Somebody That I Used To Know lyrics by Gotye, 86 meanings. Somebody That I Used To Know explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know lyrics
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 that it was over
.

But you didn't have to cut me off,
Make out like it never happened,
And that now we're nothing,
And I don't even need your love,
But you treat me like a stranger,
And that feels 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 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
And 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,
Make out like it never happened,
And that now we're nothing,
And I don't even need your love,
But you treat me like a stranger,
And that feels 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,
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

Somebody
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Lyrics taken from /lyrics/g/gotye/somebody_that_i_used_to_know.html

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Somebody That I Used To Know meanings Post my meaning

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    A girl who feel deeply in love with a guy that was not ready to make a committment due to conflicting feelings and bad timing. She is thinking about when they first met and how happy he seemed. But this quick love burned out as fast as it came together because of the lack of sincerity on his part as well as the abscence of a strong foundation of friendship. He needed a rebound to make himself feel good again and she was lonely. She had always dreamed of someone like him so she convinced herself the relationship was right even though she knew in her heart it was wrong. He began to loose interest in the relationship and grew moody because of her expectations. He also drank heavily which contributed to his increasing depression and moods. The lack of love on his part made her sad along with his addictions. They both realized the relationship was going bad so she told him to find someplace else, but she still loved him and wanted to try. He broke her heart by breaking up with her, but made it worse by cutting off communication and by sleeping with someone he used to be with only days after the break. He continued to blame her for his cheating and she didn't need that because that wasn't the reason. It was his way of shoving her worst fear in her face and getting even for her suggesting distance to improve the relationship. With his rough treatment in the breakup she realized that she deserved to be treated better and was happy that everything was over. She gets stronger by stating that he didn't have to be so low in the way he went about the breakup and now he is only looked at as an aquaintance. Almost a stranger she met breifly. She still thinks about him from time to time because after you are that intimate you can't just completely forget. He continues to make it worse by having a friend retrieve his things from her house because of the guilt. He knows he was wrong and can't face his mistakes and regrets. So he walks aways in shame. He is just merely someone she once knew and that is how it ends.
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    Its about either a guy or girl that once their relationship started he already knew it wasnt going to work out, but they he ended up loving the way they would get along. So once they both found out they didn't want to be together he felt happy because he didn't want to be with her anyway but she says she still wants to be friends and he is cool with that. But once he sees that's she is ignoring him and acts like they never knew eachother he gets upset and tells himself he doesn't need that but inside he truly is hurt. And she feels like he always would make her feel like she was the reason why their relationship doesn't work. I feel like he has found out he loves her and misses once they have broken up. "you never know what you have until its all gone"
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    This song is about a man who has decided to change his cell phone carrier. One part of the song is written from the man's perspective, wherein he describes how lonely he felt with the company he bought service from. The man is so intent on separating himself from the bad relationship with the business that he doesn't even retain the phone number he used with them and sends his friends to get his phone records to verify his final bill, implying a lack of trust despite their long relationship. The other portion is written and performed from the point of view of the spurned provider, pointing out to the customer how hard it is to be left behind and reminding all of us that corporations are people too.
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    Reflects what I deeply feel & intensely desire I could do with the father of my 2 children-for him to be just somebody I use to know, but cannot. The lyrics and overall composure of the song and the way the artists sing it makes it so real and truely felt by them. Emotions of the lyrics are so fantasticly expressed by gotye and kimbra-it creates for me a sense of release and escape just by listening.
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    After all you've gone through with that person, the next thing you know you know you break-up and its all over! And well the real them comes out and not the person you thought they were. And it could even get to the point where you don't even talk to that person. You pass by them and their like a stranger to you. You thought you knew that person real good but in the end you nvr did!
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    That he now feels weird that she moved on. And she had a bad experience herself and does not want to go back to that cycle. He misses her presence. Just like my ex. That screwed me over. 5 years of relationships. I gave everything I could. He wud always nag and be violent. When I finally moved out. After some weeks. Now he's missing my presence and keeps calling me back. So ya. That's kind of the situation.
    Great song btw.
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    This is about a relationship that was never right from the begining. She was so happy that he convinced himself it could work. They went through the motions but couldn. T make it work. When it was finally over he was relieved but angered as he feels the breakup seems to have diminished the meaning of their entire relationship. From her perspective, looking back she realizes the relationship never worked and has decided to cut all ties so they can both move on with their lives.
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    They separated and he is remembering the good times like when she used to tell him romantic verses and make him feel loved. However, he was in it more for respect rather than love. He was suffering in silence since he was "lonely" in her company. He was resigned that this is the best he could get from a relationship and got "addicted" to the loneliness. She realized he was not loving her back. Was just there out of duty and left him. Since it was no a bitter separation, she wanted to be friends. He was glad it was over since deep inside he knew he was not happy and lonely most of the time.
    Now he is angry since she moved on and has her own social life and she decided to cut him off completly. He was lonely with het, however, was still a good friend and supporting her all the way when she needed. For him it was love. Unconditional love. And now he is sad and angry that she wants to pretend that they were nothing.
    She is angry. Since she is moving on. She did not feel loved in the relationship. Not the way she wanted anyway. They had completely different ways of relating to love and she is asking him to move on and not keep hanging on to the past. He still expresses his suffering. Even though he was lonly. He was loving her in his own way and that is what he longs.
