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Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, I used to know
(Somebody) Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, I used to know
(Somebody) Now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know, that I used to know, I used to know somebody
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, I used to know
(Somebody) Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, I used to know
(Somebody) Now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know, that I used to know, I used to know somebody
Lyrics submitted by 60_miles_an_hour, edited by PoonKnows, Nemo123
Track duration: 04:05
"Somebody That I Used To Know" as written by Luiz/de Backer Bonfa
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Somebody who really cares about someone and their feelings and is trying to make it work. ("told myself that you were right for me") but just doesn't feel anything, and they know the other person does. They used to love them, or they thought they did at first. ("but that was love and its an ache I still remember")
second solo:
Its about someone feeling like they were being tricked, and that the other person was blaming them for everything that went wrong in the relationship. How they arent regretting breaking it off because they were done constantly feeling like they did something wrong. ("Cuz I dont wanna live that way") When this person finally stood up for themselves, the person didn't go after them, saying that they had changed.("you said that you could let it go, and I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know") Personal note, if someone doesn't think you are worth going after, then they aren't worth it. Also, if someone is costantly blaming you and making you apoligize for nothing, then you should stand up for yourself.
Chorus:
This is about trying to erase a relationship (even one of friendship) and acting like you didn't even know someone. Making sure that you never talk about it, or never hear about it from that person. It happens a lot in this generation, where people will get popular, and when their friends bring up something that happened in the past, they tell you to stop it, or shut up. They treat you like a stranger, and it makes you feel bad because it just like "Were our good times that forgetable, and just not even worth anything to you anymore?" or "Are you afraid that by being associated to me, you somehow demean yourself?" You just don't feel worth it. And yes, this has happened to me -_-
The break-up described is your typical, run of the mill, "it just doesn't work, you know it, i know it, etc" type of affair. The song in it's larger portion i think is more about the aftermath. It's somewhat suggested that he didn't end the relationship but not made clear, this line hints at it:
"But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over"
The "But" suggests that it wasn't exactly what he had in mind, it's only a hint though, the song is far from clear on the point. It's almost a suggestion that he had resigned himself to misery and accepted it for "love" as suggested in the first verse, this is why she ultimately left.
I think the point of the song from the second verse onwards is about him actually finding he still wants her and this is the issue. I think i disagree with a fair few people on Kimbra's part and what it means, i think it is more about the shitty little head games people play when they break up with someone when they actually want them to stick about. Look at the verse this way:
"Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way"
"Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know"
the first 2 lines are a reflection on the relationship "Now and then i think.." up until "...something that I'd done and i don't wanna live that way" which is fine in itself but after this, i think we get to the crux of the issue, i think "reading into every word you say" is actually part of the problem, it's a reference to those 'clever' little remarks people make when being 'friends' that are used to mess with someones head who is trying to move on. I'm sure a lot of people know what I'm referring too and i think that is what this is really about and this is ultimately why she had to cut him off, it wasn't being cut up about the break-up, it was about the head games and being repetitively dragged over the issues in the relationship over and over again by the guy who just can't move on.
Sorry for the text wall, this is just my interpretation and i feel better for having it out there, thanks.
I do not see evidence of the kind of love that could sustain over a long period of time. The components are not present. Sure, there is caring, emotion, attraction, the fulfillment of certain physical and emotional needs. I did not see that either party made any attempt to adapt to the needs of the other.
My wife would get mad and tell me what I meant by what I said at times. I would stop her right there and refuse to let her define what I said and in turn define me. "Oh, no you don't", I would say.
She appeared to be in herself and own world. She did not give him the emotional support he needed. He then tried to manipulate her to get what he needed by playing the blame game. There could have been many reasons he held on to the relationship. It could have been sexual need fulfillment, companionship, identification in social circles, heavy work schedule, laziness, or just habit. She may have been in the relationship for the exact same reasons, but she does not appear to see the end coming.
I don't think she loves him at all. Her statement to him, that she felt so happy she could die, is pure smoke. He does not get understand or does not want to get to understand. Being very happy because of the love you have for another never would cause you to want to die. That is not love. Maybe it is strong emotion, sexual attraction, a way to dissipate anxiety, or just a grabbing at straws to keep him around. I am not sure in this case, but it is not real love.
