Album: Sleeping With The Past (1989)

Charted: 1 18

License This Song 

• It's a human sign
  When things go wrong
  When the scent of her lingers
  And temptation's strong
  Into the boundary
  Of each married man
  Sweet deceit comes callin'
  And negativity lands
  
  Cold, cold heart
  Hardened by you
  Some things lookin' better, baby
  Just passin' through
  
  And it's no sacrifice
  Just a simple word
  It's two hearts living
  In two separate worlds
  But it's no sacrifice
  No sacrifice
  It's no sacrifice at all
  
  Mutual misunderstandin'
  After the fact
  Sensitivity builds a prison
  In the final act
  We lose direction
  No stone unturned
  No tears to damn you
  When jealousy burns
  
  Cold, cold heart
  Hardened by you
  Some things lookin' better, baby
  Just passin' through
  
  And it's no sacrifice
  Just a simple word
  It's two hearts living
  In two separate worlds
  But it's no sacrifice
  No sacrifice
  It's no sacrifice at all
  
  Cold, cold heart
  Hardened by you
  Some things lookin' better, baby
  Just passin' through
  
  And it's no sacrifice
  Just a simple word
  It's two hearts living
  In two separate worlds
  But it's no sacrifice
  No sacrifice
  It's no sacrifice at all
  
  No sacrifice at all
  No sacrifice at all
  No sacrifice at all
  No sacrifice at all
  It's no sacrifice- Writer/s: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 22

• Jack C. from OregonThe context of the word "sacrifice" is still confusing to me, and obviously others. I think the lyrics are too vague for anyone to really pin it down. Bernie Taupin needs to give more details, though some of his lyrics have been intentionally obscure in other tracks.
• Gary Blumenthal from West Chestef, PaGod's Janiters have promoted to God's Public Relations Executives!
• Real Talk from UsaThis song is about the temptation every man (or woman) encounters in a relationship. "It's a human sign"...meaning attraction is a simple, animalistic thing we all feel, whether we're the most loyal partner or not. It's human nature. "When the scent of her lingers, and temptation's strong"...Anyone in a relationship has gone out with their friends and after a few drinks, there's one that catches our eye. Human sign. Human nature, and couple that with our strongest, most nostalgic sense, smell, it makes us want to do things we know we shouldn't, but the animal in us wants to. "Just passing through"...meaning we don't hold these feelings to heart. It's fleeting bliss. Most of the second verse is about the regret that these actions bring. This is the most human love song ever.
• Niloo from SmithsonActually, the song and also are about the man infidelity. As it portrays in the video, she finds out about his adultery, they argue, she can’t forgive him and finally ahe boots him without looking back. He feels the pain now that he is lonely and sends her love letters .. but she never returns.
• Mick from UsPart 3:
  
  Admittedly, the video presents a somewhat less direct take on this reading since, initially at least, the Chris Isaak character seems bent on keeping/forgiving her, while she just wants out—a bit at odds with the “hit the bricks, babe” account, above. Also, the Chris Isaak character seems tortured by the break-up and his pain feels a bit contrary to his claim of “no sacrifice, at all.” One explanation: The difficulty of portraying a man’s “heart gone cold” in a story-based, 80s video. Likely, they could have managed it but, almost certainly, the record company would have considered it unsavory, i.e., he discovers her adultery, they fight, then he boots her without looking back. Not much standard, lonelyhearts video fare, there!
• Mick from UsPart 2:
  
  It's a human sign, when things go wrong (Things have gone wrong. It's human nature.)
  When the scent of her lingers, and temptation's strong (He is tempted to forgive her.)
  Into the boundary of each married man (At some point, every marriage faces trust issues.)
  Sweet deceit comes calling and negativity lands (She has been unfaithful.)
  
  Cold, cold heart hardened by you (His heart is cold.)
  Some things look better, baby, passing through (He knows that, likely, she regrets it; that it was just a fling.)
  
  And it's no sacrifice, just a simple word. It's two hearts living in two separate worlds (But he's done.)
  But it's no sacrifice, no sacrifice. It's no sacrifice, at all (Few men can accept their wife's infidelity. For him, the marriage is over.)
  