    This song really depicts clearly the complexity of love and relationship between men and women. Wonderful and can be very hurtful when it ends. My life story at the moment :(. Could not beleive it when I heared this song. Powerful stuff.
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    I kind of get the feeling that he regrets letting it go. He says, " 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 that it was over. " then in the chorus he seems upset that she actually walked away and carried on with her life. In the girl's part, she says " had me believing it was always something that i'd done". And quoted him saying that he could let her go and not be hung up on someone that he didn't seem to connect with anymore. However, in the chorus it seems he is hung up on her still, and he regrets it maybe. I get the feeling he is a little miffed that she was able to walk away from the relationship with more ease than he is able to. Perhaps she meant more to him than he realized and he took her for granted.
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    Their relationship ended due to his unfaithful ways. Yet, he finds himself reminiscing about their love. He is clearly upset that she has moved on. In an attempt to numb feelings of regret and or shame, he directs the blame of their ruined "used to love/but we can still be friends" relationship at her. The truth of the matter is that he's a major narcissist who deems himself out of her league (ie: told myself that you were right for me, but felt so lonely in your company). He cheats on her because he believes he deserves better. Yet, when she gets tired of his games and lburns her bridges, it's a huge slap to his face that she can get over him so effortlessly. He is then forced to scrutinize his own behavior, but ultimately refuses to accept his faults.
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    Song reminds me a lot of a relationship of mine. Typical male, he likes her, but he likes and wants every girl. He flips the script having her believe she is at fault. I could have very easily written this song. I have lived it for too many years with one selfish man. He really does care for her, but his machismo won't allow him to settle down. He takes her off a shelf now and then. In the meantime, she is trying to figure out what she did to alienate him. The answer is nothing. He is just being a typical man. He will be back. Its a cycle.
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    She was in love with him but he wasn't really feeling the relationship so they broke up. He was glad they broke up but when she sent her friends to get her stuff and changed her number he started wondering why she wasn't chasing him and how she could just get over it like that since she was the one who was so happy she could die. Now it's like the tables turned and she is like wow I'm glad I got out of that one and he is like damn she got over that pretty quick hmmm.
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    I think the song means that him and the girl where dating but in the end it didn't work out and he's playing the victim.
    But when you hear the girl's side of the story (kimbra's) you can hear that he was playing mind games with her and the main reason that the relationship went sour was because he was still hung up on the last girl.
    Now that she's gone too it's a never ending cycle. It's like he never get's over the last girl.
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    The boy was unstable emotionally! One minute he wanted her, the next he agonized being with her. His biplore personality made the girl very confused and torn about the relationship! However she held on to this man because she was also emotional wreck. He was relieved shen they broke up, but thought she would be available when he needed someone to make him feel good. She moved on though and now he is insecure about himself!
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    First verse: clear pang of reminiscent hurt. Followed immediately by justification for why it. Must have been a good thing it ended. Second verse: a continuation of the rationalization for why it was a 'good thing' in spite of the hurt. Clearly it wasnt a healthy relationship, but their codependency was his 'drug' (addicted to a certain kind of sadness) and his withdrawal from her attentions leaves him dejected. Chorus: the pain and the rationalization collide in frustration. The other was clearly more over it than he was--facebook pictures (collect your records) down even. Like he never happened, and he is maddened because he keeps looking at her online, seeing her life from afar. Lover idealising and yet comptarmentalising at the same time. Second half to come. Maybe. I got add.
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    A narcissist's obsession with a relationship that became depressive for both. He probably felt helpless against the strength of his emotions for her, became addiction to his inner turmoil, blamed her for his possessiveness, accused her of not caring (suffering) as much as he, and finally pushed her away. But, despite his words that he's 'glad it's over' and she's 'just someone that he used to know' the direct opposite is true. For him anyway.
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    Completely feel in love with this song. Meaning= boy. Always told girl that would never be hung up on somebody he use to know; however boy can't under why he is still hung up on girl and she cut him outta her life so quickly. She is just somebody he used to know and he still hung up on her. She moved on and thinks that it is funny that the one who would never be hung up on someone now is hurt that he was cut out like somebody that she used to know. Ok I did not do a very good job putting this into words. But you people are smart enough to figure out what I am say. And for the record I don't care about my grammar mistakes. This is not a formal paper that I give a crap about. It is a small blog. Happy days people.
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    He wants his cake and wants to eat it too - he wants to have her in his life as someone to be there for him - even though in the relationship he obviously made her feel badly, treated her poorly - and either was still hung up on someone else (last line she says) or the last line may have meant that he told her that it wouldn't matter if they did seperate because he wouldn't be hung up on her making her feel unwanted and obviously not loved - so for all these reasons - she wanted out and away from him making her feel so terrible - then he didn't feel so good about her cutting ties and walking away. You can't have both.
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    I think the song is a reflection of how two people were in a dysfunctional relationship, but he was addicted to the drama of it and she decides to break it off. He may have been relieved that she did because when you are addicted to someone or something there has to be an intervention because you do not have the will power to leave it. However, the relief is temporary because I believe this guy wanted to keep it as a friends with benefits type of relation. He becomes frustrated when she contradicts herself and the chorus he sings is a contradiction because it is full of pain, yet the lyrics are "i don't really need your love. "
    almost like he is brooding. And I think the whole song is only about one girl because during her part of the video she walks towards him with the lyrics "i thought you could let it go. " meaning the fact that they are not together anymore, and then she throws his words in his face about being caught up in her who is the somebody that he used to know. Very odd, but lovely song. Very emotional too.
