The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan a… Read Full Bio ↴The Turtles were an American pop/rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, a duo later known as Flo & Eddie. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits in the 60s, beginning with their version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965. The band scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song "Happy Together". Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965, the band was renowned for their both joyously melancholic and occasionally cheeky sound, always being good-natured.

Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.

The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.

The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.

Torn Between Temptation
The Turtles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was out last night
And you were in a rage
But it′s the same old story, now
This is just a page
I'm so ashamed

Darlin′, anythin' I could, I would
For you

If you could accept the only thing
I just can't do
You′d understand

But I′ll be torn between temptations till then
Your true love and my true love again
Torn between temptations
A smile and a frown
There's no doubt about it
Gives me hell
But it feels like heaven goin′ down

You don't have to talk to me
The way you do
I can see beyond this, honey
Why can′t you?
Listen to me

But I'll be torn between temptations till then
I′ll be damned and I'll be back again
Oh yes, I'm torn between temptations
A smile and a frown
There′s no doubt about it
Gives me hell

But it feels like heaven goin′ down
Feels like heaven goin' down
Feels like heaven goin′ down
Feels like heaven goin' down
Feels like heaven goin′ down
Feels like heaven goin' down

Goin′ down
Goin' down

Overall Meaning

The Turtles' song "Torn Between Temptations" is a confession of a man in love who is torn between two women. He is presumably in a committed relationship, but he finds himself drawn to another woman. The song's opening lines reveal that he was out the previous night, perhaps with the other woman or engaging in activities that his partner disapproves of. He acknowledges that his partner was angry and upset, but he thinks it's just another chapter in the same old story.

However, the man feels ashamed of his behavior and wishes he could do anything for his partner except for one thing that he cannot do. He doesn't explicitly mention what that is, but it's likely that he's struggling with his attraction to the other woman. He's torn between his love for his partner and his desire for the other woman, and he knows that he won't be able to resolve this inner conflict until he can find a way to reconcile these different feelings.

The chorus emphasizes this internal conflict, as the man sings that he'll be torn between temptations until he can find a resolution. He feels pulled in different directions, torn between two loves, and doesn't know how to proceed. The final lines of the song suggest that he's conflicted between feeling guilty for his behavior and feeling pleasurable sensations from his attraction to the other woman. He's caught between heaven and hell, both metaphorically and literally.

Line by Line Meaning

I was out last night
I went out last night.

And you were in a rage
You were angry while I was out.

But it's the same old story, now
This is a frequent occurrence between us.

This is just a page
This is just a small part of our relationship.

I'm so ashamed
I feel guilty about making you angry.

Darlin', anythin' I could, I would
I would do anything for you.

For you
To make you happy.

If you could accept the only thing
If you could understand my limitations.

I just can't do
The one thing I am unable to do.

You'd understand
You would comprehend my situation.

But I'll be torn between temptations till then
I will continue to struggle between two conflicting desires until you understand.