This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
She just walked away
Why didn't she tell me?
And where do I go tonight?
This isn't happening to me
This can't be happening to me
She didn't say a word
Just walked away
You were the first to say
That we were not okay
You were the first to lie
When we were not alright
This was my first love
She was the first to go
And when she left me for you
I was the last to know
Why didn't she tell me
Where to go tonight?
She didn't say a word
She just walked away
You were the first to say
That we were not okay
You were the first to lie
When we were not alright
This was my first love
She was the first to go
And when she left me for you
I was the last to know
I'll be the first to say
That now I'm okay
And for the first time
I've opened up my eyes
This was my worst love
You'll be the first to go
And when she leaves you for dead
You'll be the last to know
I'll be the first to say
That now I'm okay
And for the first time
I've opened up my eyes
This was my worst love
You'll be the first to go
And when she leaves you for dead
You'll be the last to know
Why didn't she tell me?
And where do I go tonight?
This isn't happening to me
This can't be happening to me
She didn't say a word
Just walked away
You were the first to say
That we were not okay
You were the first to lie
When we were not alright
This was my first love
She was the first to go
And when she left me for you
I was the last to know
Why didn't she tell me
Where to go tonight?
She didn't say a word
She just walked away
You were the first to say
That we were not okay
You were the first to lie
When we were not alright
This was my first love
She was the first to go
And when she left me for you
I was the last to know
I'll be the first to say
That now I'm okay
And for the first time
I've opened up my eyes
This was my worst love
You'll be the first to go
And when she leaves you for dead
You'll be the last to know
I'll be the first to say
That now I'm okay
And for the first time
I've opened up my eyes
This was my worst love
You'll be the first to go
And when she leaves you for dead
You'll be the last to know
Lyrics submitted by vane111391
Last To Know Lyrics as written by Barry Stock Adam Gontier
Lyrics © HYVETOWN MUSIC INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Sarge4826 kind of hinted at it, but let me elaborate...
She just walked away Why didn't she tell me And where do I go tonight This isn't happening to me This can't be happening to me She didn't say a word Just walked away
--- In this part, and subsequently in the rest of the verses, he talks about "she" as if he's not taling "to" her, rather "about" her. He's telling a story "to" a person, "about" her, and the way that she treated him.
You were the first to say, that we were not okay You were the first to lie, when we were not alright This was my first love, She was the first to go, and when she left me for you, I was the Last to Know.
--- I think this is written to someone close to Adam. Obviously, it was someone to whom he turned to when times got rough. By the last two lines there, that person ended up being the one that she also turned to
Why didn't she tell me Where to go tonight She didn't say a word She just walked away
-- This is dealing with the agony of not knowing. It's a tough position to be in when someone comes to you and tells you that a relationship that you think is going well is over, and leaves you nowhere to go.
You were the first to say, that we were not okay You were the first to lie, when we were not alright This was my first love, She was the first to go, and when she left me for you, I was the Last to Know.
-- We've already discussed this part.
I'll be the first to say That now I'm okay and for the first time, I've opened up my eyes!
-- He's saying that he's over it. For whatever reason, unknown to the listener, he's over her, and over the situation. He's realized that there's better things out there that he can live his life for.
This was my worst love, You'll be the first to go, and when she leaves you for dead, You'll be the last to know
-- He's saying that she was the first person he fell in love with. I'm not exactly about the second line, but I'm guessing that in her new live where it's her and this other guy, this other guy is going to be the one that gets left. The last two lines are telling the guy what she has done to him (Adam) she will also do to this new guy. In practice, if a relationship begins on an affair, it will also end on an affair. So, Adam is saying that because he was the last to know about the guy that replaced him in the relationship, the new guy will also find himself in the same situation.
Personally, I hope Adam is correct, and my soon to be ex-wife's boyfriend knows a little bit about how I feel. Five years is a long time.
Of course, music is the best media out there for sending a message that can be interpreted in different manners. This is only how I take it, and I'm not saying anyone else is wrong by any means.
By far one of the most innovative songs I've heard in a long time. I can't remember the last time a guy wrote a song to the guy that replaced him in a relationship. Normally they are about the girl, or the girl being a whore. Kudos to 3DG for that one.