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    First in the relationship, she was happy - but he never really understood the meaning of that. She tried to make it work, but she was strong enough to get out of the relationship vs. Just settling with someone who is depressed/controlling and she finally accepted she couldn't fix him.
    The guy didn't know what he had til it was to late and now really understand pain, because maybe he didn't think she would just become somebody that he use to know.
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    History repeating itself. This guy is use to staying in contact and on good terms with all of his exes. In fact, from the video it seems that maybe this girl found out he was still seeing, calling, maybe even messing around with one in particular "you said that you could let it go and i wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know... "
    she can't handle it & when she made the break it was complete and final had her "friends collect her records" and went so far as to change her number completely cutting him out of her life. Because he has always been able to "still be friends" with the others he's broken up with, he is crushed when she completely cuts him our of her life making out like they never were a couple & that they are nothing. His male ego has taken a beating. Now she's the one he's hung up on. The "somebody that he used to know... "
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    During the relationship, he thought she would be the one. Sadly, it was really one-sided. He liked her more than she liked him. He was actually relieved that he didn't have to deal with trying so hard, because he secretly knew the truth that it wouldn't work anyhow. He was more upset that she just sort of blew the whole thing off casually, as if it were never much of anything.
    Later, he has another relationship in which he feels as if it is more of a casual thing. The new woman feels as he did before in the other relationship and realizes he still places alot of emphasis and meaning on the old relationship and he is doing what the first one did to him!
    History repeats itself!
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    You don't choose who you fall inlove, but as love starts to expand our differences or our real ways start to come out nd that's when we start seeing or saying you where never like that when I met you or just start getting tierd of them. So we split but still continue to be friends, how can you be friends after the bond you had with that person?! You start seeing her or him with some else or simply seeing that person happy when you are still inlove with them nd don't know how to express yourself anymore or why even bother to do so, this song is a bitte sweet song I love it nd the singers are amazing too:)!
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    "but that was love and its an ache i still remember, but ill admit that i was glad that it was over!! "had me believing I was the only one nd I even "told myself you were right for me". You are now a lost cause nd I'm glad it really is over I really saw the real you nd you don't deserve my tears or even to be remember, you said "i never cheated on you"because we were never official but you told me "i love you "many times that I was the right one for you, so don't make excuses you disgust, but ill get myself up again trust me I will this situation is part of my molding on becoming stronger then ever was. Eventually ill forget you but life will remember what you did to me nd you will pay for every tear that I cried, you didn't have to stoop so low but now your just "someday that i used to know. "
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    To me it sounds like it was written about ending a relationship with someone who had borderline personality disorder. Specifically the lines, "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 and i don't wanna live that way... ". Unless they get the medical help they need there is no way to stay in their lives post breakup without significant pain.
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    Sorry but I had to cut you off, I wish you and I never happened, I'm glad now we're nothing, and I don't even want your love, and I treat you like a stranger, and that's just enough, you pushed me to stoop so low, have my friends collect my records and I changed my number, I guess that I don't need you though, now you're just somebody I don't want to know.
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    I believe they were in a relationship but decided it was not working out because they were too different. So they decided to split up and when she said they could be friends he believed her. But now when he sees her she acts as if they had never know each other. But now when she sees him, she was thinks about him and see all the lies and misleading things he did and how he said if they ever split he would not care, but he does because she ignores him. She probably does not talk to him because it was hard enough to let go and he does not want her to let go because she is his backup plan.
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    I think its a matter of looking at who you are as a person and being able to identify whether or not you are able to move on. This song can simply be looked at as a break up song or it can be looked at as a song which truly explains his battle with overcoming her leaving him. This song certainly depicts authenticity with regards to the raw emotion he has about her leaving in a hurried manner from his life and how he knows he shouldn't be worrying about her, but still ends up doing it retrospectively since he is thinking about how she is someone that he used to know.
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    They started out in love and happy it was new and exciting but their differences over time made them miserable. They stayed together making each other more and more unhappy until one day things got so bad they felt like being alone was better than being together. Once apart for awhile he starts missing her and calls but she changed her number. Then he realizes it really is over and deep down he thought she would be the one to come back in reality its him that is carrying a torch.
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    I think he's singing about how even though they tried at the relationship it wasn't working out. Almost like (please excuse the terminology) beating a dead horse. It was an even tougher strain on them that it wasn't working. Maybe he did love her and wanted it to work out or he wanted his cake to eat. It was like a weight lifted off his shoulders when it was over. Maybe because he didn't want to "answer" to her and thought they could just be "buddies" or maybe he felt better of the break up because he thought she was for it too? Cutting him out was an even bigger blow than the break up itself because he still needed her in his life at that point or maybe he just realized what he had lost. By hearing kimbras side of the story it makes it really hard to figure out what he was thinking during the relationship and it's obvious that he's ticked now (sometimes being hurt can come off in the way of anger). I was in a similar relationship once, I can really relate to this and even more so on kimbras end. She loved him so much that she had to cut him completely out of her life to get over it. After being away from him she started to recognize all of the things that hurt her during the relationship and how it was wrong. He would probably say things to her that she started to believe, she was screwed over, he was probably putting all the blame on her for everything and he was probably always caught up with an ex.
