How long have you known?
How long have you known?

Forever?
Forever?
Forever, if ever?

How long have you known?
How long has it shown?

Forever?
Forever?
Forever, if ever, at all?

Overall Meaning

The repetitive and vague nature of the lyrics in DIIV's "How Long Have You Known?" seems to suggest a certain level of uncertainty and anxiety in the singer's thoughts. The song seems to center around the idea of an unbalanced relationship, with one person clearly more invested or committed than the other. The singer is yearning for answers and hoping for the best, yet also resigned to the possibility of rejection or emotional distance.

The use of the word "forever" in each repetition creates a sense of eternal hope and longing, almost as if the singer is begging for a sign that this connection is real and lasting. However, the addition of the question "if ever?" adds doubt to the mix, hinting that the singer is not entirely convinced that the other person feels the same or is capable of meeting their expectations. The song's dreamy guitar riffs and echoey vocals add to the hazy, uncertain atmosphere of the lyrics, painting a picture of a relationship stuck in limbo.

Line by Line Meaning

How long have you known?
What is the length of time you have been aware?

Forever?
Is it an unending duration?

Forever, if ever?
Is it infinite, or perhaps never happened?

How long have you known?
What is the length of time you have been aware?

How long has it shown?
What amount of time has it been visible or evident?

Forever?
Is it an unending duration?

Forever, if ever, at all?
Has it lasted eternally, or maybe not happened whatsoever?

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Zachary Cole Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

ธนาธิป เชาว์แก้ว

9y↑28

How long have you known?
How long has it shown?
Forever and ever and ever and ever

How long have you known?
How long has it shown?
Forever and ever and ever and ever

How long have you

How long have you known?
How long has it shown?
Forever and ever and ever and ever

How long have you known?
How long has it shown?
Forever and ever and ever and ever

How long have you

All comments from YouTube:

Mac DeMarco

12y↑323

I'd definitely like to see what kind of unit he's got under those denims

Micaela Mol.

4y↑4

Omg Mac DeMarco you’re the best ✨

perpetualsaudade

4y↑25

An 8 yr old comment from mac

pipe

4y↑4

oh good my music production teacher's around here... my life's definitely full of easter eggs
greetings mein bruh

James Romero

3y↑1

Lol

7 More Replies...

kemicon

2y↑33

Amazing this song is 10 years old already. I still think of this as new music!

Bradley Krebs

2y↑1

I recently had this come up on a playlist and yeah, totally agree!

Makayla DeRusha

8y↑185

What I really want to know is why these guys aren't more popular.... They are amazing..

bub

8y↑31

its good the're not that popular,lets not make them overrated

Froot Loose

8y↑20

Because they don't sound like drake and are very original. I don't want them to become more popular cause mainstream sux.

Patrick J

8y↑12

Them not being on a major label is a big factor but even that aside, they took a huge amount of time between albums (almost 4 years) which means they were out of the conversation for music fans/in general for a long time and thus have been forgotten a bit and DIIV (or the label) don't seem to want to produce music videos anymore for their songs and music videos are a band's biggest chance for exposure on YouTube. So haven't had much chance of getting bigger.

Zach Alessi

8y↑6

Lets keep it that way!

Jesse M

8y↑1

te mereces una cerveza

8 More Replies...

angie

45w↑4

A única banda, que pra mim, consegue resumir 3 décadas de post punk, shoegaze e dream pop de uma forma tão perfeita... Enfim, minha banda favorita do momento.

Julia Garcia

35w

A minha tambem!!

Madrone6

11y↑15

The instrumental break from 2:00 to 2:25 is so awesome.

Poli Reviews

2y↑2

You are totally right. I love this part. It's so emotional.

Seigfried Dreadflower

5y↑56

The riff at 1:59 makes me cry every time

Mark Karjaluoto

4y↑13

It's gorgeous... I wish it go on for a lot longer.

s a v a g e

3:04

Jesús Contreras

same!!

1 More Replies...

clovrmay

10y↑28

I love the way they record the vocals with extra reverb to make it sound psychedelic poppy like, I like this band a lot from what I've heard so far. They remind me of New Order and the papercuts.

ana soader sempre

4y↑12

"Pq quando escuto isso, volto a um passado que nem mesmo vivi?"

Desiree Herroz

11y↑7

Diiv is a great band very dreamy and so great to listen to. zachary Cole Smith is amazing and if you actually read the lyrics it's great stuff. <3 keep on doing what you do Diiv we love it.

Alex Sander

12y↑5

I love this band!

Leo L

10y↑17

I love this band.

Julio Soto

29w

We drove 10 hrs to see this group play in Dallas. Actually, it was for Depeche Mode, but was glad DIIV opened up for them. I am a fan now.

The Former Channel

11y↑1

I've actually played the video like 5 times because the song is very good and I like how he is mixing little bits that are emblematic to him and some of his DNA to create the ultimate caplet.

Frederik Petersen

12y↑2

I've heard this song a thousand times now. I need a full album now.

