The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
It's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you
With you
(This world is only gonna break your heart)

What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you

And I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you

No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I don't wanna fall in love (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this world is only gonna break your heart)
With you (with you)
(This world is only gonna break your heart)

No, I (this world is only gonna break your heart)
(This world is only gonna break your heart)

Nobody loves no one


Lyrics submitted by Fistan, edited by chamacuti

Wicked Game Lyrics as written by Chris Isaak

Lyrics © Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Wicked Game song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    I've always found this song very haunting. There's something so searing about the opening moments-musically- and his voice is such a lovely combination of sensuality and vulnerability. Although there is definately a steamy quality to the song, I don't interpret it as describing an exclusively physical longing- I think it describes well the struggle to not make yourself vulnerable to a person or situation that logically you know, for whatever reason, will ultimately lead to hurt, no matter how alluring it seems at the time, while already having emotionally landed in a place where you can't really back out without accruing some sort of damage. It is a horrible, exhilarating place to be...you want to tell the person to go away, only to avoid the hurt, but you can't, and you already know-somehow- you will regret it in the end. Theres something interesting about the way the lyrics play with time frame- the chorus sounds very urgent, very "in the now"-in terms of his emotional state, although the rest of the lyrics seem to be reflecting back on something in the past, kind of adds to the overall theme of conflicting emotions, and the emotional tension they cause. The "nobody loves noone" or whatever to that effect he says at the end is just the saddest- in the end, even the most vivid, urgent love can end up feeling so hollow, so wrung dry of all it's mystery, compassion, and sexuality- and make you wonder if it's ultimately just about what feels gratifying at the moment, reguardless of long term damage. So raw and sad.

    csuzanneon March 31, 2009   Link

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