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    He starts out naked to represent the pain of his last relationship and he sings softly because he is sad about it. Then he starts to be painted as he enters into another complicated relationship, hence the complicated geometric shapes, with kimbra. He sings the chorus louder as he gets angry/bitter about it. Then kimbra sings of her troubles dating him when he is still hung up on his ex so she eventually leaves him, which is why she is naked now.
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    I'm a 30 y/o male and this sounds like a typical break up. Not the part that he was still into an ex or whatever, but how a girl (or girls) can be so strong in a break up and completely delete the guy from her life--like nothing ever happened. This happened to me in the past, but it was because I wasn't really nice to my girl at the time in high school. Then years later I dated this girl I fell in love with and told her (probably too early) which scared her. She left me and started hooking up with other guys. I cried and cried until I found another girl that made me so happy. I completely forgot about the girl that screwed me over cuz I was so happy. Then the girl-that screwed me-tried contacting me over and over and I never responded (cuz I really didn't care anymore). Guess she realized that I was a good guy. But now I'm somebody that she used to know. Lol. I got the last laugh by finding someone that loved me back and falling out of love with the ex.
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    She ended it. He has been a control freak and screwed her over again and again, while she was always trying to please him. He is trying to tell himself he is glad its over (all guys who have been dumped try to tell themselves it is for their best - too hard to face up to it!) but he is deeply hurt deep down from just being cut off, really he still loves her!
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    a relationship that has come to a halt. the man is happy that it has ended, as he hoped for its end. the lady on the other hand is more of disgusted by his once "lover" that she doesnt even want to see him, so she sends her frends to collect her stuff (maybe some CD's that they would listen to while they were together) from the now exboyfie's place and even goes ahead to change her number so that they dont communicate, ever again. the boy is now lamenting about the breach of their agreement during breakup, where they would remain as friends. the lady is treating him like somebody she never knew before, more of lyk a stranger. the man is clearly hurt by this treatment. he just doesnt understand why the lady would behave as she is. their relationship ended in one peace, but its like there was a quarrel, so the lady wants to be left in peace. thats my two cents peeps, KENYA is in the building!
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    This sounds so much like my ex and I. He is bi-polar and I am much older. He treated me like a queen, and then found out how old I really was and freaked out, but I know he still loves me. I put him out for being mean to me and saying it was my fault instead of his. We were together 3 years, and apart 4 months and then tried the friendship thing. I have tried to respect that relationship, but I still love him and need hugs. He does something hateful in return for everything I do good for him. The last time we were hanging in a crowd was last night. This song came on and he mentioned how good it was and sang a little. He never does this except to get a message across that he can't come out and say. When he and his friends left he said I had been talking bad about him and would not give me a hug. I left with another broken heart that he blamed on me. He will come around later and act like nothing ever happened. He just won't say the words.
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    You want what you can't have. Even if you had it and walk away you can spend your life with resignation and ache and become addicted to what you left behind. It will impact another relationship and leave you feeling lonely because another person isn't responsible for filling.
    This kind of void. Then you leave that and do it again. (idiot).
    It's a beautiful song because he didn't have to think about the lyrics and make it mean anything. It's a response to the past, present, and future. It's a song of feeling not meaning.
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    I absolutely adore this song! Thank you, thank you! This is a song both guys & girls can identify with and most of us have experienced this. In fact, you could easily switch the parts. Have a girl sing first then the guy. There's always one in a relationship that wants to hang onto some part of the relationship when it is time to break up, for those of us who when we get out. We get out completely, the female part is us! In all honesty, a clean break is usually the most healthy for all concerned. It gives ones emotions, psyche, and soul a time to heal. When you continue to "be friends" right after the break up it just confuses the situation for one or both involved. You can become friends again later. Much later and you'll be better friends than if you continue in the unhealthy relationship of "staying friends".
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    The meaning of this song is that they loved and enjoyed eachother so much, and then there differences made it so hard to love that all of their love dissapeared. They both broke up and said they were friends, but all the scars of their love just kept reminding them that it was over. At the end, they decided not to be friends anymore and just started to treat eachother like strangers.
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    Why me, of all people in the world, would a witch from cali, who "didn't even know me or anything about me" come to texas to whisper in my ear, seduce with her witchcraft and tempt my heart only for the purpose of my betrayal and destruction? Was it all about hating my wife and destroying her, via me? That makes sense. I was/am not only a fool, but a "tool" to destroy her! Quote from prinzess die witch of darkness, "cade, you're such a tool"! I get it. Plus, not only did she "go to a lot of of trouble" to do this, but planned and executed that plan for approx 14 yrs and she even continues today. Now assisted by her dh aligned with his evil nature and technical conspiracy. What kind of person would do this, so much trouble to destroy others? Well. You. The same person that has destroyed so many other lives. Surely you know, princess die witch of darkness - your 'reign' stops here - with us, with me - the formidable foe that had, at one time. Thought you were cute, I liked you, then loved you, then hated and despised you and will ultimately destroy you. Maybe, I can beat the death march of your hiv to the task. That will probably be a favor to you. You're welcome.
