The sisters grew up in a musical family, and began playing instruments from an early age in the cover band Rockinhaim, fronted by their parents, Moti and Donna. The two elder sisters, Este and Danielle, began performing with the pop group "Valli Girls" in 2005. They released a few songs on soundtrack and compilation albums under that name, but left the group shortly after an appearance at the 2005 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. They formed Haim with younger sister Alana in 2007, but did not seriously consider it a professional career for some years. After Danielle became a successful touring guitarist, first with Jenny Lewis and later with Julian Casablancas, Haim reformed as a full-time operation in 2012.
The group's first release, Forever (an EP released as a limited-time download), combined with positive reception at the South by Southwest festival, led to a deal with Polydor Records and a management deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation group in mid-2012. The band began recording material for their first album, Days Are Gone, in sessions between touring dates, including appearances at the Glastonbury Festival. The album charted in the top ten in several countries, including the number-one spot in the UK, and the group had won several "best of" awards by the end of 2013. The group was nominated for Best New Artist at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Their second album, Something to Tell You, was released in July 2017. Their third album, titled Women in Music Pt. III, was released on June 26, 2020. The group received nominations at the 63rd Grammy awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance (for "The Steps").
You Never Knew
HAIM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A strain on my back
But I love to have you, right there by my side
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
It used to be, when we are alone
We shared such beautiful moments
(But lately it's been such a mix)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I came home to see you, you weren't around
Excuses were one right after the other
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
You woke up from another dream, another fight you didn't mean
Still, time after time
I came running to get you
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
(You couldn't take it)
Another heart, another day
So much time just thrown away
(You couldn't take it)
You know I love to be in love
(You couldn't take it)
So tired of trying to show you
I worked so hard
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
The lyrics to HAIM's song "You Never Knew" describe the singer's frustration with a partner who seems unable to appreciate the love and devotion that they offer. The opening lines use metaphor to describe the emotional weight that the relationship represents, and the chorus puts the frustration and anger into words, urging the partner to acknowledge the singer's love and worth. Throughout the song, there are hints that the singer is repeatedly dealing with the partner's ambivalent responses and lack of commitment, as well as hints that the partner may be unfaithful or otherwise unreliable. Despite this, the singer seems fixated on the idea of winning the partner's acceptance and approval, and while expressing anger towards the partner's refusal to communicate, also seems to be pleading for the relationship to continue.
One interpretation of the song is that it represents a common experience of someone feeling unvalued and unappreciated in a relationship, yet persisting in trying to win over an uninterested or incompatible partner. The lyrics might reflect a sense of powerlessness and guilt, as well as an inability to let go of a relationship that has turned toxic. Overall, "You Never Knew" is a powerful and emotionally charged song that speaks to the challenges of romantic relationships, particularly when one person is more invested than the other.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a weight on my shoulders
I had a burden on me
A strain on my back
It was causing me stress
But I love to have you, right there by my side
I still loved having you near me
(You couldn't take it)
You couldn't handle the situation
(You couldn't take it)
You couldn't bear the stress
It used to be, when we are alone
We used to spend quality time together when we're alone
We shared such beautiful moments
Our private time together was so special
(But lately it's been such a mix)
But lately it's been a confusing jumble
(You couldn't take it)
You were unable to handle it
(You couldn't take it)
The strain was too much for you
Go on and say it
Tell me the truth
Was my love too much for you to take?
Did my love overwhelm you?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
You didn't realize what you had
Don't keep me waiting, say the words that you're too scared to say
Don't make me wait, say what you're afraid to say
I need to hear you say it
I need to know the truth
I came home to see you, you weren't around
I returned home but you weren't there
Excuses were one right after the other
You kept making excuses
(You couldn't take it)
You were unable to handle it
(You couldn't take it)
The stress was too much for you
You woke up from another dream, another fight you didn't mean
You woke up from a dream about a fight that wasn't real
Still, time after time
Despite everything
I came running to get you
I still came to be with you
(You couldn't take it)
You couldn't handle the situation
(You couldn't take it)
The stress was too much for you
Another heart, another day
Another day, another broken heart
So much time just thrown away
So much time wasted
You know I love to be in love
I enjoy being in love
So tired of trying to show you
I'm exhausted from trying to prove myself to you
I worked so hard
I put so much effort to make this work
I guess you never knew
You didn't realize
I guess you never knew what was good for you
You didn't know what you had
I guess you never knew
You didn't understand
I guess you never knew what was good for you
You didn't appreciate what you had
I guess you never knew
You didn't realize
I guess you never knew what was good for you
You didn't know what you had
I guess you never knew
You didn't understand
I guess you never knew what was good for you
You didn't appreciate what you had
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alana Mychal Haim, Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid, Danielle Sari Haim, Dev Hynes, Este Arielle Haim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ratna Cempaka Yelestine
It was a weight on my shoulders
A strain on my back
But I love to have you, right there by my side
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
It used to be, when we were alone
We shared such beautiful moments
(But lately it's been such a mix)
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I came home to see you, you weren't around
Excuses were one right after the other
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
You woke up from another dream, another fight you didn't mean
Still, time after time
I came running to get you
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
(You couldn't take it)
Another heart, another day
So much time was thrown away
(You couldn't take it)
You know I love to be in love
(You couldn't take it)
So tired of trying to show you
I worked so hard
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Nirlash Karki
this is my favourite track off the record.
James Trujillo
samesies, sis <3
Farhan Marco
without a doubt
Flo Welch
So do I, I got in love with it, literally I can't stop listening <3
Warren Hair
mine too thus far :-)
NiqP Indigo
hy me too i love this and something to tell u the song
Rihnox
I guess I never knew what was good for me till I found this band.
Ratna Cempaka Yelestine
It was a weight on my shoulders
A strain on my back
But I love to have you, right there by my side
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
It used to be, when we were alone
We shared such beautiful moments
(But lately it's been such a mix)
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I came home to see you, you weren't around
Excuses were one right after the other
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
You woke up from another dream, another fight you didn't mean
Still, time after time
I came running to get you
(You couldn't take it)
(You couldn't take it)
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
(You couldn't take it)
Another heart, another day
So much time was thrown away
(You couldn't take it)
You know I love to be in love
(You couldn't take it)
So tired of trying to show you
I worked so hard
Go on and say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I need to hear you say it
Was my love too much for you to take?
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Don't keep me waiting, to the words that you're too scared to say
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
I guess you never knew
I guess you never knew what was good for you
Nilooo lil
Ratna Cempaka Yelestine Thank you so much ❤
Islandman Channel
This is such a beautiful song HAIM's style is awesome. My favorite band together with take that