She is manipulating him also. Finally the emotional support and lack of real love in the relationship cannot be kept from surfacing and he initiates the break up. She is very cold about it, yet vindictive because her ego is hurt. For her the relationship is done, fine. I do not want any crap or hanging on, calling, etc. She does not care a lick for him, she has already moved on. She is still mad because he made her look bad to her friends etc. She pacifies him by saying, oh ya, we will still be friends. Then, she sticks it to him by cutting him off completely. She knows that he cares for her even though she never cared for him. Loving relationships are built slowly and end slowly as time absorbs the emotion left over. (if there is any)
Psychologists will tell a couple breaking up, to always give each other their phone number with the permission to call if needed. At different times during the period after the break up of the relationship certain situations can trigger special emotional feelings like regret or empathy. Most of the time it is enough to know you can call, although you generally never do. The feelings will subside over time.
His message is about his surprise at the realization that she actually did not care for him and was manipulating him as well. Through is body language when she starts to sing you can see his uneasiness and some acceptance of his role in the relationship. You can also see when she sings. She shows no emotion at all as she gives her position. He is relentless in exposing her revengeful reaction, and she backs off almost to a smile, to imply...were even! That is what I think.
she is happy in the relationship , ' when you said you were so happy you could die' she obviously really loved him
however he is not ' felt so lonley in her company and the sadness he became accostomed to ' he didnt love her back , his relief when the relationship ended and his happy when it ended , however wanted her to still be there in his life maybe to keep her on the back burner or because he was so used to having her in his . she has cut him off , she obviously very hurt, she comes in and said how he screw her over having her beleive its always something she did. like it was her fault he wasnt happy in the relationship. she had to cut him off because she didnt want to hang onto ever word he said' maybe he was stringher her along she wanted to move on without the hope they would get back totgether. his obviously mad shes moving on and his ego wants her to still be hung up on him. his now realsing what his lost . his saying i dont even need your love, so he doesnt even want her and his trying to still keep his ego by saying i dont even need your love trying to hold on to his power but angry she has cut him off . its hurt his ego and realises he misses her love whch she has cut off . he feels a loss he wanted her to still be around as a friend pinning for him she doesnt wanna live that way though . shes trying to forget about him . she doesnt understand why his so hung up on her she thought he would let her go since he was happy the relationship ended.
"[...The definition , therefore, that has been given in love, and each one of all the poets, expressed in their own words, are as follows: “ Love is the art of leaving”.
To leave, but how to leave ! The thing wants big attention. Because this definition is the torpedo, who plays into its hands a small child. Plays it in its hands and does not know what it is ... Love is the art of leaving in such a way that the massacre you would feel to be much more than the massacre that feels the companion who you leave. If he hurts three, you have to hurt nine times more. Here I want you crab, they say, to walk on coals. Did you ever dance the dance of anastenarides (fire walkers) without being anastenaris ( fire walker)...]" ???
I felt like "But you didn't have to cut me off, Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing, And I don't even need your love, But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough, No you didn't have to stoop so low... Now you're just somebody that I used to know".
I recently found out that he never called because I kept looking at my phone during dinner. I do not recall this, but I do have a habit of tearing up my phone covers out of nervously playing with them. He thought I was bored, my curiosity was over, and that I would call if I wanted him in my life.
My mother had told me that he was a very flakey person, and to be prepared to be disappointed because he had a tendency to do what he wanted and treat friends like, ''hey you're in my life great, you aren't that's fine too''. So, I assumed he didn't call because he was done with me, and I didn't know why. He "had me believing it was always something that I'd done", for 8 years I felt like I had done something wrong, or that his other now deceased daughter was more important.
And he thought I didn't call because I was done with him. He rejected himself for me, even though I wasn't rejecting him.
Eight years of bullshit, feeling rejected, feeling like I had done something wrong. I was just somebody that he used to know. But I'm glad he's finally back in my life.
I really like it because it touches a side of breakups that's not always shown, the part after you move on and that person that maybe once meant the world to you, becomes nothing now. It's a sad reality about relationships, that time can turn something meaningful to something meaningless.