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    The music video explains it all: in the beggining it seems fine- they stand there naked with no presence of pretence. As the stoy unravels they begin to get covered in paint- showing how the lies and the fake and the pretence build up until they are no longer themselfs but then the woman begins realising the truth and finds what right and the paint starts to disapear. The man is still stuck in the lies confused why and what happened- unable to tell what happened.
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    I thought they were meant to be a couple at first (gotye and kimbra) but then she says " you said that you could let it go and i wouldn't catch you caught up on somebody that you used to know" so maybe he was with someone else and it didn't work out between them so he got together with kimbra instead and he couldn't stop thinking about the first girl so kimbra got really annoyed and they split up. In the song I'm not sure if goyte is talking about the first or second girl.
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    The song has to do with a couple who gets together and he feeds off her being more into him. He has emotional issues deep down that she can't see from his past relationship. "he said he could let it go and she wouldn't ketch him hung up on someone he used to know. " she put her all into the relationship and every now and again he would say the right things and pull her in and then she would think their relationship was more then it was, then he would say something off again and she would question his every response as if she was misreading him. Did he really want to be with her more then just a fling? At times he would think he was happy but that was only based on his immediate feelings when he felt like wanting her and didn't want to be lonely. Everytime she would leave he would wheel her back by saying the right things. Only to never committ. When he getts lonely for him its easier to pick up a phone and go backwards because there is history and when he wants to get physical quick he doesn't have to put much effort with dates, spending money or time he just know's her well piles on the charm and she comes running back. Well she changed and now his bootie call is gone, she know's all his games and his ego is hurt because he can't have what he wants when he wants it anymore, deep down he knows she was a good person and she was more then a bottie call other wise he would have moved on a long time ago and now its gone for good. The only way she cold move on was to change her phone number because if she didn't she never knew if her anger would pass and when she seen a text her stomach would drop and she would wonder if he had changed and should she give it one more chance and would she regret it. Then she realizes he is toxic and unhealthy for her and being a user is who he is and past a burnt relationship he isn't right and never will be!
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    1lilyfairfield
    He has a history of these relationships - she sings, "you said that you could let it go, and i wouldn't find you hung up on someone you used to know. " he's not compatible with these women but blames them for the relationship's short-coming; plus, he's a depressive ("ache. You can be addicted to a certain kind of sadness).
    When the women have had enough ("all the times screwed me over... Letting me believe it was something i'd done... Reading into everything you said... I don't want to live this way), he blames them/says nasty things yet again ("you didn't have to stoop so low; " "i was glad it was over; " "i don't even need your love. ")
    Typical whiny-@ss man. Kick him to the curb with zeal - better, don't get involved with him in the first. Mama's boy who hates his dad.
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    He has a history of relationships where he's needy and acts like a d1ck - he isn't compatible with the woman but hangs onto the relationship ("i was lonely in your company"), yet blames her for it's shortcomings. He acts badly (she sings, "you said you could let it go, and i wouldn't find you hung up on somebody you used to know... All the times you screwed me over, had me believing it was always something that i'd done... But i don't want to live that way"). After she's obviously had more than enough (can't bear to see him (or doesn't trust his reaction) has her friends pick up her things and changes her number (which is a pain in the @ss), he then blames the woman all over again ("you didn't have to stoop so low;" "i don't even need your love:" "i was glad it was over. " typical whiny, poet-@ss.
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    The guy wasn't in love with the girl but she was. When she realized this, she ended the relationship and he was glad it was over. They decided to remain friends but she grew bitter from the fact that he screwed her over by being in a relationship with her all the while being hung up on his previous gf. The whole relationship she thought it was something she had done to cause the disconnect b/w them but near he end she realized he wasn't over his old gf and hence their problems. As a way to punish him, she decides to cut him off completely. Hurt him for hurting her and not feeling the same way for her. It works, once he realizes he's been cut off, he is hurt and thinks its unfair that she's acting like he's a stranger and they shared nothing. He is now hung on her because she cut him off and they both have bitterness towards him but she is able to move on where as he feels like he didn't get closure.
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    This couple love each other & really want to be together but relieved that their relationship ended because in their heart of heart, they knew they were not right for each other. And, although they got wiser in their decision to part ways, they couldn't help but feel hurt inside. Doing all these back & forth thing with each other is really their way of pacifying their true feelings until such time. They will be better people to one another when hurts finally go away!
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    Unregistered
    Hmm, I think this song is about a man (surprisingly) who was dating and possibly in love with a woman. They break up and now he is struggling to comprehend how this could happen when he had sworn she was happy. Now he's still brooding over her yet claims that he doesn't need her love or anything else from her. And that she/he no longer has a place in his life because he has moved on. Hence the title "somebody that i used to know. "
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    A man and a woman had found each other after an extended period of being sepperated and the guy has a message for the girl that he had tried to get back, and as he sings passionatily to her she sees that she was wrong and should have given him a second chance because for love you do anything to keep the one you know you want to spend the rest of you life with happy. Which is what makes this song one in a million.
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    The male singer sings about a girl that he was with, but in a terrible relationship, and is now upset that after everything they went through, he can't even call her a friend. The female singer sings about how the male singer still thinks about his ex, and because of that, didn't treat her right. So she ends up breaking up with the male singer because he still thinks about his ex all the time, and doesn't give the female singer the attention she deserves.
