I waited 'til I saw the sun
I don't know why I didn't come
I left you by the house of fun
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come

When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling in the sand
Catching teardrops in my hand

My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever

Out across the endless sea
I would die in ecstasy
But I'll be a bag of bones
Driving down the road alone

My heart is drenched in wine
But you'll be on my mind
Forever

Something has to make you run
I don't know why I didn't come
I feel as empty as a drum
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come



Lyrics submitted by Kate182

Track duration: 03:06

"Don't Know Why" as written by Eric Patrick Clapton, Bonnie Lynn Bramlett

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Don't Know Why song meanings
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157 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:We all have the same feelings. You really like this person. That scares you. You'll get nervous when you with him/her. When he/she asks you to some place, somehow you didn't show up. It could be a good opportunity for you to have a moment with him/her. But you don't know why you didn't come.
    Flag mrcallenyon January 11, 2013   Link
  • -1
    Lyric Correction:I memorize as this song was written by Jesse Harris, not these Jones' written above.
    Flagged Pirkaon August 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Hi Guys. Just fyi, this song was originally written by a man named Jesse Harris and was given to Norah.

    Here is what the song has always jumped out at me as relating to:

    Firstly, "don't know why i didn't come" could quite easily be about literally not climaxing during sex.
    "my heart is drenched in wine" would certainly make sense given alcohol's adverse effect on male performance.

    "feel as empty as a drum" is an effective metaphor too since it captures the rhythmic beat of intercourse but for the singer, he is empty emotionally and physically whilst doing it.

    The middle verse, "out across the endless sea, I would die in ecstasy" helps interpret the first verse's reference to the dryness of sand. . . There is a playing off of wet and dry imagery throughout which also feeds into this idea.

    Lines like "I'll be a bag of bones", just like the "drum" portray to me a dissociation of the singer from his /her body which is contributing to the problem.

    Personally, I like the combination of humour and melancholy which characterizes the singer's interpretation of this event. . . "something had to make you run. . . "

    With an interpretation that is more literal like this one, Lines such as "left you by the house of fun" become easier to understand as well.

    I agree the imagery in this song is not 100% clear but I have always taken the hook and chorus to mean literally what they say and I think the reading can stand up for itself.

    Have a listen again and see if you feel differently about the song. It is a marvellous piece of work. Jessie Harris! whoop! :)

    The 2nd
    Flagged Simon587on March 07, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Folks, it's a friggen song. Song's ALWAYS have multiple meanings. If you ever detect MULTIPLE meanings, the artists intended ALL OF THEM simultaneously. Welcome to the higher paradigm of communication.
    Flag paulmichaelsparkson December 11, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:No doubt. She missed her chance to go with him.

    Something has to make you run...

    I swear, this is one of those songs that hit a nerve, like I was really there. What have I done? Why didn't I go? I want to go! What am I doing here? Oh, what have I done!

    Seriously, she really tells the story...

    (Actually I just came to this site because another site had it "Something has to make you ~wrong~." I knew that was ~.)
    Flag jotokaion July 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I waited 'til I saw the sun
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I left you by the house of fun
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I don't know why I didn't come - (She waited till dawn, contemplating whether she should meet him at the "house o fun" ie their hideout/hangout..blah blah but she didnt)

    When I saw the break of day
    I wished that I could fly away
    Instead of kneeling in the sand
    Catching teardrops in my hand (she didnt go to meet him, explain everything, she regrets it..she's crying)


    My heart is drenched in wine
    But you'll be on my mind
    Forever - (I m confused as hell, you've taken my sanity from me..but i still love you)


    I would cross the endless sea
    I would die in ecstasy
    But I'll be a bag of bones
    Driving down the road alone [She thought if she left him...she would enjoy the "endless sea" (explore teh world) be independent free, 18 till i die concept - "die in ecstasy")


    Something has to make you run (She didnt come 'cause she knew..there was someone else at another "house of fun" and that he would always run towards her)
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I feel as empty as a drum (My life's hollow, empty)
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I don't know why I didn't come
    Flag Molly30on May 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:She is struggling with her decision not to give in to love. She was at the door to experience love and all of its glory but was afraid of the possibilities and she abandoned it. She never took the chance. Hey, it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all...right? WRONG! (Just kidding, I think).

    Flag khymysteryon May 12, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:This song is about not having an orgasm. "I left you at the house of fun": he came, she didn't.

    When I saw the break of day
    I wished that I could fly away
    Instead of kneeling in the sand
    Catching teardrops in my hand

    She wanted to orgasm (fly away), but now she's masturbating (kneeling in the sand, catching teardrops in my hand).
    Flagged meshellleon February 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was about to drop that bit about the original artist being a man, but magicindian beat me to it. That said, couldn't the song still be about his own failure to have an orgasm?
    Flagged CodyPon July 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So if it IS about an orgasm..... then WOW. It reminds me of Lucinda WIlliams song, "Come On". A real F-U to someone.

    I am soooooo not into computer "friction fiction". I am into the real deal. What man doesn't want a good looking woman who is HOT for him? If the man I love and I were face to face, I can guarantee HE WOULD HAVE COME. He would not have had a problem, whatsoever. And I think he is fully aware of that.

    So I love sex... So I would love to have it with him.... So what is he going to do about it? I am not going to show him how and what I am going to do to him via the computer. He can guess and wonder and dream and he will never know the sweet truth until he has the balls to make it happen.

    Flagged SoleMateon July 04, 2009   Link

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