There are times when a woman has to say
what&9s on her mind
Even though she knows how much it&9s gonna hurt
Before I say another word
Let me tell you: I love you
Let me hold you close and say these words as gently as I can
There&9s been another man that I&9ve needed and I&9ve loved
But that doesn&9t mean I love you less
And he knows he can&9t posses me
And he knows he never will
There&9s just this empty place inside of me that only he can fill
Torn between two lovers
Feeling like a fool
Loving both of you is breaking all the rules
You mustn&9t think you&9ve failed me
Just because there&9s someone else
You were the first real love I ever had
And all the things I ever said
I swear they still are true
For no one else can have the part of me I gave to you
Couldn&9t really blame you
If you turned and walked away
But with everything I feel inside
I&9m asking you to stay
美國流行音樂界有一個很有名的民謠三重唱Peter, Paul and Mary。他們自己寫過很多名曲,也唱別人的歌,學彈民謠吉他的人,一定都唱過他們的歌。
Torn between two lovers就是其中的團員Peter和友人合寫的歌,也是美國流行音樂史上描述婚外情的作品中,相當有名的一首。這首歌的原始靈感,是來自文學名著「齊瓦哥醫生」中男主角的遭遇,只是決定由女歌手來詮釋之後,歌詞作了更動。原本這首歌打算交由當時名氣響亮的Olivia Newton John 或 Anne Murray來演唱,但後來決定把機會讓給沒沒無名的Mary MacGregor。
Mary本人當初怕這首歌的內容,引來一些好事者的流言而考慮拒唱,但經不起這首歌可能走紅的誘惑,決心灌錄這首歌。這首歌後來果然不負眾望,在推出十一週之後,登上全美排行冠軍。而Mary的已婚身分,讓人以為歌中的女主角就是影射她本人,使她從此無法像以往一樣過著安定平凡的生活,最後終於和原本感情不錯的丈夫協議分居,結束了五年的婚姻。而她以後再也沒有其他的暢銷曲出現,從此在歌壇銷聲匿跡。