A man thinking about an old relationship. He fell in love with her, even thought it wasn't perfect. He knew that, but tried to convince himself otherwise. Later, we discover that things didn't work out.
He was addicted to the sadness of the situation. Or of her. Or both. The idea that he knew it was doomed. And that is what made him stay in the relationship.
And then they discovered this wasn't going to work. She said that they could still be friends. And he was relieved, because finally, the expected ending had arrived. Finally, what he was waiting for, had been anticipating this entire relationship, had happened. They were over.
Ah, but why?
As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on the ex-girlfriend. So what does she do? She dumps him. She doesn't want to see him at all. Doesn't want to hear from him. Has friends pick up her stuff. Just like the last girl did.
And this triggers something in him. Now he wants her. He forgets the last ex-girlfriend. He can't understand why this one doesn't want anything to do with him. Why does she avoid him when he sees her out with friends? How come she doesn't respond to his texts? Why has she become just somebody that he used to know?
And so the cycle continues.
Our hero, forever pining after a love that he will never receive because it is always too late; loving somebody that he used to know.
''As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on...
''As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on the ex-girlfriend. So what does she do? She dumps him. She doesn't want to see him at all. Doesn't want to hear from him. Has friends pick up her stuff. Just like the last girl did.''
i don't get why people keep referring to the singers fixation with another ex girlfriend,the 'somebody i used to know' is the ex girlfriend who ignores him,theres no 3rd party,its all based on two people and no other relationship.
everyone can look at this song in their own way. But i agree with billythepub, this song is btwn 2 people, no 3rd party at all in the song. Atleast thats how i see it. it's good there are more ways to see the song though. that way more can relate.
everyone can look at this song in their own way. But i agree with billythepub, this song is btwn 2 people, no 3rd party at all in the song. Atleast thats how i see it. it's good there are more ways to see the song though. that way more can relate.
Of course there is/are another/others. She was screwed over by the boy. That involved a past gal. She gave him multiple chances. He failed because she was not the one. He's hung up on somebody he used to know, and that ain't her.
Of course there is/are another/others. She was screwed over by the boy. That involved a past gal. She gave him multiple chances. He failed because she was not the one. He's hung up on somebody he used to know, and that ain't her.
There is no ex-girlfriend, it's so much clearer than taking third party into the song. It's just how the girl used to be or how he used to think of her. Now she wants to forget about him. Come on, NO EX in this song!
There is no ex-girlfriend, it's so much clearer than taking third party into the song. It's just how the girl used to be or how he used to think of her. Now she wants to forget about him. Come on, NO EX in this song!
@rscofield Had trouble piecing together all of the lyrics into words, so I came here, but I think you nailed it.
@rscofield Had trouble piecing together all of the lyrics into words, so I came here, but I think you nailed it.
Also, if you watch the video, it matches this. The man starts out being unpainted - he is free and happy. As he starts talking about the relationship, he becomes enmeshed in the background (the relationship and/or his emotions). The colors are red (anger) and grey (sadness). The girl starts out painted as well, but she is also green (jealousy). She leaves the trap of the relationship, becomes free and unpainted, but he is still trapped in the background of his emotions.
I've been here. Pining over a lost relationship that I remembered as being perfect and never moving on. Eventually life goes on and you discover something great, but this song perfectly captures that time.
@rscofield I see this song as working on multiple levels. At first I thought it was Kimbra he was alluding to and she was answering him. Then I realized Kimbra was telling him how he did the same thing to her. I see him in his own pain have a momentary glimmer of understanding then again is engulfed in his pain. Irony and the faults we see in others reflected in ourselves without our own knowledge or understanding. His voice, the imagery, the lyrics, Kimbra, a truly beautiful and strangely haunting song.
@rscofield I see this song as working on multiple levels. At first I thought it was Kimbra he was alluding to and she was answering him. Then I realized Kimbra was telling him how he did the same thing to her. I see him in his own pain have a momentary glimmer of understanding then again is engulfed in his pain. Irony and the faults we see in others reflected in ourselves without our own knowledge or understanding. His voice, the imagery, the lyrics, Kimbra, a truly beautiful and strangely haunting song.
I think this song is two perspectives.
A man thinking about an old relationship. He fell in love with her, even thought it wasn't perfect. He knew that, but tried to convince himself otherwise. Later, we discover that things didn't work out.
He was addicted to the sadness of the situation. Or of her. Or both. The idea that he knew it was doomed. And that is what made him stay in the relationship.
And then they discovered this wasn't going to work. She said that they could still be friends. And he was relieved, because finally, the expected ending had arrived. Finally, what he was waiting for, had been anticipating this entire relationship, had happened. They were over.