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    We met on kits beach july 9, 1998. We dated for 7 yrs. Including two promise rings. July 1st 2004 we married near kits beach. 5 yrs after being married we had a daughter. I got postpartum, lost my job, went back to school and started a new job and now that he's seen the reality of life, being broke and having a baby he wants out. 14yrs and a two yr old daughter isn't worth trying counselling and trying to save our realationship and family. He's somebody I used to know. He cut me off. And it feels so rough! :(
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    Unregistered
    Lovers fall in love without really getting to know each other very well. Where is the friendship, the caring of each other? B/c love fades and what you're left with is the real person, warts and all. Or when you realize they aren't going to really change. Haha. Sometimes guys will become someone who they aren't just to get you. Then when they get you-they drop the veilance and its quite a realization. This isn't the person I was dating. Also we expect our mate to be, act, a certain way.
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    Unregistered
    I'm in the middle of this. The relationship went cold and they both just resigned to it until someone finally broke it off with the typical expression that 'we'll still be friends'. That only works if you aren't hung up on each other still and eventually at least one of them moves on. She doesn't want to be friends with someone that is constantly trying to be something more and had to cut him off completely to get the picture across.
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    The rush of the new, soon brings about a staleness when idle minds grow tired of putting up with the same nonsense they ask of the other. Impatience, ego and a removal of perception weighs in with the influence of friends, that have only the heard the bad. Separation brings back the perception of what really was, sparking the mind to movement and trying to bring back love from the ashes. If only both parties meet at the same time. Lonely is the walk, forever looking back and wondering "if only" yet, by then it's too late and all that is left is to cling on to memories of somebody that you used to know.
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    Unregistered
    He's ticked that she cut him off totally while oblivious to the fact that he instigated it by relegating her to the status of "somebody that he used to know". He felt lonely in the relationship and resigned to it. She counters that the failings of the relationship were blamed on her but actually the result of his feelings and she didn't want to live that way. She said they could still be friends but he said he could let it go that you wouldn't catch him hung up on somebody that he used to know. She said fine I won't waste the head space if that's all I ever was to you and closed the book on it. Now he's crying because he can't get back across the bridge he burnt.
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    Unregistered
    It's angry and sad, but challenging and forward thinking. Sort of irony in a relationship. The singer is challenging the other to let go, while he/she doesn't want to let go, but has the conviction to. I believe I have a marriage like this and don't know what to do. I am afraid that if I adopt this song I will just go. And if I go I will go with the strength of conviction that it's the right thing to do. For what it's worth.
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    Unregistered
    She ended the relationship because he s***w-up and he was ok with it cuz he didn't feel happy with her. He probably thought they will still talk or at least say hi. But most females not all end a relationship and that's it no more seeing the person or try to avoid them. This happen to him and now hw feels hurt. I love this song. I agree that if a relationship doesn't last or not meant to be then forget the person and bounce.
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    Unregistered
    I am str8. Blond/blue and handsome. 1. 5 yrs. Ago I met a guy so drop dead handsome and uber/masculine/hot in my gym it was the most unreal/bizarre thing ever. He is str8. Yet went out of his way to meet me in the sauna 5 days a wk. For all that time. I don't know how, but I fell for this guy like I've never fell for a women in my entire life. Neither of us could ever make a move or be honest. About 9 months ago I finally got honest with him, told him I'd love to do whatever he wanted to try. We haven't spoken one word since that day. He stormed out of the sauna upset. Angry at me. We haven't talked since even though we are 10 feet apart working out or doing yoga. Oddly, he is the one who put all the hints/vibes out for months after we first met and I finally just wanted to be upfront/honest. And he couldn't handle it. How sad is life sometimes? This song is so on-point I about cry whenever I hear it now. My g/f of 18 yrs. Knows nothing. I am so sad, yet I still value and love my life. I guess feeling a painful form of love is better than not being here to learn and grow from the experience?
    F44106.
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    It was just an average relationship that wasn't meant to last. It meant more to the girl then the guy, so when it ended, she took it harder and wanted to basically hate him. She wanted to cut him out of her life, but he didn't feel that way. He liked her, but he knew they just weren't meant to be. He wanted to at least be on good terms and stay aquaintainces so it hurts him that she's making him out to be some horrible guy that never existed and they can't even be friends.
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    I cheated with you becuase I thought it was better than what I had. I thought you were what I needed but when we were together it felt so worng. I thought I would eventually leave my signifigant other for you but before I knew it you were with someone else and you started acting like you didn't know me, it was like we never happend. And know I know I'm better off without you.
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    Unregistered
    This song is just like a relationship I went through. It used to be great in the beginning but after eight years we grew apart, broke up in a relatively peaceful way. Then never talked to each other again. I see him everyday and we don't say a word to each other. I said I wasnt angry about it but I still think about what went wrong? So it goes perfectly with "wouldnt catch you hung up on somebody that used to know"
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    Unregistered
    O I thinks its a good song, I think it means that he broke up with her and she like came running back, and he thinks about it and he can't take her back shes done to much wrong, he thought he was in love, then there was.
    And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that I used to know. Meaning he probably thought she had cheated on him.
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  • U
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    Unregistered
    They didn't know how to communicate with each other and realized that the relationship wasn't worth staying in.
    His view is that she said they could still be friends, but he was blindsided when she completely cut off all contact with him. He's trying to convince himself that doesn't matter, but he's bitter.
