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"
I used to be in love with this guy named Sam
I don't know why, cause he had the head like that of a clam
But you couldn't tell me nothin, 'cause Sam was number one
'Cause to me, oh my gosh, he was one in a million
I shoulda knew the consequences right from the start
That he'd use me for my money, and then break my heart
But like a fool in love I fell for his game
But I got mine, so I show no shame
In Empire winked his eye, and then he kept walkin'
And all of those who live in Brooklyn know just what I'm talkin'
The roller disco where we all used to go
Just to have some fun back in 1981
You know the place, Empire Boulevard
Is where I first saw the nigga, and he tried to play hard
But I knew the deal, 'cause I knew his brother Jerry
And Sam, he just broke up with his girlfriend Terry
So Jerry introduced Sam and I that night
He said, "Hello, my name is Sam" I said, "Hi, my name is Lyte"
We dipped and we dapped and we chit and we chat
About this and that, from sneakers to hats
He said, "Look, I'm in the mood for love
Simply because you're near me"
(Let's go) To my house, lay back and get nice
Watch television, Riunite On Ice
I said, "Slow down, I know you wanna shake me down
But I'm not one of the girls to go rippin' around"
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Next month I finally went to his house
I walked into the door, there was a girl on the couch
I said, "Who's the frog, the bump on the log?
You chump, you punk, how could you do me wrong?
Singing sad songs about your love is so strong"
You said, "Wait Lyte, you're confused, the girl is my cousin"
Your brother agreed, but later she said that she wasn't
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Forgotten, next month we went to the Deuce
Well, I thought it kinda strange 'cause you had lots of juice
You knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
Asked ya how you met 'em, said you met 'em at a party
Then these girls tried to tell me you were sellin' the stuff
I said, "It's not your business, so shut the fuck up"
They said, "Okay Lyte, think what you wanna think
But it's gon' be some shit when your man becomes a fiend"
I said, "Look, to bust a move, I don't even know you
To put it Lyte, I really don't care to"
They kinda got mad and sort of offended
They said, "We only lookin' out for yo best interest"
I said, "Thanks but no thanks" in an aggravated tone
"When I wanna find out, I find out on my own"
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Then my cousin said she saw you with this lady named C
Well I'm clawin' my thoughts, I wonder who she could be
You're spending all your time with her and not a second with me
They say you spend your money on her and you're with her night and day
Her name starts with a C and it ends with a K
I strain' my brain lookin' for a name to fit this spellin'
But I just couldn't do it 'cause my heart kept yellin'
Burning, begging for affection from you, Sam
But just like a test I cram to understand you
Thought I knew you well enough to call you a man, but
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Then it came a time you started looking kinda thin
I asked you why, you said, "Exercise, tryina stay slim"
I bought it, even though I knew it was a lie
'Cause it really didn't matter, you were still lookin' fly but oh no
Oh no, you started askin' me for money
Butter me up, beg me and call me your honey
So I gave you 2 yards, and then I gave you one more
You picked up your jacket and you flew out the door
You came back an hour later and you asked me for a ten
I said, "I only got a twenty", you said, "Give me that, then"
I said, "Nope, I'll tell you now, you better stop slobbin'
Find you a job, or you better start robbin"
So I stepped off with a giant step
Picked up my belongings, and I just left
And now I see you in Empire every Sunday
Juicin' the girls up for some money and a lay
But every time I see you doin' it, I just ruin it
Tell em how ya on crack, smoke, sniff, and chewin' it
And as for this girl, Miss C, oh well
I was shocked as hell when I heard, Samuel
When your homeboys told me, I almost went wack
That the girl you was addicted to, her name was Crack
Just just just just just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
I don't know why, cause he had the head like that of a clam
But you couldn't tell me nothin, 'cause Sam was number one
'Cause to me, oh my gosh, he was one in a million
I shoulda knew the consequences right from the start
That he'd use me for my money, and then break my heart
But like a fool in love I fell for his game
But I got mine, so I show no shame
In Empire winked his eye, and then he kept walkin'
And all of those who live in Brooklyn know just what I'm talkin'
The roller disco where we all used to go
Just to have some fun back in 1981
You know the place, Empire Boulevard
Is where I first saw the nigga, and he tried to play hard
But I knew the deal, 'cause I knew his brother Jerry
And Sam, he just broke up with his girlfriend Terry
So Jerry introduced Sam and I that night
He said, "Hello, my name is Sam" I said, "Hi, my name is Lyte"
We dipped and we dapped and we chit and we chat
About this and that, from sneakers to hats
He said, "Look, I'm in the mood for love
Simply because you're near me"
(Let's go) To my house, lay back and get nice
Watch television, Riunite On Ice
I said, "Slow down, I know you wanna shake me down
But I'm not one of the girls to go rippin' around"
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Next month I finally went to his house
I walked into the door, there was a girl on the couch
I said, "Who's the frog, the bump on the log?
You chump, you punk, how could you do me wrong?
Singing sad songs about your love is so strong"
You said, "Wait Lyte, you're confused, the girl is my cousin"
Your brother agreed, but later she said that she wasn't
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Forgotten, next month we went to the Deuce
Well, I thought it kinda strange 'cause you had lots of juice
You knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
Asked ya how you met 'em, said you met 'em at a party
Then these girls tried to tell me you were sellin' the stuff
I said, "It's not your business, so shut the fuck up"
They said, "Okay Lyte, think what you wanna think
But it's gon' be some shit when your man becomes a fiend"
I said, "Look, to bust a move, I don't even know you
To put it Lyte, I really don't care to"
They kinda got mad and sort of offended
They said, "We only lookin' out for yo best interest"
I said, "Thanks but no thanks" in an aggravated tone
"When I wanna find out, I find out on my own"
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Then my cousin said she saw you with this lady named C
Well I'm clawin' my thoughts, I wonder who she could be
You're spending all your time with her and not a second with me
They say you spend your money on her and you're with her night and day
Her name starts with a C and it ends with a K
I strain' my brain lookin' for a name to fit this spellin'
But I just couldn't do it 'cause my heart kept yellin'
Burning, begging for affection from you, Sam
But just like a test I cram to understand you
Thought I knew you well enough to call you a man, but
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Then it came a time you started looking kinda thin
I asked you why, you said, "Exercise, tryina stay slim"
I bought it, even though I knew it was a lie
'Cause it really didn't matter, you were still lookin' fly but oh no
Oh no, you started askin' me for money
Butter me up, beg me and call me your honey
So I gave you 2 yards, and then I gave you one more
You picked up your jacket and you flew out the door
You came back an hour later and you asked me for a ten
I said, "I only got a twenty", you said, "Give me that, then"
I said, "Nope, I'll tell you now, you better stop slobbin'
Find you a job, or you better start robbin"
So I stepped off with a giant step
Picked up my belongings, and I just left
And now I see you in Empire every Sunday
Juicin' the girls up for some money and a lay
But every time I see you doin' it, I just ruin it
Tell em how ya on crack, smoke, sniff, and chewin' it
And as for this girl, Miss C, oh well
I was shocked as hell when I heard, Samuel
When your homeboys told me, I almost went wack
That the girl you was addicted to, her name was Crack
Just just just just just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Just like a test
Ju-just like a test
Ju-just like a test
I cram to understand you
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
I Cram to Understand U Lyrics as written by Milk Dee Mc Lyte
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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