Cruel To Be Kind

Album: Labour of Lust (1979)
Charted: 12 12
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  • Oh I can't take another heartache
    Though you say you're my friend, I'm at my wit's end
    You say your love is bonafide, 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)
    You 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)
    You 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)
    You gotta be cruel to be kind

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

    (Cruel to be kind), oh in the right measure
    (Cruel to be kind), yes it's a very very very good sign
    (Cruel to be kind), it means that I love you, baby
    (You've gotta be cruel)
    You gotta be cruel to be kind

    (Cruel to be kind), oh in the right measure
    (Cruel to be kind), yes it's a very very very good sign
    (Cruel to be kind), it means that I love you Writer/s: Ian Robert Gomm, Nicholas Orain Lowe
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Joey from St. John's, NlThis song popped into my head after I got the cold shoulder after pouring my heart out in an email. I too am disappointed by the lack of insight from this site digesting the lyrics. Cruel and kind are opposites, and I am currently studying dialectical behavioral theory so it's perfect timing.
  • Lowlander from BelgiumJapan also has 2 other covers of 'Cruel to be Kind' by Japanese group 'Childish Tones', an outfit making use of toy-type musical instruments
    2018 live version sung in Japanese, quite delightful
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZP8BoisCFE
    2019 released recording sung in English
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nantToHTbq4
  • Edrulz from New YorkThis says one line about what the song may possibly be about. An antagonistic lover. That doesn't explain the song at all. I cannot make sense of this song no matter how hard I try or how long I've tried yet I still love it. I guess nobody else can either.
  • Larry from Pittsburgh, PaAlways loved the very short little guitar solo near the end.
  • Michael from Illinois, IlDave Edmunds was the chauffeur in the video. Nick Lowe played bass on Dave's solo albums and was with him in Rockpile.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhFun song. Interesting to know the video aired on MTV's first day of broadcasting. I don't remember the video at all. However, about 1990, Carlene Carter had her own musical fame with several country hits. She was gorgeous, and I can't help thinking if they'd shot Nick Lowe's video with some close-ups of Carlene, it could have propelled this song higher that #12 on the charts. It was a more innocent time back then I guess.....
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