Album: Actually (1987)

Charted: 1 9

License This Song 

• (Twenty seconds and counting)
  (T-minus fifteen seconds, guidance is internal)
  
  When I look back upon my life
  It's always with a sense of shame
  I've always been the one to blame
  For everything I long to do
  No matter when or where or who
  Has one thing in common, too
  
  It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
  It's a sin
  Everything I've ever done
  Everything I ever do
  Every place I've ever been
  Everywhere I'm going to
  It's a sin
  
  At school, they taught me how to be
  So pure in thought and word and deed
  They didn't quite succeed
  For everything I long to do
  No matter when or where or who
  Has one thing in common, too
  
  It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
  It's a sin
  Everything I've ever done
  Everything I ever do
  Every place I've ever been
  Everywhere I'm going to
  It's a sin
  
  Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it
  Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it
  Whatever you taught me, I didn't believe it
  Father, you fought me, 'cause I didn't care
  And I still don't understand
  
  So I look back upon my life
  Forever with a sense of shame
  I've always been the one to blame
  For everything I long to do
  No matter when or where or who
  Has one thing in common, too
  
  It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
  It's a sin
  Everything I've ever done
  Everything I ever do
  Every place I've ever been
  Everywhere I'm going to, it's a sin
  
  It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
  It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin
  
  (Confiteor Deo omnipotenti vobis fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione)
  (Verbo, opere et omissione, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa)
  
  (Zero) Writer/s: Christopher Sean Lowe, Neil Francis Tennant
  Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Henry from New YorkIs that Geena Davis making a cameo?
• Steve from Tenby, Uk, EnglandThe video for the single was directed by the late, classic filmmaker and director Derek Jarman. Jarman was also employed to create movies for the Pet Shop Boys' first tour in the late 1980s.
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesTony - It's quite possible that Cat Stevens didn't think of suing the Pet Shop Boys for one simple reason - namely, the fact that "It's A Sin" does not sound even remotely like "Wild World". Given the fact that Maxi Priest brought out his cover of "Wild World" soon after "It's A Sin" was released, that would have drawn comment at the time if there were any similarities between the two songs
• Tony from Devon, EnglandIt's a wonder that Cat Stevens didn't sue the Pet Shop Boys for pinching half the melody for this from his 'Wild World'. It's a lot closer than 'My Sweet Lord' is to 'He's So Fine'.
• Sebastian from Providence, Ri(Confiteor Deo omnipotenti vobis fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione,
  verbo, opere et omissione, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa)
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesNeil Tennant is not gay, he's bisexual. There is a slight difference, but he does lean towards "gay" more than "straight", so to speak...
• Jean from London, EnglandNov 05 - Paul Anka has covered this song in his 'Lounge Lizard' style......considering the theme of the song, it's totally incongruous, not to mention utterly horrible.
  
  But not as vile as the redition of REM's 'Everybody Hurts'.....
• Christoph from Boston, MaThe "sin" in question is homosexuality. Neil Tennant is gay and sings about it in other PSB songs like "Metamorphosis".

More Songfacts:

Jump AroundHouse of Pain

The horn flourish at the beginning of "Jump Around" comes from Bob and Earl's "Harlem Shuffle"; the squeal throughout the song might be a Prince sample.

CruiseFlorida Georgia Line

The first use of the term "bro-country" in print was used to describe "Cruise," the breezy hit from Florida Georgia Line that checks the boxes of girls, trucks and back roads.

ImagineJohn Lennon

Yoko Ono has always denied requests to cover "Imagine" with the line "no religion, too" omitted or changed.

Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)Lou Bega

The party tune "Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)" was the theme song for the 2000 Democratic Convention (the party of Bill Clinton), until someone noticed the line, "A little bit of Monica in my life."

Two TribesFrankie Goes to Hollywood

Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" features British actor Patrick Allen reading extracts from a government civil defense leaflet.

Take Me HomePhil Collins

Phil Collins' "Take Me Home" is about a patient in a mental institution and was inspired by the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.