  Mutual misunderstanding after the fact (They fight.)
  Sensitivity builds a prison in the final act (They isolate themselves from each other.)
  We lose direction, no stone unturned (They can't make it work.)
  No tears to damn you when jealousy burns (He doesn't cry, despite his bitterness.)
• Mick from UsPart 1:
  Bernie Taupin described his lyrics. “It’s about a marriage falling apart and trying to live a lie when you actually can't,” he explained. “People call it the divorce song.” If we take him at his word, then the verses and chorus seem to resolve, as follows (taken, partly, from @morten1015, songmeanings.com):
• Pm from UkEltons best….the arrangement is beautiful.
• Life from NigeriaHe sings melodiously. God bless
• Dd from From AboveIf the official music video embeds the meaning deeper, then the love of the father holding his child in the end makes love worth it. True love sacrifices, but knows no sacrifice in the scales of economy. If you love someone, then temptation, separation, forgiveness, are no sacrifice at all.
• G B from New YorkBeautiful song and it's true. Into every relationship some rain must fall. It is human nature. When problems cannot be solved between us, we take our feelings to other people and look for answers through them. It's no sacrifice to just give up. Love is work but in the end we must see clearly and do what is best.
• Boyd from TexasSACRIFICE: appears to be wife doesnt want marriage to struggling artist in outskirts but wants life of luxury in big city...
• Revived Man from 55014I cheated on my wife three years ago. My heart ached for her seeing the damage I caused. When she continued to love my family and kids from my first marriage I turned back from this terrible path. Today we are together and I am blessed to be given a second chance. She is better than I ever deserved.
• Chi Girl from NigeriaSweet song.
• Rick from Planet MelmackThe most beautiful song Elton John ever recorded. Shows all his talent and thoughtfulness. Total perfection. "Some things look better, baby, just passing through" says it all. Remaining faithful is no sacrifice at all. The music arrangement is haunting.
• Aj from Newport BeachWonderful song, wonderful message. Fidelity in love is no sacrifice at all. It isn't as easy when the relationship is in trouble, however, and one or the other party looks for a quick fix outside of the relationship. Fidelity at least gives you a chance to work it out. Infidelity is a sign that one or the other has checked out of the relationship emotionally on some level. I'm not being judgmental, just stating the obvious.
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxHe sounded so different than usual on this song. I didn't realize at first that it was him.
• Ny from Canberra, AustraliaSacrifice, yeah i think its about temptation and the reality of adult love. peerhaps abotu you feelign the love for someone but its goning cold you ar enot connecting and what you yearn for is being offered to you by another parhaps? very emotional lyrics.
• Claude from Kingston, MaSinead O'Connor does an amazingly haunting cover of this song on "Two Rooms."
• Adam from Boyce, VaVery beautiful ballad...Love the arrangement
• Lisa from Long Island, NyOne of his best songs. I cannot believe this was his first solo UK#1 hit. What a shocker.
• Dylan from Port Orange, FlOne of Elton's classics.

More Songfacts:

Slow HandThe Pointer Sisters

"Slow Hand" was a #1 Country hit for Conway Twitty in 1982, a year after The Pointer Sisters recorded it.

The OneMemphis Bleek

Rapper Memphis Bleek's 2005 album track "The One" is notable for featuring a then-unknown Rihanna on the hook. It was the Barbadian singer's first-ever major-label appearance.

Here Comes Your ManPixies

"Here Comes Your Man" is the closest the Pixies came to a hit in America. It was rumored to be about a drug dealer, but Black Francis says it's just a story about some hobos who travel by train and die in an earthquake.

VoodooGodsmack

The line, "I feel the snakebite enter my veins," led many to believe the Godsmack song "Voodoo" is about drugs, but it's really about Wiccan ritual, inspired in part by the Wes Craven movie The Serpent and the Rainbow.

Strawberry Letter 23The Brothers Johnson

"Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson was written by Shuggie Otis, whose girlfriend would send him letters written on strawberry-scented paper.

VogueMadonna

Every film star mentioned in Madonna's "Vogue" has since died. The last was Lauren Bacall, who passed away in 2014.

Editor's Picks

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.