The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So, when we found that we could not make sense
Well, you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
But you didn't have to cut me off
(Oh) Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
(Oh) And I don't even need your love
(Oh) But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
(Oh) No, you didn't have to stoop so low
(Oh) Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
(Oh) I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, (I used to know)
Somebody
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, (I used to know)
Somebody
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So, when we found that we could not make sense
Well, you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
But you didn't have to cut me off
(Oh) Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
(Oh) And I don't even need your love
(Oh) But you treat me like a stranger and I feel so rough
(Oh) No, you didn't have to stoop so low
(Oh) Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
(Oh) I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, (I used to know)
Somebody
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody, (I used to know)
Somebody
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody
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