Let me run with you tonight
I'll take you on a moonlight ride
There's someone I used to see
But she don't give a damn for me

But let me get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And turn the radio loud
I'm too alone to be proud

And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me

People come, people go
Some grow young, some grow cold
I woke up in between
A memory and a dream

So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go

And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me

My old man was born to rock
He's still tryna beat the clock
Think of me what you will
I've got a little space to fill

So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go

And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me
You don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me


Lyrics submitted by oofus

You Don't Know How It Feels Lyrics as written by Thomas Earl Petty

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Gone Gator Music

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You Don't Know How It Feels song meanings
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57 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    I think some of you guys are way off base. This song isn't 'about smoking weed'. It definitely mentions that, but that's not what it's 'about'. I've never smoked in my life, but I have no problem relating to this song.

    The guy singing this has had a bad time and he wants to move on. The 'roll another joint' line is an example of how he wants to disconnect from whatever is stressing him out, but what he wants to do (disconnect) is way more important than how he wants to do it (smoke). You could say 'pour another pint' just as easily (though the rhyme would suffer).

    This song is about wanting to turn off the static in your life for a little bit and get some peace. The "you don't know how it feels" part is him feeling a little sorry for himself, I think. That's cool -- we all feel that way sometimes: that nobody understands us or what we're going through.

    The rest of the lyrics deal with a lack of control over life in general: "people come, people go / some grown young and some grow cold."

    And some of them, I think, are just there so that he has something to sing: "My old man was born to rock / he's still trying to beat the clock." -- I think it's just a bit of filler there, but it's entertaining filler and it's fun to sing, so what the hell.

    jackdiamondson March 24, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song makes me think of this driving down a country road with the window down smokin a cigarette at that point were the moon is out but the light is still in the west, but its not daytime, but its not really night, flying down this country road with this song playing, after a realaiotnship or some other traume, knowing for the first time after the accident that you know, you'll be alright after all. it's going to hurt and take some time, but you'll live.

    hurleychick42069on May 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Well .. i think its aout him gettng dumped and wantng t go out an smoke with oem friends to foet about his problams...and he tells them a story of is life

    Hippychipson May 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    sorry about the spelling errors ! u the jist anyway

    Hippychipson May 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Every person is the sum total of their life, and nobody else knows what it feels like to be them. You have no idea what it's like to be me, because you haven't experienced what has brought me to where I am. Let's travel together until we get to where we leave each other.

    Counterclockwerkon December 17, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    that is the strangest story that i have ever heard...what would make you think of that?

    stump522on May 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is an awesome chill song....like the first guy said just riding down the street smoking a cigarette....or maybe something else ;-)

    Ladamson August 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with Hippychips and Fanko. He's depressed maybe because a girl dumped him or something, so he wants to go out and get high to think about things.

    Great song

    Muzzyon March 09, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song totally agrees with me. People keep telling me who I am, what I want, and how to do things. They don't know how it feels to be me. The anti-depressants don't work. So then you use natural medicine, i.e. cannibis. Sad, but that's how it is for many people.

    AeroLed286on March 28, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yes i can totally relate to this song! oh and i agree with fanko311 its just that its alittle happier than the way he made it sound lol.

    petty rocks!

    pettyfreak...on April 02, 2003   Link

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