Hello Like Before
B.Withers Lyrics
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I'd never come here
If I'd known that you were here
I must admit though
That's it's nice to see you, dear
You look like you've been doing well
A hello like before
'Cause we were only children then
For laughs, I guess we both can say
"I knew you when"
But then again, that's kiss and tell
Hello like before
I guess it's different
'Cause we know each other now
I guess I've always known
We'd meet again somehow
So that it might as well be now
Hello like before
I hope we've grown
'Cause we were only children then
For laughs, I guess we both can say
"I knew you when"
But then again, that's kiss and tell
Hello like before
I guess it's different
'Cause we know each other now
I guess I've always known
We'd meet again somehow
So that it might as well be now
In B. Withers's "Hello Like Before," the singer is addressing someone they used to know, expressing surprise at the fact that they have encountered them again. They mention that they had they known the person was there, they would not have come, indicating some unease with seeing them again. However, they also express that it is nice to see them and remark that they look like they have been doing well.
The singer then reflects on their previous relationship with the person, noting that they were both just children at the time. They reminisce about the past, saying they can both say "I knew you when" for laughs, but also pointing out that some things are best left unsaid. The singer then expresses that while seeing each other again is different now that they know each other as adults, they have always known that they would meet again and that it might as well be now.
Overall, the song seems to be about the complexities of reuniting with someone from the past. While the singer is happy to see the person, there is also some hesitation and unresolved feelings from their previous relationship. The chorus, "Hello like before / I hope we've grown / 'Cause we were only children then / For laughs, I guess we both can say / 'I knew you when' / But then again, that's kiss and tell," seems to sum up the singer's feelings about the situation, acknowledging that while they have both changed since they last saw each other, they still share a history that is both significant and private.
Line by Line Meaning
A hello like before
A greeting that resembles the past encounter
I'd never come here
If I had known you were here, I would never have visited this place
If I'd known that you were here
I was not aware of your presence here
I must admit though that's it's nice to see you, dear
Despite everything, it is good to see you again
You look like you've been doing well
You appear to have been doing fine
I hope we've grown
I hope we have matured from our past selves
'Cause we were only children then
When we first met, we were young and inexperienced
For laughs, I guess we both can say 'I knew you when'
To reminisce, we can both claim that we knew each other in the past
But then again, that's kiss and tell
But sharing intimate details of our past is not appropriate
I guess it's different
Things have changed since we last met
'Cause we know each other now
We are familiar with each other at present
I guess I've always known we'd meet again somehow
I had always believed that we would eventually cross paths again
So that it might as well be now
Therefore, why not make it happen now?
Lyrics © GOLDEN WITHERS MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: John Collins, Bill Withers, JOHN E. COLLINS, WILLIAM HARRISON WITHERS
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