Sometimes I feel I've got to
At times, I sense a need to

Run away, I've got to
Flee, I must

Get away
Escape the situation

From the pain you drive into the heart of me
Your actions are causing me great emotional distress

The love we share (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
The emotional bond between us (vocalization)

Seems to go nowhere
Our relationship is stagnant, not progressing

And I've lost my light
The joy and happiness within me have vanished

For I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night
The stress and anxiety you cause me prevent me from having peaceful nights

Once I ran to you (I ran)
In the past, I sought comfort from you by reaching out

Now I'll run from you
Currently, I'm running away to escape from you

This tainted love you've given
The love you've shown me has become corrupted and damaged

I give you all a boy could give you
I offered you everything a young man could give

Take my tears and that's not nearly all
You've caused me so much pain and suffering that giving you my tears is just a small part of it

Tainted love (whoa, oh, oh, oh)
Distorted affection (vocalization)

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

You don't really want any more from me
You're not truly interested in me anymore

To make things right
To correct our relationship

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

And you think love is to pray
You believe that love is a religious act

But I'm sorry, I don't pray that way
Unfortunately, my beliefs and values differ from yours

Don't touch me please
I implore you not to touch me

I cannot stand the way you tease
I find your playful actions irritating and frustrating

I love you though you hurt me so
Despite the pain you cause me, I still love you

Now I'm gonna pack my things and go
I'm planning to collect my belongings and leave

Touch me, baby, tainted love
Physical contact with me, but our love is distorted (vocalization)

Tainted love
Corrupted and damaged affection