This song by Gotye also features vocals by Kimbra. The song was a commercia… Read Full Bio ↴This song by Gotye also features vocals by Kimbra. The song was a commercial and critical success, topping the charts in at least 17 countries including Australia, United States, UK, New Zealand, Poland, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It was voted #1 on the 2011 Australian Triple J Hottest 100 national music poll. It was the second best selling single of 2011 in Australia.

As of March 2012, it had sold 600,000 copies in the UK making it the best-selling single of 2012 so far, and it also became the 3rd best-selling download ever in Germany with digital sales between 500,000 and 600,000.

As of April 2012, it's officially the most successful song in the history of the Dutch charts. In April, the song rose to number one on the US Billboard chart with sales of 542,000 downloads. It is the fourth-biggest weekly sales since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital sales in 2003.

The opening guitar riff is sampled from "Seville" by Luiz Bonfa.

Somebody That I Used To Know feat. Kimbra
Gotye Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 we were 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 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 we were 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, I used to know somebody

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gotye ft. ENiGMA's "Somebody That I Used to Know" are centered around the idea of a failed relationship and the different ways that people cope with losing love. The song is broken up into two parts, each with its own distinct tone and message.

In the first part, the singer reminisces about the happier times in the relationship, when he thought that his partner was the perfect match for him. However, he also acknowledges that he felt lonely even in her company. He recognizes that the love that they shared was real, but it came with sadness that still lingers. The chorus introduces the idea that people can become addicted to sadness, and that some people may feel more comfortable resigning themselves to the end of a relationship, even though it hurts.

In the second part of the song, the singer reflects on how their relationship soured and how his partner ended up cutting him off completely. He feels hurt by how abruptly she ended things with him, and he resents the way that she treated him like a stranger after their breakup. He acknowledges that there were times when he felt that he was in the wrong, but ultimately, he wants to move on and find closure.

Overall, the lyrics of the song are emotionally resonant, detailing the different stages of grief and the healing process that one goes through after a failed relationship. The song serves as a reminder of how fleeting love can be, and how difficult it can be to let go of someone that you used to care for deeply.

Line by Line Meaning

Now and then I think of when we were together
Occasionally, I reminisce on our past times together

Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I remember when you expressed an extreme joy that made you feel like you could die

Told myself that you were right for me
I tried to convince myself that you were the right person for me

But felt so lonely in your company
Despite being with you, I still felt a deep sense of loneliness

But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
However, I know that feeling lonely in love is a common experience and it still brings me pain

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
It's possible to become reliant on a particular type of sadness

Like resignation to the end, always the end
It's like accepting the end of something and expecting it to always end that way

So when we found that we could not make sense
When we realized that we couldn't comprehend each other

Well you said that we would still be friends
You suggested that we could still maintain a friendship

But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over
Although you said that, I have to confess that I was relieved our relationship was ending

But you didn't have to cut me off
You didn't have to sever our ties so completely

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
You pretended like our relationship never occurred and meant nothing

And I don't even need your love
I don't require your love

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
It's disheartening how you treat me as if we are strangers

No you didn't have to stoop so low
You didn't need to act in such an undignified manner

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
Asking your friends to retrieve your belongings and changing your phone number was excessive

I guess that I don't need that though
Although it was hurtful, I realize I don't need that type of negativity

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now, you're just someone from my past

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
Sometimes, I remember the times you wronged me

But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But, you convinced me that I was to blame for everything

And I don't wanna live that way
I don't want to continue living under those circumstances

Reading into every word you say
I'm extremely cautious and analytical of every word you say

You said that you could let it go
You claimed that you have already let go of our relationship

And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
I assume that you're over the person you used to be and not pining over them

Somebody, I used to know
Somebody that I used to know

(Somebody) Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now, you're someone I knew before but not anymore

I used to know, that I used to know, I used to know somebody
I'm reflecting on how I used to know you, but now we're just strangers

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Walter Andre De Backer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind