Song Lyric Sunday – Wicked Game

We have some devil prompts this week for Song Lyric Sunday, hosted by Jim Adams! He has given us Cruel, Evil, Horrible, Monster and Wicked. My choice is Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. I hope you enjoy it.

“Wicked Game” is a tale of obsessive love. Chris Isaak spoke to us about the late-night event which inspired the song: “This one I wrote really late at night and it was written in a short time, because I remember that a girl had called me and said, ‘I want to come over and talk to you,’ and ‘talk’ was a euphemism. And she said, ‘I want to come over and talk to you until you’re no longer able to stand up.’ And I said, ‘Okay, you’re coming over.’ And as soon as I hung up I thought, ‘Oh, my God. I know she’s gonna be trouble. She’s always been trouble. She’s a wildcat. And here I am, I’m going to get killed, but I’m doing this.’ And I wrote ‘Wicked Game’: ‘world’s on fire and no one can save me but you.’ It’s like you start thinking about it, and by the time she came over to the house, I had the song written. And I think she was probably upset because I was more excited by the song. (Laughing) I was like, ‘Yes, you’re gorgeous, baby. But listen to this song!'”
 
Isaak told us “Wicked Game” came to him effortlessly: “I think that sometimes you get easy ones that come very quick and you’re really glad – you go, ‘Wow, where’d this come from?’ It’s so fast to write. And then there’s other songs that you do and it’s like doing your homework. It’s like you really are working and biting the pencil and working on that third verse. Most of the time you do work. But sometimes you get lucky.”
 
The song got a big boost when an instrumental version was featured in the 1990 movie Wild At Heart, which was directed by David Lynch and starred Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage. Isaak spoke to interviewer, Mike Ragogna, about David Lynch: “I enjoy talking about David Lynch because he’s such a great guy. The question I get about him is, ‘How is David Lynch? Is he scary or spooky or something?’ I don’t think it’s ever guys who make films like David makes or who have that kind of weird bent in their artwork–those guys are probably the nicest guys in real life because they’ve expressed all of their weird angles. The guys you have to watch are the guys who go, ‘I’m a scout master, the proud father of two children, and I’m also a deacon in the church.’ Then you go, ‘Be careful.’ If he’s out in the back yard at night with a shovel, be careful because he’s burying something.”
 
Lee Chesnut, who was music director of an Atlanta radio station and a huge fan of David Lynch films, helped popularize this song when he added it to his playlist after watching Wild At Heart. The song gradually gained an audience and charted in the US 18 months after Isaak’s album Heart Shaped World was released.
 
The fashion photographer Herb Ritts directed the track’s racy video. It features model Helena Christensen seducing Isaak on a beach. In 1991, it won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video, Best Cinematography, and Best Video From a Film. It regularly features on “Sexiest Music Videos Ever” lists.
 
 Courtesy of Songfacts
Lyrics

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

No I don't want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)

What a wicked game you played 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 want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you

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

No I don't want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (this girl is only gonna break your heart)

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

Nobody loves no one

Written by Chris Isaak

  29 comments for “Song Lyric Sunday – Wicked Game

  1. September 3, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    The song is very haunting. Great choice!

    • Christine Bolton
      September 3, 2020 at 9:22 pm

      Thank you! I’m happy you liked it ☺️

  2. August 30, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    Love this song! Great choice!

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      Thanks Judi ☺️

  3. August 30, 2020 at 12:32 pm

    Haunting yet soothing. I know I am a little off center … maybe hypnotizing is a better description than soothing. I really love this song!!! Great pick for today.

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      Thanks Jilly! ☺️

  4. August 30, 2020 at 11:24 am

    This is mine and Frank’s song. We crashed a wedding on Honeymoon Island State Park one night in Dunedin, Florida. He had a State Park pass that entitled him to be in the park after sunset. It was a first full year of being together and we were in the parking lot where the wedding reception was being held. Frank put this song on from a CD and we danced in the moonlight to it! So glad you did it! I almost included it in my post! Love Love Love! 🙂 His best song by far of everything he did. I have his station on my Pandora and listen to him quite frequently.

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 7:10 pm

      What a lovely story Lisa! So romantic too. Thanks for sharing. The song is very special, I agree 🥰

      • August 30, 2020 at 7:17 pm

        It is special. I had Alexa play it the other day as we were sitting down to eat lunch and I got the look from him, a kiss on my hand as we both remember 15 years ago. Thanks again for sharing it today. 🥰

      • Christine Bolton
        August 30, 2020 at 9:10 pm

        Oh so sweet! Congratulations Lisa 🥰

      • August 31, 2020 at 9:52 am

        Thanks! 🙂

  5. August 30, 2020 at 10:48 am

    This sums up a few people I have known: ‘I want to come over and talk to you until you’re no longer able to stand up.’ great choice for today.

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 7:11 pm

      Lol, that’s funny ☺️

  6. August 30, 2020 at 9:07 am

    Chris Isaak has a distinctive voice and he sings this song in a haunting manner. Sometimes you get lucky.

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 9:14 am

      Yes Jim!! Thanks ☺️💕

  7. August 30, 2020 at 8:14 am

    One of my all time favorites

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 9:02 am

      Thanks Annette. Mine too! ☺️💕

  8. August 30, 2020 at 6:19 am

    Terrific choice, one I haven’t heard for a few years.

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 9:01 am

      Thanks Di. Yes, isn’t it great when you hear a great song after a long time? ☺️💕

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 7:14 pm

      Thanks Di! ☺️

  9. August 30, 2020 at 3:59 am

    Great choice I live this one so much perfect for the prompt and as ever you’ve given us all the background information 💜

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 9:00 am

      Thanks Willow. I remember it being quite unique when it came out. It is therefore timeless ☺️💕

      • August 30, 2020 at 10:12 am

        Lol using my phone as always and the predicted text often transforms love to live! Great song Wicked game

  10. August 29, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    I adored your wonderful background story to this glorious song …well done Christine…

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Thanks Ivor! I’m so happy you liked it ☺️💕

  11. August 29, 2020 at 10:38 pm

    Great pick Christine! 👍

    • Christine Bolton
      August 30, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Thanks Jen ☺️💕

      • August 30, 2020 at 11:43 am

        You’re welcome Christine! 😊💜

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