    Her view is that she didn't want to deal with his head games anymore and just wanted to be done with everything and move on. She just doesn't care anymore either way.
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    Unregistered
    About 2 different perspectives on life in a relationship- one view crossing over to the other and missing the target- lines of perspectve that miss the point in an argument. Love is emotion - love hurts especially when you can't connect, thereby abstracting yourself. You cement yourself into your own world /view and standpoint. You can't relate. The relationship severs as there is no harmony or ability to communiate and understand. Love can hurt and can turn into bitterness, regret and pain. Though hard you can move on and time will heal the hurt.
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    Unregistered
    It is about breaking up with someone and how you gradually become distant. The guy is usually ok with being friends but girls usually have to completely cut off communication to move on, or to try and make the guy realize what he has lost. And I believe there is a reference to the guy talking to another ex when she says "you said i wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know. "
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    There is more misunderstanding in some of these posted meanings than in the actual relationship described in the song. The song represents both the man and woman's perceptions and feelings about the break up. The man is hurt and confused because she has completely shut him out. Her passive nature throughout the relationship prevented her from expressing what made her unhappy while they were together. Both parties are in the right and in the wrong. The woman established herself as a submissive who didn't communicate her feelings during the relationship. She feels manipulated and disregarded, which doesn't become clear to her until it's over. If the man doesn't hear any complaints he typically feels there's no need to change. He's guilty of taking advantage of her passive nature, and she's guilty for not only allowing it, but enabling it by remaining silent. He should have been more aware and she should have been more assertive.
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    Unregistered
    Well what I think is that when you are in love in your man and both of you bulid a strong connection with each other by having a family is everything. Being with that person for so many years had fun with each other did alote of exciting things with each other and said alote and promising things to each other will always be true in our eyes. But when you have someone that tried or still trying to interfer in your life is someone that is hating cause there relationship didn't work out so they will have to destory someone elses relationship to make themselfs better and not only thar saying lies that are not true to break that other relationship up and to bring others into it. That's right and then all of sudden your man is acting hatful towards you and doesn't want anything to do with you always bleaming you for everything and changing everything about yourself is not right. Now you just say that he just a person you used to know. Its really painful knowing that once you had is not there but they are still strong hahaha.
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    Unregistered
    This song reminds me of my not so distant past. He did cut me off, threw me out of his life without any signs. He was one hell of a heartbreaker. I was really in love with him then, and it hurt like hell. But now, it just feels good knowing that everything's over, every heartbreak, every sleepless nights and we both go on every single day knowing that not from that distant past, we knew each other.
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    Two people, and though the relationship was seemingly okay, the one partner questions it. Was it really great? He felt like it was right. But there just was something. So things didn't work out. And though he may not have felt that they were meant to be, he never wanted to regret/forget everything!? She on the other hand explains how he truly made her feel. Even so, he's telling of how horrible it feels to end a relationship with someone, and not to have them in your life at all. Whether it ended good or bad, to just drop the status of your relationship and move on like they were never there? Hurts.
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    My ex and I were in such a terrible love hate relationship, and when we finallly broke you I felt good as harsh as that sounds, but she absolutely cut me off after and I did miss her and did want to talk to her but she just shut me off. It was as if our relationship meant nothing to her, like before we were togther I was her friend first. Not all relationships last, we were young and made alot of mistakes, and we both hurt eachother and I guess I just expected more from her and I thought things would turn out differnt. Even if we werent togther as a couple I thought she would always be in my life in one way or another. It hurts that she hates me now, bc some part of me will always care about her and how couldn't I, I loved her for soo long. I guess our relationship didn't mean the same to her as it did to me.
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    To me it's about someone who has been dumped and does not mind as he knows the relationship was not working out but is annoyed that afterwards she ignored him as if nothing had ever happened and that their relationship meant nothing, whenever I hear this song it makes me feel really guilty because I dumped a guy and I havnt spoken a word to him since even though we see each other around quite often I never really thought about how that made him feel til I heard this song.
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    Unregistered
    Its a guy in a relationship for the sake of not being lonely. He wasn't in love, but he knew she wasn't the "one. " he stuck it out anyways because it is better than being alone. When she ended it, he was hurt that someone that you could be so intimate with could cut him off so quickly. Then he moves on and starts dating another girl. He doesn't treat her right because he is so hung up on the other girl. What goes around comes around.
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    Somebody that I used to know is so goood. I love it. This might just be my favorite new song my and my friends always listens to it we love you guys and I also heard that one of you live on walkers line here in burlington, on well I live there to and if I could meet you guys I would die I love you and so do my friends I hope you make more songs.
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    He is the one who ended the relationship bc it was getting to be to much for him. But now that its over he imagined it would all be alright and they could still be friends, but she completely exiled him from her life. Maybe he regrets or maybe he just likes being liked by people that hes hurt (or someshat hurt she can't just befriends). You like what you don't have. So when you don't have it you question it.
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    The song comes from the perspective of the male. The female part is inside his head. She is him crying and trying to rationalize the end of the relationship he thought he didn't need.
    A relationship he knows tried to keep his distance in. To hold her away. He is still is trying to convince himself he does need her love. He thought they would always be together and so he never had to admit he loved her to himself and that actalky needs her. Now she's gone and it's all because he was afraid.
    He knows deeps down he has to admit he loved her in order to move on and that way he is so scared that is not somebody he used to know. Its somebody he loves.
