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Nouvelle Vague – In a Manner of Speaking Lyrics 9 years ago
Past form for to tell in this case is questioning if interactions (like talking) of addressing and addressed person still happen, suspecting they do not
("...That I could never forget the way
You >told< me everything by saying nothing").
Yet verses after, the addressing person switches back to present
("...But the way that i feel about you...").
Assuming the feelings of the addressing person towards the addressed person still exist even though their relationship - of whatever kind - has ended.

The addressed person has simply said all the beautiful things - can also be put as "sweet-talking" - never giving them meaning (which opens one layer of the line:
"You told me everything by saying nothing")
by any relevant nor related actions
("In a manner of speaking
Semantics won't do...").

The addressing person is aware of her feelings being wasted therefore bittersweetly concludes as the consequence to distance her/himself by mirroring the addressed persons behaviour and "manner" for typical self-protecting reasons
(And the way that we feel
Might have to be sacrified
So in a manner of speaking
I just want to say
That just like you I should find a way
To tell you everything
By saying nothing).
- all rhetorically happening in her/his mind.

The addressing person is also aware that she/he cannot switch off love that easily so she/he still in some way ironically craves for the only thing she/he could get from the addressed person: words that say and with no feelings mean nothing and yet mean or meant everything to her/him praying down the meaningless because rhetorical words of her desperation
(O give me the words
Give me the words
That tell me nothing
O give me the words
Give me the words
Give me the words).

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