This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
How many times do I have to try to tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why
Why
I may be mad
I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
And I've heard it said too many times
That you'd be better off
Besides
Why can't you see this boat is sinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out turning inside out
Tell me
Why
Tell me
Why
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that's seldom spread
These are the tears
The tears we shed
This is the fear
This is the dread
These are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
'Cause I don't think you know how I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
You don't know what I feel
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why
Why
I may be mad
I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
And I've heard it said too many times
That you'd be better off
Besides
Why can't you see this boat is sinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out turning inside out
Tell me
Why
Tell me
Why
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that's seldom spread
These are the tears
The tears we shed
This is the fear
This is the dread
These are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel?
'Cause I don't think you know how I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
I don't think you know what I feel
You don't know what I feel
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Why Lyrics as written by Annie Lennox
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song has very special meaning to me it covers a large section of human emotion and thought -----from-- this is the book i never read ---through-- and this is what they represent---is a section of the song wich should be carfuly thought through
DiAnn
@meta4forasigh was the baby a girl and you named her Ann which you named Naomi\'s middle name hey that was sweet shame i walked away with my eyes closed jx
@meta4forasigh Hi Annie we are back at the start after some years just listened to 'Sous Le Vent' for the last time and i thought i would send this message for the last time. I have understood much about the past especially your emotions and how you have lived with the thought of not being able to share the 'truth' with me even now is the reason why its impossible for us to see each other. I will always have doubts as to your true emotions while you and i cannot say sorry to each other verbally and seeing your daughter (which you set up) and organising the reaction she made to me shows only anger and contempt and obviously totally putting the blame on myself as to why you have lived your life and so i now understand there is no possibility of you finally sharing the truth with me ever all i can see is deception, lies and control which you have lived most of your life with to me that is the truth which i finally understand.
@meta4forasigh Annie you could not bring yourself to tell me then and you still cant now we never had a chance
@meta4forasigh oh oh oh Annie why has it taken 52 years to really understand the truth. you could not respond to me when you realised what i was told and what i believed apart from tears of despair i truly didn't know how you were feeling or fearing oh such deception when i was told about your home life although i know you were sad but not the reason in why or how our baby was lost who could blame you for how you felt about me not realising the truth as i already saw with my own eyes how SHE physically treated you at Brighton Station WHY could i not see what really happened and what actually followed and not understanding what SHE was capable of knowing the violence SHE had committed against a dustman years later and also things that happened with my father and uncle (her brother) even her own mother. It was so easy to look at other reasons why i believed what i did shame it has taken so long but i really do know now why you have not been able to see or talk to me as yourself Annie is it at all possible you are able to forgive me of course i understand if you can't it has been so long x
Here is my intepretation:
The song is about someone who cheated on someone else ("How many times do I have to try to tell you That I'm sorry for the things I've done "/"I may be viciously unkind").
They feel really bad and they aren't truly a bad person but they just got screwed up. They feel that the other person may be too good for them ("And I've heard it said too many times That you'd be better off ") so they got scared.
She/He tries to apologize but the other person doesn't want to forgive right away. Instead they just say thinks to hurt the other person ("But when I start to try to tell you That's when you have to tell me Hey, this kind of trouble's only just begun"/"Some things are better left unsaid But they still turn me inside out ").
The song in the point of view of the adulterer to show that they are human and have feelings even though they hurt the other.
Annie Lennox said "This song expresses some of the frustrations in certain situations in my life"
This song represents to me my relationship with my mother, as fucked up as that seems.
@lilybart almost 20 years later in response to your comment, but I completely understand and feel the exact sentiment about my relationship with my mother. I just sent it to her in fact. We haven’t spoken in a few months after a fight.
Of course when an artist conceives an idea, lyrics, and finally messes with melody..it means something to them, but also can mean whatever we want it to for ourselves...that is the beauty in art! For me it is my intense, ongoing emotional relationship with someone that, for years ,either needs fruition or closure..but we are too afraid to move in either direction.
.......This is the book I never read These are the words I never said This is the path I'll never tread These are the dreams I'll dream instead This is the joy that's seldom spread These are the tears... The tears we shed This is the fear This is the dread These are the contents of my head And these are the years that we have spent And this is what they represent And this is how I feel Do you know how I feel 'cause i don't think you know how I feel I don't think you know what I feel I don't think you know what I feel You don't know what I feel
@ShannyH Hi is this you Annie I have sent you messages to your other inbox "meta4forasigh" John K
@ShannyH im sorry why do you think we have an intense emotional relationship thats carried on all these years is pure fantasy and is only from your side as i see it factually it was two teenagers who had fallen in love and a situation on your side came up and you could not say anything to him but arranged a secretive way forward which was mistakenly understood as you having a new boyfiend which you never refuted so i walked away which was a natural response so from my side it was simple from yours well you did have many issues even before we met so do understand why you have concocted your future as you have to this very day
@ShannyH Annie the actual reason is how much you loved me and still do especially losing our baby in circumstances that happened and only now seeing the actual truth of what happened life can be so cruel sometimes especially when TRUTH cannot be told x
Ms. Lennox discusses the meaning of this very beautiful song here,
youtube.com/watch
...and here<br /> <br /> youtube.com/watch
I have been told that she wrote this song shortly after she gave birth to her stillborn baby. This is a song sung to herself, she blamed herself, she wants to forgive herself and she is trying. WHY is her really asking why she was punished like this.