Tiago Amorim

10y↑1

I LOVE THIS BAND SO MUCH!!!!

swatchwatchable

8y↑1

Beautiful arrangement, beautiful song.

Christopher Torres

7y↑2

One of the better bands of this generation, I love the 90's feel to this band reminds me of My bloody valentine

Sizwe Prince

4y↑3

Beautiful song 😭❤

rvshty 93

12y↑1

Thank you soo much DIIV and Captured tracks! bean waiting a mexican minute for something like this and a dominican day for Oshin to drop, fucking stoked!

Dave2100

11y↑1

I may be way off base on this - but the band Real Estate comes to mind while listening to these guys. Nice chill sound. May be worth checking them out at Coachella

Какой-то котик

1y↑1

You're the best
Listen to your songs for a long time and I will love you for forever

Arainboww

12y↑1

Saw them yesterday in Paris, they're amazing live! =D

Marcela Eunice Rodríguez Malagón

Amo este videoclip....y claro el fantástico sonido de esta banda

a sheep

3y↑1

Great music!

Tom Sinclair

12y↑5

Reminds me of I Wanna Be Adored by The Stone Roses. So good, both tracks.

miggs80

10y↑1

I love this group.

azarobi

12y↑1

Just went through the preview of your album Oshin on amazon. I'm blown away. I'm gonna buy it !!

Riftyza Gestandi

12y↑2

I really love this band, their sound, attitude and of course this fuckin' sick video!! Cool!! Now i want to ask one question, "How long i have to wait for their show in my town?" I'm from Jakarta

cloudsover thepacific

11y

these guys are amazing

ธนาธิป เชาว์แก้ว

9y↑28

Jack Schomisch

11y

This kid is the definition of the 90's with his music and appearance!

Marco Carranza

4y↑8

my favorite dreamy band at this moment !!

Internet Summoner

I feel this !

Devin Svennson

You mean... dream pop?

Julieta Carrizo Milione

3y↑1

i remember hearing this on a tv channel my gran has and even though at the time i only listend to kpop bands + queen and the ocassional soda stereo song, i instantly put it on my playlist. that same day i discovered blur and gorillaz, but for some reason this melody has been on my head since that day, which is weird cos i only heard it once and as background noise

Lexi

Their sound 😍

Pro Valkryie

My brother just got me into this band and I love them!

Mani

10y↑14

This is so amazing.

roy ashman

11y

Just heard this on radio and i love it...........50 yr old rocker

i

11y

I like how the cassette tape is "In Utero" which has allways been & will allways be my most favourite album of all time!!

bonsaisuperstar

11y

One of my favorites.

Will Smith

12y

I think this and doused are my favourite tracks from the album

sadie harry

12y

this song is just the loveliest song in the world

OvercookedOctopusFeet

8y↑1

watch any interview from the early eighties with REM and this is like deja vu......... great band , great sound, i found this band only half an hour ago and i'm a fan................AND i've just found out that they are playing in my home town (Sheffield, England) in March.... going to buy tickets!!!

zamaz99

+MrRichardsREM If you like this type of jangly dream pop, also check out a band called Wild Nothing. Great stuff!

ghoulsniteout

12y↑1

did i mention how much i love this video? <3

Brandon Dailey

11y

I saw these guys this past Sunday at Lolla had no idea who they were.. but they were really good IMO. I just wished I could hear the lead vocalist. I thought it was just the sound crew that messed up the mic or something, but even in this song I can't really hear him. But anyways, good music.

mycelium_

8y↑15

Why is this song so good played at a low volume? XD idk why but to me it sounds nice like that, it gives off a hot summer night like vibe.

mycelium_

Also this was posted a day after my birthday 0-0

Michael Hager

8y↑3

Funny, it's also so good played at high volume. Driving down the highway at midnight with this cranked up seemed the perfect choice!

joel franco

5y↑1

It’s fuckin August 27th hot af here tried it out genius

Maff Musica

DIIV is an awesome band, for more shoegaze music check out our new EP!

Dell

5y↑5

Once i played this cover live with my ex gf on a pool party... beautiful memories

pascoupe

12y

How does this not have more views?

togetherandwaiting

11y

i might have enjoyed a different ending - great song really great band

Melissa Jimenez

10y

I Loooove this song

Sl33pyS3ven

10y

Thanks for letting me live the 90s!

Florence C

11y

Love this

survivor turnover

5y↑1

diiv is just everything you need

Internet Summoner

True words <3

Roman Colton

11y

You know that feel when you spend an entire day making a pill and it doesn't even get you high?

jon craig

11y

its not bieber-bad or terrible, it's just all their songs are really mellow. its a step above video game music though

Frederik Petersen

12y

Yeah me too! This music fits the summer so perfectly..

WildTurkey X

10y↑77

i think that the message of this video is hes putting some of everything....the flag being freedom, the cross being religion, the cut out eyes being vision, the dream weaver being dreams, etc then the spark from the firecracker blowing it all up then he puts it in the pill to essentially internalize all of these things life is supposed to offer and then him standing their blankly saying "i still feel nothing"

Fluorescent Teddy

10y↑30

REALLY?, US FLAG = FREEDOM? LOL

joel franco

7y↑4

NorCal55 X no it's about him being gay

Logan Phelps

7y↑4

NorCal55 X I think most of what you're saying makes sense. But I think it's more like he's putting things he loves or thinks about into a pill, to take it, whether that pill is just taking what he loves, or what will "cure" him is up to interperetation.

