Members:
* Ji-Hyun Hong (Guitar/Vocal)
* Kang-Hee Lee (Drum/Vocal)
Nothing But You
Dead Buttons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I laugh
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I smile
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I laugh
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I cry
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I smile
She's gone away
But I couldn't make a proper reply
Now I know but it's too late
She's gone away
And never coming back
Now I know but it's too late
In my smile
There's nothing but you
Now I know but it's too late
She's gone away
And never coming back
Now I know but it's too late
In my smile
There's nothing but you
When I smile
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I laugh
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I cry
She asked me why
But I couldn't make a proper reply
When I smile
She's gone away
But I couldn't make a proper reply
Na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na
There's nothing but you
The lyrics to Dead Buttons’s song Nothing But You speak of regret, missed opportunities, and unspoken emotions. The singer recounts a time when he was asked why he smiled, laughed, and cried by someone who has now gone away. The singer is unable to articulate a proper response to their questions, leaving their feelings and intentions unclear. The song is tinged with sadness and a sense of longing, a feeling of wanting to turn back time and do things differently.
At the end of the song, the singer realizes that their failure to properly express themselves has led to the object of their affection being gone forever. They are left with nothing but memories and the realization that their emotions were tied up in that one person. The lines "Now I know but it's too late/In my smile/There's nothing but you" bring home the depth of the singer’s regret and sorrow at not having spoken their true feelings when they had the chance.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder that communication is key, and that failing to express ourselves can have devastating consequences. The singer’s sense of loss and regret is palpable, making the song a moving and relatable portrait of human emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
When I smile
The singer smiles, but someone asks them why, and they can't give a good answer.
She asked me why
Someone asks the singer why they are smiling or laughing or crying.
But I couldn't make a proper reply
The singer can't give a satisfactory answer when asked about their emotional state.
When I laugh
The artist laughs, but someone asks them why, and again they can't explain.
When I cry
The artist cries, and once more, someone asks why, but they can't give a good answer.
She's gone away
The person who used to ask the singer why they felt a certain way is no longer in their life.
Now I know but it's too late
The singer has realized something important, but it's too late to do anything about it.
And never coming back
The person who used to ask the artist about their emotions will not be returning.
In my smile
Even when the artist smiles, it reminds them of something painful.
There's nothing but you
The artist's smile contains a sense of loss or longing for the person who used to ask about their emotions and is no longer in their life.
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.