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    To me its how a 2 people where together and she used the guy but he loved her so much he convinced himself it was right when it truly wasnt and he tried so hard to make her happy and in the end it was all for nothing and he relized her doesn't beed her, because she wasnt who he thought she was, she was facade of a person to get close and use him. I probably think that cause that happened to me the day I found this song, idk.
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    This song happened to me a while back, and I like it a lot because instead of both sides saying "i love you and i want it back" it's the person who broke the others heart, saying you went to far never talking to me again, and then the other person saying "this is why i took you out of my life". When my ex cheated on me, she begged me to stay my friend, and I told her no. She doesn't deserve me.
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    I think its pretty straightforward, classic story of love blinding you. While they were in the relationship they seemed so happy, the person seemed so perfect and then it ends, in what they believe is a civil way as friends. But the other person just turns cold torwards them, changing their number, denying their was a relationship, and the person's immaturity is making them realize the person's true nature and looking back on the relationship there were instances where that nature was obvious but their infatuation with the person completely excused it. So now that they realize what that person real nature is they don't care about them exiting their life.
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    To the person who said they were the girl in this song: do you realize that the male singer doesn't actually want to be friends? I think what he wants is a human break up, where the other person doesn't act like he doesn't exist. The fact that the girl couldn't even get her records back herself and had to change her number shows that she cut off all ties. It's the attitude she has, not the fact that she doesn't want to be friends. There are shades of grey to this friends thing. I think he's asking for more honesty, that's all. If she has to cut him off this way, then she's not completely honest with herself about how she feels. She's running away from the break up. Call that necessary, but I think it's a weak way of dealing with one's feelings, especially when you can't even face the person to get your stuff back. That's why the guy is angry in the song.
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    I was dating this guy for 5 years and I though I was in love, but I really was really unhappy with him we didn't have anything in common and sometimes hanging out with him was a drag. We dated for so long that I just cound't break up with him from fear of being lonenly, so when he broke up wit me I was really sad but I was glad it was over. My friends kept asking was I was acting like I was so hurt. Cause just like the song. He was cruel he cut me off and change his group of friends and move out of town. Treating like a complet stranger and it felt so rough. But I'm was really over him before our realationship ended. This just hit the spot. I'm one with song.
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    I couldn't pick up heartache anywhere (maybe I'm missing something).
    Anyway, I think it's about a relationship that's ran its course - the break-up sounded mutual. The "author" is just hurt because while he/she believed they could still be friends, or at least nice to one another post break-up, the other person has decided to cut them out of their life.
    Been in the exact situation before - while it was mutual and I no longer harbor feelings for that person, it still hurts to be cut off completely. I don't know, that's my take.
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    Unregistered
    From the beginning he knew in his heart that their relationship didn't feel close while she had fell for him. She was truly in love with him which he knew and didn't make for a intense, "thrill of the chase" and exciting initial relationship. The relationship was boring to him while she thought she had found true love. Once she found reality her heart broke. Her way to deal with the pain was to cut him off and forget. All the while she knew her self worth, could find better and didn't want to repeat mistakes many have made. Time passed, he realized what she was made of, how he missed her total devotion and realized he made a life time mistake. Now to ease his conscious he tries to play her like she stooped so low.
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    Someone who acted like they loved you. Someone who you thought you sould be with but then treated you bad after you gave them everything. You did nothing but treat this person with respect and felt like you did the right thing, but they cut you off. As if what you had with them never happened and didn't matter. They act like they don't know you. All their sweet words and promises, they werent real. But you don't need that, you can do way better. Forget them just like they "forgot" you.
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    Unregistered
    This song is about a relationship. The two meet and have a one-night-stand. Date for a while and then realize they really should not be together. The problem is the girl takes the dudes favorite albums. So the guy gets revenge by putting her name and number on a truck stop bathroom stall. The truckers find the girl and kidnap her and shave her head to humilate her. The dude finds true love. When the girls try to win him back he says "no thanks". The girl ends up the wife of a trucker and takes up smoking and meth. Sad story when you think about it.
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    Unregistered
    I think the song is about a guy that was abruptly left by a girl he was previously in a relationship with and has since moved on and is with a new girl.
    I think the female part of this song is the new girl he's with currently, not the ex-girlfriend. I think this new girl is upset that he's still so hung up on the old girl--the someone he used to know. She seems frustrated that he's been taking out insecurities from his last relationship on her; so, she too leaves him.
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    I fell in love once with a girl. She had the principal tell me that she didn't like me and she couldn't do it herself.
    Now, 4 years later, she goes on a vacation to italy and other parts of euro paid for by her rich parents. I've never seen her since and have lost all interest.
    Ever since then, finding a girl to understand me has been entirely possible and I don't know if i'll ever find true love.
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    Long story short. Girl likes guy, guy likes girl. They start seeing each other, but they're not offically dating. Girl gets insecure and decides to find out if things are getting serious. But she sets the bar too high and he fails her test. She's burned and gets defensive, only to burn him in return. She's too caught up in her anger to see he didn't mean to burn her. In the end its her fault-she realizes it too late to change things. He's so hurt that the only thing that can heal the both of them is time. It would be a miracle if they could be friends again- a miracle if they could start over. But I guess this turned out to be a fairly long story because the girl made forgiveness a complicated subject.
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