Its A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
The Persuaders Lyrics


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It's a thin line between love and hate
It's a thin line between love and hate

It's 5 o'clock in the morning
I'm just getting' in, I knock on the door
A voice sweet and low says (who is it?)
She opened up the door and let me in
Never once do she say, where have you been?
She says (are you hungry?)
"Are you hungry, honey? Did you eat yet?
Let me hang up your coat"
The woman tells me, pass me your hat
All the time she smilin', never once raises her voice
It's 5 o'clock in the morning
And I don't give it a second thought

It's a thin line between love and hate
Don't think you can keep breakin' your woman's heart
It's a thin line between love and hate
And she'll sit back and enjoy it
It's a thin line between love and hate
Yes it is, yes it is, between love and hate
She gon' fool you one day

The sweetest woman in the world
Could be the meanest woman in the world
If you make her that way
You keep on hurtin' her, she keeps being quiet
She might be holding something inside
That really really hurts you one day

Here I am laying in the hospital
Bandaged from feet to head
In the state of shock
Just that much from being dead
I didn't think my woman could do something like this to me
I didn't think the girl had the nerve, here I am
I guess action speaks louder than words

It's a thin line between love and hate
Don't think you can keep treatin' your woman bad
It's a thin line between love and hate
And she won't ever get mad
It's a thin line between love and hate
Yes it is
She's gonna fool you one day




It's a thin line between love and hate
Every smilin' face ain't a happy one

Overall Meaning

The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" explores the thin line between love and hate, a concept that is both haunting and resonant. The opening verse provides an intimate glimpse into a man's life, as he knocks on the door at 5 o'clock in the morning, and a woman lets him in. This woman is warm and hospitable, making the man feel welcomed and loved. But it's important to note that the man's absence isn't critiqued, nor is he asked where he has been. Instead, the woman's reaction is simply filled with boisterous hospitality, offering the man food and asking if he wants to take off his coat. The lack of inquiry may act as a warning sign that this warm and loving woman may turn out to be not-so-sweet.


The second verse of the song suggests that the sweetest woman can transform into the meanest person if she's continuously hurt. The woman's quietness may lead one to believe that she isn't affected by the pain, but the verse resonates with the notion that her silence doesn't necessarily mean acceptance. It's important to understand that when an individual internalizes pain, it can lead to destructive behavior. The final verse takes a turn for the worse, with the man narrating from the hospital. The song's lyrics suggest that his love interest has physically harmed him, causing him to land in the hospital.


Overall, "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" is a poignant song, highlighting the complexities of love and its thin line with hate. The lyrics are thought-provoking, emphasizing that one should be mindful of how to take care of their relationships, so they do not end up crossing that thin line.


Line by Line Meaning

It's a thin line, it's 5 o'clock in the morning
Love and hate can easily intertwine, especially during uncertain times, like it's 5 am and things are not clear.


And I'm just getting in, I knock on the door
The singer is returning home after being out late.


A voice sweet and low says, who is it?
The woman inside the house is calm and quiet and asks who's there in a kind way.


She opens up the door and lets me in
The woman welcomes him in without hesitation.


Never do she once say, sir, where have you been?
She doesn't question his whereabouts, implying a level of trust in their relationship.


No, she says, are you hungry?
Instead, she asks if he's hungry and offers to care for him.


Are you hungry, honey? Did you eat yet?
The woman is affectionate toward the man and concerned for his well-being.


Let me hang up your coat, your coat, your coat
She is attentive to his needs and helping him get comfortable.


And the woman tells me, pass me your hat too
The woman is going out of her way to assist the man and make things easier for him.


All the time she smiles, never once raises her voice
Throughout the encounter, the woman remains calm and pleasant, even during stressful moments.


It's 5 o'clock in the morning
The early morning hour intensifies the thin line between love and hate, as emotions can be heightened during vulnerable times of the day and night.


The sweetest woman in the world
The artist is reflecting on how the woman can be so kind and loving, yet...


Can be the meanest woman in the world
...can also become cruel and vicious if she is repeatedly hurt by the man's actions.


If you make her that way, you keep on hurting her
The man has the power to prevent the woman from becoming angry and resentful by treating her with respect and kindness.


She keeps being quiet
Rather than expressing her anger, the woman stays silent, bottling up her emotions until they eventually erupt.


She might be holding something inside
The woman is harboring hurt and anger that may one day resurface with a vengeance.


That really really hurt you one day
The woman's suppressed emotions can eventually lead her to take drastic actions that can harm the man.


Here I am laying in the hospital
The singer is in a dire situation due to the woman's actions.


Bandaged from feet to head
The extent of his injuries is severe and requires extensive medical attention.


Ya see I'm in the state of shock
The artist is in disbelief and struggling to come to terms with what has happened.


Just that much from being dead
The woman's actions put the man's life at risk and he is lucky to be alive.


I didn't think my woman could do something like this to me
The artist is blindsided by the woman's violent behavior and is struggling to make sense of it.


I didn't think she had the nerve, so here I am
The man is shocked and unable to understand why the woman would hurt him in such a way.


I guess action speaks louder than words
The woman's violent actions speak volumes about the deep hurt and anger she has been holding inside.


(repeat 1, 2, 1)
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the thin line between love and hate and how quickly things can turn from one extreme to the other.


It's a thin line, between love and hate
The chorus restates the theme of the song, highlighting the delicate balance between love and hate in romantic relationships.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jackie Members, Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@dognasty3

Brothers singing for real! No lip-syncing, no auto-tune. Brothers and sisters “slow dragging”. I love it!

@armandogonzales1365

Absolutely dn3 that's when these entertainers had super talent and no computers

@youngplatinummusic

Soul Train was always lip synching so maybe this was an exception.

@user-de8hs6ep2k

Every black soul song got a comment like this are ya bots u can’t separate a continuation

@vermellebennettbradley6132

Thank you I love it

@CPote-ue3hf

Yea n a Mexican rapper from east los Angeles along with somolians rap group boo ya tribe sampled the whole dam song n Mexicans believe kid from really made that song lol .

4 More Replies...

@TonyTana9905

Back when live performances sounded just like the actual recorded track. When talent outweighed image, no gimmicks, just pure talent.

@beverlyfrazier8638

I so so so agree

@michaelmontanez948

You know this most likely was lip sync'd right?

@beverlyfrazier8638

@@michaelmontanez948 no it was not

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