Forastero MGTOW

6y↑4

In an interview he said all the things in the "smoothie" represent the ingredients for a cure or something.

bassistwd

12y

pretty good!

Ali

Best live act I've seen in ages.

Kurt Burhouse

11y↑2

I like how Z. Cole uses the 'In Utero' album on cassette as an ingredient of the drug which is eventually created at the end of the video, deffiniteley the best Nirvana album, great minds think alike maan! not to mention the powerful message behind this

Shanarathttps://goo.gl/xQxrbQ Sresomboonkamol

7y↑1

They've got a new drummer, he can also play saxophone. And Collin coming up for drum.

kaitlyn zuniga

7y↑2

man this is so good oh my god

Roseville

Just saw you over at Olivers music earlier too how weird lol

onje99

11y

Me too! I can't wait to see these guys again:)

34mrcw

12y

Definitely some early shoegaze in there, lets hope this latest generation reincarnate the early 90's had enough 80's tosh to last a lifetime! check the album alot of shoegaze in there amazing, I would describe it as a hint of joy division bass lines with a dose of shoegaze and a touch of the xx

Adithya Poetri

11y

well i think it's a completely new era now, musicians like radiohead started to share and sell their music through internet years ago and dont make a big fuss over filesharing or piracy anymore. you cant fight technology,its not nice to whine.you just have to create a system that fits musicians needs. i think its great that recording is so much cheaper now and everyone can easily upload their music. people can choose what kind of music they like to buy and listen. good musicians will survive tho

Megan

9y↑1

love this

dxxy

45w↑1

I miss this era 😔

Fa Gnr

this video is so good!!

jon craig

11y

and im 23 so not old, you know it's not like DIIV is going gold or platinum any time soon. Seriously, the internet ruined it for musicians, it's so much harder now a days to make it in music cause you can just youtube all DIIV's songs and not pay a cent for em, where as back in the day you had to pay and had no other option. I mean, it's not all bad, but there's a real lack of hardcore musicianship like in pink floyd

Charlie Emms

11y

DIIV were supporting the Vaccines last night at the Dome, Doncaster and me and my friends were all going crazy for cole!

bao 9

11y

People hating on music these days just aren't looking hard enough. If you don't like DIIV's music just don't listen to it, quite simple

Brandon Martínez.

Valuable memories of 2016.

Hayden N

11y

If you have your volume low, switch tabs, and forget that you started this video, the first 45 seconds almost sound a little bit like a soap opera theme song playing in another room.

ZyxthePest

12y

Very much a late 80s/early 90s throwback...probably moreso late 80s. Reminds me a lot of Galaxie 500. Not sure what the indie obsession with the 80s has been about lately. These guys do a pretty great job though.

Peter Carlovich

12y

sooo sooo sooo good.

hudsonlotus

11y

so happy i found that band

melatonin

11y

This band is rad as fuck.<3

Katherine Mae

11y

That was fucking amazing.

xyzpdq1122

12y

I have that same Ninja blender and it kicks ass! Not as strong as a Blendtec or Vita-mix, but half the cost.

Y-Bash

This is so beatiful man.

Mayrie

12y

I really like your band! Plz come to Vancouver to hold the LIVE!!! >o<!!

Drew

11y

going to see these guys supporting the vaccines in Glasgow tomorrow. Never heard of them until today but I can't wait now!

La Grieta Indie Music

12y

great !!

xxxMrG

11y

Get to see DIIV on Friday night in SF! IO ECHO opening for them too. WOW!

Jason Mandel

12y

I seriously cant believe they played my HS grad partylast friday!!!!!!!

WhoStoleMyPants

9y↑1

assgazing...love it.good music

CCCXXV

so in love w this

Zoltán László Új

12y

Yes! I like it!:)))

megalo maniac

7y↑2

He's so weird. I love it.

kingjelly82

12y

Give it a few more listens mannnnn

Max Bell

12y

sounds kinda like early broken social scene.. if you like this then you will love them

Alain Lopez

12y

so fucking beautiful! <3

heyjubie

11y

Gahd dam so good!

Goadiroth

12y↑4

I learned this on guitar. :)

s1mple CS:GO

Superb.

velvet1965

12y

this song has some distant elements of shoegaze to it, and that's coming from someone who knows all of the bands you just mentioned. but no, i would not describe them as a shoegazer band, just a band that has some shoegaze elements here and there. fair?

Jorge Keidong

10y

puro amor.

steph larson

12y

Great songwriting, looks like Tucker from Total Slacker!!

Divague Official

So dope and a timeless classic already!
If you like DIIV, you might like this: https://youtu.be/sLPPCr0avM4

isaias araya

estuvo genial en la ex oz

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