Sacrifice
Sinead O'Connor Lyrics


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It's a human sign
When things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong

Into the boundaries
Of each married man
Sweet deceit comes callin'
And negativity lands

Cold, cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passin' through

And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
And it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
No sacrifice at all

Mutual misunderstandings
After the fact
Sensitivity builds a prison
In the final act

We lose direction
No stone unturned
No tears to damn you
When jealousy burns

Cold, cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better baby
Just passing through

And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
It's two hearts living
In two separate worlds
But it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
No sacrifice at all

I gave my heart
I gave my heart
I gave my heart
I gave my heart
I gave my heart
I gave my heart




I gave my heart
I gave my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sinead O'Connor's “Sacrifice” deal with the themes of infidelity, relationships coming to an end, and the pain that both parties feel when things go wrong. The opening line, “It's a human sign,” can be interpreted as a reference to how we all make mistakes and are prone to temptation. The following lines suggest that when a partner is unfaithful, they can leave behind a lingering scent that signifies something is wrong. The words “sweet deceit” and “negativity lands” are used to describe the destructive nature of infidelity and how it can ruin relationships.


The second verse is all about the aftermath of infidelity. The line, “We lose direction, no stone unturned,” suggests a couple who are desperately trying to work things out but are ultimately unable to overcome their pain and jealousy. The closing lines of the song, “I gave my heart,” are a poignant reminder of the love and trust that was shared between the couple, and how that has now been lost.


In summary, “Sacrifice” is a song about the complexities of relationships and the pain that comes with infidelity. It addresses themes that many people can relate to, such as the difficulty of letting go of someone you once loved, the hurt of betrayal, and the longing for emotional connection.


Line by Line Meaning

It's a human sign
This is a common trait observed among human beings


When things go wrong
Whenever something does not proceed as planned


When the scent of her lingers
The distinct smell of her remains even after she has left


And temptation's strong
And the urge to give in is overwhelming


Into the boundaries
Crossing personal borders


Of each married man
Of every man who is already committed


Sweet deceit comes callin'
Sweet lies attempt to lure in the listener


And negativity lands
And the atmosphere turns sour


Cold, cold heart
An unfeeling heart


Hard done by you
You have suffered a lot


Some things look better baby
Some things may seem more appealing than they are


Just passin' through
They are only temporarily there


And it's no sacrifice
It's not an act of giving up anything valuable


Just a simple word
Only a basic requirement


It's two hearts living
Two individuals co-existing


In two separate worlds
Living different lives


And it's no sacrifice
There is nothing being lost by this arrangement


No sacrifice
There is no sacrificial element in this situation


No sacrifice at all
This scenario doesn't involve sacrifice


Mutual misunderstandings
Both parties fail to communicate effectively


After the fact
Only realized after it has happened


Sensitivity builds a prison
Being too sensitive can cause one to be trapped


In the final act
At the end of the relationship


We lose direction
We become directionless


No stone unturned
Everything possible has been attempted to save the relationship


No tears to damn you
No tears remain to lament the ending of the union


When jealousy burns
When jealousy starts to consume us


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions


I gave my heart
I invested my emotions




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@frankpaul3479

agree with everything you write kathy.
plus no one, and i mean no one {other than maybe the pet shop boys, lol} can take someone else's song and make it their own.
usually i find cover versions a complete waste of time, but she takes this, claims it and improves it.
how much more of a legacy can you ask for?

what a privilege the rest of us have had to listen to her music over the years, and i'm deeply saddened to know that they'll be no new music from this genius, whose only crime was to be born a woman {more on the oppression of women since the fable of adam and eve was made up for another time, perhaps}. any man would have been deemed a hero to have spoken out about the atrocities of life {most especially the hypocrisy of the catholic 'faith' which most assuredly has soooo much to answer to, but many other issues too: 'black boys on mopeds' as a prime example}. her stand on issues should have been commended, not condemned.

one day we will look back at her 'rantings', and announce that she was a highly evolved spirit. we may even declare: saint sinead {perhaps that's going a bit far, lol}

fantastically sadly sung, and may the good god above, below, beyond and within us all take the spirit of this delightful singer and bring her eternal peace.

thanks for posting this incredible song,
love and peace to you and all,
xxxxxxx



@ugocrespini

It's a human sign
When things go wrong
When the scent of her lingers
And temptation's strong
Into the boundary
Of each married man
Deceit comes calling
And negativity lands
Cold cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better, baby
Just passing through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
Two hearts living
In two separate worlds
And it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
No sacrifice at all
Mutual misunderstanding
After the fact
Sensitivity builds a prison
In the final act
We lose direction
No stone unturned
No tears to damn you
When jealousy burns
Cold, cold heart
Hard done by you
Some things look better, baby
Just passin' through
And it's no sacrifice
Just a simple word
Two hearts livin'
In two separate worlds
And, it's no sacrifice
No sacrifice
No sacrifice, at all
I give my heart
I give my heart
I give my heart
I give my heart...



@frankpaul3479

@@PeterYates-kb4hp hello there again peter.
my first reaction:
whaaaaat? sinead did a cover version of this too?

so of course i've listened to it already.

well, it was always going to be a hard sell. you just happened to have choosen my all time favourite band BY FAR. like ever. so i tried to listen as impartially as i could.


but this didn't quite do it for me.
her singing is good, and i enjoyed the couple of variations to the original.

but unlike 'nothing compares' and 'sacrifice' where she takes those already great songs and owns them, she really didn't do enough of this this time for me.

hope we can still be cyber friends, lol

cheers.



All comments from YouTube:

@fadbaguni

I was the keyboard player on this recording, and it was a real pleasure to be standing next to her when she recorded her vocal on top of it ...

@passmoilpoivre3758

I'm jealous ! ;-)

@maurocoimbra9624

Congratulations for your great playing!!

@leeellis4501

Lucky man

@aarondavid5866

or not

@fadbaguni

@Aaron David Ha ! Indeed !

261 More Replies...

@tlawson521

Her voice is almost haunting in this song. She sings it with such emotion. It’s always been my favorite song by her. She had a difficult life and what she was able to accomplish despite that is truly admirable. RIP sweet soul

@meganjarrell4668

Hauntingly beautiful 🫶🏻

@melissafraser1900

​@@meganjarrell4668A beautiful Soul

@michaelcooke8974

I never usually cry when celebrities died because well... It's easy to put the emotional distance behind the art and screen.. meant yes I'm attached to or certain aspects that their persona my portray... And I'm a support things they did society or something... However literally boo-hooing for the loss here with her... The things she faced in life early on... Her struggles with mental health... And just how she bleeds her heart out everytime she opens her mouth to sing... There was nothing held back by her ever... She was passionate... Extremely caring... Troubled... And every day was a struggle for her and she put her heart and soul into everything she touched... I struggle with certain aspects of my life as well and I can't help but to weep because life is hard we make it beautiful every chance we get every... Sharing our pain or weakness in our struggle opens up for criticism judgment and backlash from people I have felt that before people have hurt me physically for crying over being emotionally vulnerable... She was truly special in every song I've ever listened to her do was very genuine... She was never diva... And her version of Elton John's "no sacrifice" truly moves my heart in ways no other piece of music could. Sing my angel...sing! My name is Steven rickerson and I'm posting under my partners account. The way you regard this piece of music I figure you would appreciate this.

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