@Rachy71 Hi if this is you Anne did this actually happen giving birth to a stillborn if this is you I am really sorry you had lost the baby that way. Please reply this time to confirm. JohnK
@Rachy71 Hi Annie This must be the real reason why you are unable to talk to me we were very close the other week i am truly sorry for not recognising you i still hope that one day we will be able to communicate and see each other face to face but i do believe you must overcome your fears to what happened and you must not blame yourself but unfortunately this did cause our separation not because the baby was lost but your inability to tell me which led to both our misunderstanding of each other and well the rest is history. My door is always open for us to communicate for real (no cryptic messages or your other person to chat to me) while i am still here! Hope you are well and do have a wonderful Christmas. JK x
@Rachy71 Hi Annie just wanted to say it was very interesting meeting your daughter it was obvious another set up and it was clear you wanted me to see something and i certainly did i hsve never seen such blue eyes before it took centre stage and it was obvious why the only reality and connection we always had was 'DiAnn' which of course was the passing of our baby who is in heaven now. The baby may not actually been mine but to you that didnt matter you wanted the pregnancy to be ours so we would always have that bond together whatever might happen in the future which of course took a wrong turn but you always believed that one day after my education and i started my career we would get back together unfortunately you never explained your plan to me (no communication) just arranged set ups to make sure i didn't have a relationship with someone else sorry Anne that was never going to work as it proved. I must ask did you tell your daughter i was her father but you had never told me and that would make sense why all the secrecy and pretending i am the one doing all the contacting contacting and you acting as someone else with all the texts. Annie you wanted Naomi to be our daughter to replace our baby who you named 'Ann' so thats why you have lived your life as you have always being close to me as only you know how believing one day i would return. I have said to you openly that i only wanted to know the truth it has taken time but i got there in the end. If at any time you truly are able to talk to me you know where to find me for now. Jx
@Rachy71 Annie there is another summary which could be the 'truth' which one is correct. Arriving in Britain and father joinin you later you had a chance to organise you being able to separate from your father enter me getting pregnant (with help from others) which actually worked and then having a baby there would have been a great opportunity to leave home then while we were in Norway the unthinkable happened a problem with baby which did finally end having a stillborn but on return from Norway until fateful weekend you seemed different and miserable (understandably so) but i did not know and you were leaving college as you know i did date someone (set up?) but i did feel uncomfortable and i knew at that time you were the one and only but you became enraged with jealousy and you decided not to tell me (i know mum tried to force you as well) the truth and deal with the pregnancy yourself then of course i walked away believing a lie and you decided i was like every other man you have known and when your arranged attempts to see each other failed you decided to try and control who i met by 'set ups' including deception and lies throughout your life so far concerning me which includes your husband and daughter and for years involving contacts to watch over me. Is this summary closest to the truth x
I totally agree with "Rachy71" the song is about her stillborn baby she had to endure but for me it is much more and it has taken nearly 5 decades for this story to come to light. I wanted to talk to the other person concerned as it is very personal and I have tried to contact her via personal messages, texts and phone calls but as of yet no response and I do know she wants to talk so I am telling the story right here. First of all I must say that I am truly sorry for not understanding her situation at that time (I was an angry young man) and of course I do accept her apologies I am so thankful she has been able to come through all the problems she has endured and seemingly been able to create a great career for herself and in some way my (no knowledge) connection during her life has helped in some way? Its very important for her to know that I dont hold any anger anymore or any judgement for what she has done and I do really hope that we will be able to talk one day and put aside all the misunderstandings that has happened (especially on my part) and I would truly love to know the thoughts she had during the time up to her first marriage and then up to the nineties and then up to date using cryptic lyrics in songs, other people to help her etc. Unfortunately I was never going to understand as I wanted my life to be with someone as in the song "Just the way you are" by Billy Joel and the 3 lines that perfectly sum up that reason is "I dont want clever conversation I never want to work that hard I just want someone that I can talk to" so the only way I was going to understand the truth was obviously when my mother died and some information she left me which started the ball rolling and on this occasion I was determined to find out what really did happen and it has taken time to dissect all the secrecy and how did I miss "Rachy71" from last year which was so key to what followed. I am going to write your/our story very soon with another comment unless you let me know beforehand that I can just share it with you and not openly on this site. Jx
God love and bless you, MY BROTHER! I love you so much!!
I can't wait for you to take him down to the water's edge.
❤👫🏼
@ImYourTerror <br /> <br /> If he only knew YOU are far beyond the worst fear on this ENTIRE earth. <br /> <br /> I love you so much, GM. Just don't tell me any specifics. 😂😂😂😂<br /> <br />
I'd be praying for death before your wrath is unleashed. I wish I could make a joke out of that. We all know you are the devil's worst nightmare.
And you don't hide your identity behind others. You give me chills, for many different reasons.
@ImYourTerror i know your brother Malcolm knows whats happened
Despite this song clearly being about relationship breakdown, annies performing of this song at Live 8 revealed a much more simple and yet poignant meaning. She is asking why is there so much conflict in the world and describes the pain conflict brings. This is undoubtedly the most empathic song ever written "Do you know how I feel? 'Cause I don't think you know how I feel I don't think you know what I feel I don't think you know what I feel You don't know what I feel " says it all.