Better The Devil You Know by Kylie Minogue Lyrics Meaning – The Timeless Struggle of Letting Go or Holding On
Lyrics
Better the devil you know (whoa oh oh)
Better the devil you know
Better the devil you know
(Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Say you won’t leave me no more
I’ll take you back again
No more excuses, no no
‘Cause I’ve heard them all before
A hundred times or more
I’ll forgive and forget
If you say you’ll never go
‘Cause it’s true what they say
It’s better the devil you know
(Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Our love wasn’t perfect I know
I think I know the score
If you say you love me, oh boy
I can’t ask for more
I’ll come if you should call
I’ll forgive and forget
If you say you’ll never go
‘Cause it’s true what they say
It’s better the devil you know
I’ll be here every day
Waiting for your love to show
Yes, it’s true what they say
It’s better the devil you know
(Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
I’ll take you back
I’ll take you back again
I’ll take you back
I’ll take you back again
Say you won’t leave me no more
I’ll take you back again
No more excuses, no no
‘Cause I’ve heard them all before
A hundred times or more
I’ll forgive and forget
If you say you’ll never go
‘Cause it’s true what they say
It’s better the devil you know
I’ll be here every day
Waiting for your love to show
Yes, it’s true what they say
It’s better the devil you know
I’ll forgive and forget
If you say you’ll never go
‘Cause it’s true what they say
Kylie Minogue, the pop icon known for her seductive voice and infectious dance tracks, tapped into a universal sentiment of conflicted emotion with her 1990 hit ‘Better the Devil You Know.’ The song, with its rhythmic beats and catchy chorus, packs more than just a punch for the dance floor—it encapsulates a deep message about love, fear, and the dilemma of sticking with the familiar.
A deeper dive into the lyrics reveals the complex layers of human relationships and the age-old question of whether it’s wiser to stay with what or who we know, despite its flaws or to face the unknown. Dissecting the song’s lyrical content is an exploration of love’s often tumultuous nature and our own capacity for forgiveness and change.
The Hook That Haunts: A Chorus Charged with Meaning
At the core of Kylie’s anthem lies the chant-like chorus, reverberating the wisdom ‘Better the devil you know.’ It’s a phrase that’s become synonymous with the human tendency to opt for the comfort of familiarity. The hook digs into the psyche, posing as a constant reminder of the battles between what we desire and what we’re used to.
Minogue’s repetition of the chorus serves as both a warning and an affirmation. It creates an earworm that leaves listeners pondering their own personal devils—those guaranteed pains we tolerate because they are, at the very least, pains we understand.
Forgiveness Freestyle: The Dance of Moving On
In relationships marked by strife or wrongdoing, the notion of forgiveness is a dance all its own. Minogue’s lyrics speak to the ‘forgive and forget’ mindset, but they do so with caution. Each verse operates under the covenant of a promise—a conditional forgiveness that hinges on the assurance of
Her lyrics illustrate this struggle vividly, showing not just a willingness to accept back a wayward partner but the internal negotiation that takes place when one is deciding to trust again. It’s a cyclical rhythm of conflict and resolution that many can resonate with.
The Tug-of-War of Assurance in Love
‘Say you won’t leave me no more,’ she pleads, ‘I’ll take you back again.’ In these lines, Kylie encapsulates the hunger for stability in love, the yearning for a steadfast assurance from an unreliable lover. It’s evident in her voice—a mix of demand and desperation—that tells a story deeper than the words themselves.
The power play of needing reassurance yet being ready to bend for love points out the complex dynamics at the heart of many romantic entanglements. Here, Minogue serves as the voice of anyone who has wavered between standing their ground and surrendering to the promise of love’s return.
The Hidden Meaning Behind The Pop Groove
The infectious beat that drives ‘Better the Devil You Know’ belies its serious contemplation of love’s less glamorous side—a hidden meaning that delves into the discomfort and fear lurking beneath the surface of the decision to stay or go. Kylie transforms this turmoil into a vibrant disco-pop tapestry, allowing listeners to confront their fears while losing themselves in dance.
By marrying the fraught emotions with an upbeat tempo, Minogue creates a juxtaposition that makes the song’s message all the more poignant. It’s a clever artistic choice, enveloping the hard truths of love within the escapism of pop music, leaving us to wonder if we, too, hold onto certainties in our lives that might be limiting our happiness.
Memorable Lines that Echo the Sentiment of an Era
‘No more excuses, no, no / ‘Cause I’ve heard them all before / A hundred times or more,’ Kylie sings. These lines resonate as a call to accountability—an embodiment of the frustration of hearing the same old song and dance from a partner. The repetition underscores the weariness that comes with constant disappointment.
And yet, even as she voices these grievances, there’s a lingering sense of hope and vulnerability that still characterizes much of the emotional discourse of that era. It captures both the defiance and submission present in many ’90s pop songs, cementing the track as one that not only made people move but made them feel.