Ah, but why?
As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on the ex-girlfriend. So what does she do? She dumps him. She doesn't want to see him at all. Doesn't want to hear from him. Has friends pick up her stuff. Just like the last girl did.
And this triggers something in him. Now he wants her. He forgets the last ex-girlfriend. He can't understand why this one doesn't want anything to do with him. Why does she avoid him when he sees her out with friends? How come she doesn't respond to his texts? Why has she become just somebody that he used to know?
And so the cycle continues.
Our hero, forever pining after a love that he will never receive because it is always too late; loving somebody that he used to know.
Exactly what I was thinking - a sick cycle.
Exactly what I was thinking - a sick cycle.
Absolutely awesome, though. The lyrics, music and voices... so beautiful.
Absolutely awesome, though. The lyrics, music and voices... so beautiful.
Great interpretation! The cycle hits us in reality more often than we'd like, but such is life, unfortunately...or people i should say. :)
Great interpretation! The cycle hits us in reality more often than we'd like, but such is life, unfortunately...or people i should say. :)
Cheers.
Cheers.
''As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on...
''As she tells us, now and then she thinks off all the time he screwed her over. Times he went to see the ex-girlfriend. The one he still thought of, even though it was doomed, and did end. This woman realizes that, while she wants him, he was still hung up on another girl. Still thought of her. Missed her. Maybe even compared the two. Her and the last girl. She and somebody that he used to know. So she has this sadness with her. And he sees that this relationship is doomed. But he still can't stop dwelling on the ex-girlfriend. So what does she do? She dumps him. She doesn't want to see him at all. Doesn't want to hear from him. Has friends pick up her stuff. Just like the last girl did.''
i don't get why people keep referring to the singers fixation with another ex girlfriend,the 'somebody i used to know' is the ex girlfriend who ignores him,theres no 3rd party,its all based on two people and no other relationship.
everyone can look at this song in their own way. But i agree with billythepub, this song is btwn 2 people, no 3rd party at all in the song. Atleast thats how i see it. it's good there are more ways to see the song though. that way more can relate.
everyone can look at this song in their own way. But i agree with billythepub, this song is btwn 2 people, no 3rd party at all in the song. Atleast thats how i see it. it's good there are more ways to see the song though. that way more can relate.
Of course there is/are another/others. She was screwed over by the boy. That involved a past gal. She gave him multiple chances. He failed because she was not the one. He's hung up on somebody he used to know, and that ain't her.
Of course there is/are another/others. She was screwed over by the boy. That involved a past gal. She gave him multiple chances. He failed because she was not the one. He's hung up on somebody he used to know, and that ain't her.
There is no ex-girlfriend, it's so much clearer than taking third party into the song. It's just how the girl used to be or how he used to think of her. Now she wants to forget about him. Come on, NO EX in this song!
There is no ex-girlfriend, it's so much clearer than taking third party into the song. It's just how the girl used to be or how he used to think of her. Now she wants to forget about him. Come on, NO EX in this song!
@rscofield Had trouble piecing together all of the lyrics into words, so I came here, but I think you nailed it.
@rscofield Had trouble piecing together all of the lyrics into words, so I came here, but I think you nailed it.
Also, if you watch the video, it matches this. The man starts out being unpainted - he is free and happy. As he starts talking about the relationship, he becomes enmeshed in the background (the relationship and/or his emotions). The colors are red (anger) and grey (sadness). The girl starts out painted as well, but she is also green (jealousy). She leaves the trap of the relationship, becomes free and unpainted, but he is still trapped in the background of his emotions.
I've been here. Pining over a lost relationship that I remembered as being perfect and never moving on. Eventually life goes on and you discover something great, but this song perfectly captures that time.
@rscofield I see this song as working on multiple levels. At first I thought it was Kimbra he was alluding to and she was answering him. Then I realized Kimbra was telling him how he did the same thing to her. I see him in his own pain have a momentary glimmer of understanding then again is engulfed in his pain. Irony and the faults we see in others reflected in ourselves without our own knowledge or understanding. His voice, the imagery, the lyrics, Kimbra, a truly beautiful and strangely haunting song.
@rscofield I see this song as working on multiple levels. At first I thought it was Kimbra he was alluding to and she was answering him. Then I realized Kimbra was telling him how he did the same thing to her. I see him in his own pain have a momentary glimmer of understanding then again is engulfed in his pain. Irony and the faults we see in others reflected in ourselves without our own knowledge or understanding. His voice, the imagery, the lyrics, Kimbra, a truly beautiful and strangely haunting song.