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 I Used To Know
Gotye feat. Kimbra 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 to Gotye's song "Somebody I Used to Know" speak of the pain and loss experienced after a breakup. The song is a dialogue between two ex-lovers, with the singer thinking back to when they were together and feeling nostalgic for the happy times. However, he also remembers feeling lonely in the other's company, suggesting that the relationship was not as perfect as it appeared.

The singer then speaks of "getting addicted to a certain kind of sadness," suggesting that he has become resigned to the idea that all relationships eventually end. When the couple finally did break up, the other person wanted to remain friends, but the singer confesses that he was relieved that it was over. He then laments how the other person cut him off completely, treating him like a stranger, and wonders why they had to stoop so low to get over him.

The second verse explores the singer's thoughts on the other person's behavior after the breakup. He speaks of feeling like he was constantly being screwed over, but was made to believe that it was his own fault. He does not want to live that way, always reading into the other person's words, and in turn, he does not want to be caught hanging onto their memory either.

Overall, "Somebody I Used to Know" is a poignant and relatable portrayal of the aftermath of a broken relationship. The lyrics are especially powerful due to the back and forth perspective, with each person sharing their point of view.

Line by Line Meaning

Now and then I think of when we were together
Occasionally I reminisce about the time we spent together in the past

Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I remember when you expressed great joy and satisfaction in a way I'd never seen before

Told myself that you were right for me
I convinced myself that we were a good match

But felt so lonely in your company
Despite being around you, I still felt a deep sense of isolation and disconnection

But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
Despite the pain and heartache love brought me, I still hold onto the memory of it

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
It's possible to become attached to a particular type of misery or pain

Like resignation to the end, always the end
It's like surrendering to the inevitable, knowing that everything will ultimately come to a close

So when we found that we could not make sense
When we realized that our relationship was beyond repair

Well you said that we would still be friends
You tried to maintain a connection by insisting we could be friends

But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over
Despite the sadness, I confess that I was happy it was all said and done

But you didn't have to cut me off
You didn't have to completely remove me from your life

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
You acted like our past never existed and that we meant nothing to each other

And I don't even need your love
I don't require your affection or attachment

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
You act as if we've never met, which is painful and uncomfortable for me

No you didn't have to stoop so low
You didn't have to behave in such a distasteful manner

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
You went so far as to have your friends collect your belongings and change your contact information

I guess that I don't need that though
Ultimately, I'm better off without that kind of treatment

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now, you're just a person who I used to have a connection with

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
From time to time, I recall all the ways you wronged me

But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
You made me think that everything was my fault and that I was to blame

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

Reading into every word you say
I scrutinize and try to interpret everything you say

You said that you could let it go
You claimed that you had moved on and could put the past behind you

And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
And I wouldn't expect you to still be pining after someone you used to be involved with

Somebody, I used to know
A person who I used to have a connection with

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS