orjinali gloria jones ve ed cobb'a ait olan, soft cell'in coverladığı non-stop erotic cabaret albümünden (1981) 80'ler klasiği. bir çok farklı versiyonunu bulmak mümkündür. ep versiyonunda tainted love bittikten sonra şarkı kesilmeden melodi değişir ve ardından where did our love go girerdi.

sometimes i feel i've got to
run away, i've got to
get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me
the love we share
seems to go nowhere
and i've lost my light
for i toss and turn, i can't sleep at night

once i ran to you (i ran)
now i'll run from you
this tainted love you've given
i give you all a boy could give you
take my tears and that's not nearly all
tainted love
tainted love

now i know i've got to
run away, i've got to
get away, you don't really want any more from me
to make things right
you need someone to hold you tight
and you think love is to pray
but i'm sorry, i don't pray that way

once i ran to you (i ran)
now i'll run from you
this tainted love you've given
i give you all a boy could give you
take my tears and that's not nearly all
tainted love
tainted love

don't touch me, please
i cannot stand the way you tease
i love you though you hurt me so
now i'm gonna pack my things and go

tainted love
tainted love
tainted love
tainted love

touch me, baby, tainted love
touch me, baby, tainted love
tainted love
tainted love
tainted love
tainted love