that love requires prayer


But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
I am not comfortable with expressing love through prayer


Don't touch me please
I am not comfortable with physical touch


I cannot stand the way you tease
Your teasing makes me uncomfortable


I love you though you hurt me so
I still have feelings for you despite the pain you have caused me


Now I'm going to pack my things and go
I have decided to leave and gather my possessions


Tainted love, tainted love
The corrupt, poisoned love we have shared


Touch me baby, tainted love
Even though our love is tainted, you still try to touch me


Tainted love
Our love is contaminated and unhealthy




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Edward Cobb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@JuStChelseaFC13

Marylin Manson and Scorpions, both versions are very good songs, just different styles.

@annassamiaji4178

Yes I love MM version..🤘

@donmendez582

Marlon, Chelsea was smashed by Bayern

@JuStChelseaFC13

@Jason Talbot I'll do it. Thanks for the advice.

@Denver70

Great taste in music Marlon, shame about the football 😉🤘

@joehmingsanga4735

i prefer marilyn manson

18 More Replies...

@RRRRRaya

Amazing version of my 80's favourite. Well done Scorpions!!

@lucekkalafiorek342

but this is not theirs song:-D

@vickydem5864

This song is just AMAZING with Klaus' voice!!!!

@EPRCP-gn2md

the original version from gloria jones is magnificent, soft cell´s version´s is excellent, but this version from scorpions is the greatest so far!

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