El Guapo was born as a two-piece in Washington, DC in 1996. Through the yea… Read Full Bio ↴El Guapo was born as a two-piece in Washington, DC in 1996. Through the years and through various instrument/lineup changes, the band has continually blurred the lines between art-punk and the avant-garde. In the late 90s the band released two records on Resin Records as well as a CD of improvisational works on their own label, Mud Memory in 2000. In March 2001, El Guapo, then a 3 piece, began work at National Recording Studio in DC with Phil Manley (Trans Am) where the band recorded their first album for Dischord Records, "Super/System." The 42 minute final edit is a testament to the band's multi-instrumental versatility and innovative approach to music making. "Fake French," El Guapo's second Dischord release, was self-recorded in numerous sessions over a six month period and was released in March 2003. After crafting an explosive live set in over 100 Stateside and European shows in 2002 , El Guapo has continued to tour the US and Europe throughout 2003 and 2004. In early 2004 the band was expaned to a four piece with the addition of drummer Josh Blair (who also plays in Orthrelm). The newly expaned El Guapo were renamed Supersystem and are currently recording for Touch and Go Records.

Just Don't Know
El Guapo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You drink a glass of water
But you just don't know
You open up your mail
But you just don't know
You're walking down the street
But you just don't know
You're breathing in the air
But you just don't know

Which way
To run
Away
You want to sleep at night
But you just don't know
Which way
To run
Away

You watch the TV
But you just don't know
You listen to the radio
You just don't know
You read it in the paper
But you just don't know
You're going to the movies
But you just don't know
Which way

To run
Away

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are a portrayal of a sense of confusion and anxiety that the singer is experiencing. They express the feeling of being lost and unable to find a way out of the various sources of stress surrounding them, whether that be through everyday actions such as drinking water and opening mail, or through forms of escapism like watching TV or going to the movies. The repeated refrain of "which way to run away" further emphasizes a desire to escape and avoid facing whatever is causing this feeling of turmoil.

The use of everyday actions in the opening lines creates a sense of banality, as if even the simplest tasks have become overwhelming. The repetition of "but you just don't know" adds to this feeling of being lost and helpless. The list of activities the singer engages in, from opening mail to watching TV, suggests that there is no clear solution to their problems.

Furthermore, the final line of each verse includes a sense of urgency, indicating that the singer feels a need to escape, despite not knowing where to go. The use of the phrase "you just don't know" ends each verse with a sense of unresolved tension, heightening the feeling of unease expressed throughout the song.

Overall, El Guapo's "Just Don't Know" is a powerful expression of anxiety and confusion, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of life's simplest activities when one is in such an emotional state.

Line by Line Meaning

You drink a glass of water
You perform daily routines, but you lack understanding of how those routines affect your environment

But you just don't know
You lack the knowledge required for grasping the significance of what surrounds you

You open up your mail
You attend to your personal matters, but you lack an overall understanding of their effects

You're walking down the street
You are surrounded by people and events, but you lack the perception required to make sense of them

You're breathing in the air
You breathe in the elements that form the world, but you lack the knowledge of the impact they have on you

Which way
You struggle with making decisions because you are missing a clear sense of direction

To run
You are seeking to escape because you feel overwhelmed and unable to handle your circumstances

Away
You want to distance yourself from the confusion and difficulties of life

You want to sleep at night
You want to find peace and rest, but you lack relief from the anxiety that haunts you

You watch the TV
You seek entertainment and distraction, but you lack the awareness of the reality that surrounds you

You listen to the radio
You seek to connect with others and keep yourself informed, but you lack the ability to fully comprehend the messages received

You read it in the paper
You seek to stay informed about the world, but you lack the perspective needed to make sense of the events and issues presented

You're going to the movies
You seek to escape into a fictional world for entertainment, but you lack the comprehension of the true meaning behind those fantastical stories

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS