Nick Lowe – Cruel To Be Kind lyrics

Nick Lowe – Cruel To Be Kind lyrics

Oh, I can't take another heartache,
Though you say you're my friend, I'm at my wits' end!
You say you're love is bona fide,
But that don't coincide with the things that you do
And when I ask you to be nice, you say

You've gotta be
Cruel to be kind in the right measure,
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign,
Cruel to be kind means that I love you,
Baby, you've gotta be cruel to be kind.

Well I do my best to understand dear,
But you still mystify, and I want to know why.
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down again and again!
And when I ask you to explain, you say

You've gotta be
Cruel to be kind in the right measure,
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign,
Cruel to be kind means that I love you,
Baby, you've gotta be cruel to be kind.

Well I do my best to understand dear,
But you still mystify, and I want to know why.
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down again and again!
And when I ask you to explain, you say

You've gotta be
Cruel to be kind in the right measure,
Cruel to be kind it's a very good sign,
Cruel to be kind means that I love you,
Baby, you've gotta be cruel to be kind...

Lyrics taken from /lyrics/n/nick_lowe/cruel_to_be_kind.html

Songwriters: Ian Robert Gomm, Nicholas Orain Lowe

Cruel To Be Kind lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

hot lyrics

Cruel To Be Kind meanings

Best
Recent
3 meanings

m

+ 3
Maurice Valentino 2016-06-21 17:26:26

I agree with the post on Jul 2, 2012 which I just saw today. If a girl is mean to a guy, the bitch needs to be punished so she'll stop. If she refuses to stop, he should leave the bitch. She doesn't deserve to have someone if she can't be nice. I had a girl who got mean with me but I didn't do anything. So she kept getting worse until I got mean back. Then she got nice and learned respected me.
To me, the meaning of just the chorus of this song is basically, tough love.

Add your reply
U

+ 3
Unregistered 2012-07-02 16:01:36

It's flat-out abuse. The woman is being flippant about her abusive behavior to him. She's saying: "this is me. This is how i am. Love it or leave it, i'm fine with my behavior, you should be, too. "
I hate this song. It's great music, nice harmonies and catchy lyrics put the title phrase into one's head - but no resolution to the abuse it represents leaves an abuser who's listening thinking the behavior is common, acceptable and even quotable if confronted.
I was here today in hopes of finding a final verse condemning it's apparent theme so I could get it out of my head. (it's catchy.) I'm very disappointed -- in the lyrics & song, not the site.
I like the site very much; i'll be back.

Add your reply
U

+ 1
Unregistered 2012-07-25 22:00:48

If the relationship is not working, it is better to break it off then keeping on being nice and pretending nothing is wrong.
It could also mean the guy is into or likes being physically or verbally abused by a woman so her cruelty is kindness in disguise b/c he is getting off on it or he was abused by his mom growing up and that is what is familiar. She is giving him what he wants or expects.

Add your reply

Write about your feelings and thoughts about Cruel To Be Kind

Know what this song is about? Does it mean anything special hidden between the lines to you? Share your meaning with community, make it interesting and valuable. Make sure you've read our simple .

U

or log in with

Min 50 words

Not bad

Good

Awesome!

View 10 more explanations

Add your explanation

Write an explanation

20 words

Good

Cool

Awesome!

Explanation guidelines:

Describe what artist is trying to say in a certain line, whether it's personal feelings, strong statement or something else.
Provide song facts, names, places and other worthy info that may give readers a perfect insight on the song's meaning.
Add links, pictures and videos to make your explanation more appealing. Provide quotes to support the facts you mention.

Before you get started, be sure to check out these explanations created by our users: good, very good, great.

Request explanation

Ask us or our community about the part of the song that interests you
We will try to respond as soon as possible

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z