Somebody That I Used to Know
Jessica Lea Mayfield & Seth Avett Lyrics
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But it's your heart, not mine, that's scarred
So when I go home, I'll be happy to go
You're just somebody that I used to know
You don't need my help anymore
It's all now to you, there ain't no before
Now that you're big enough to run your own show
I watched you deal in a dying day
And throw a living past away
So you can be sure that you're in control
You're just somebody that I used to know
I know you don't think you did me wrong
And I can't stay this mad for long
Keeping a hold of what you just let go
You're just somebody that I used to know
The main theme of Jessica Lea Mayfield and Seth Avett's song "Somebody That I Used to Know" is about a person who has moved on from a painful relationship, while their former partner is still struggling to move on. The lyrics express the main character's inner feelings of hurt, but also a sense of peace and acceptance in having let go of the past. The opening line, "I had tender feelings that you made hard" highlights how the relationship was initially happy and loving, but the other person's actions caused the main character's heart to harden. The main character then acknowledges that while they might have some pain and hurt, it is the other person's heart that is truly scarred.
The lines "You don't need my help anymore/It's all now to you, there ain't no before" show how the relationship has ended and the other person has moved on to become independent. The main character is happy to let go and not be in control of the other person's life anymore. The next verse expresses how the main character watched their former partner throw away a once-happy relationship and is now in control of their own life, but that still doesn't mean that they are entitled to hold onto the past.
The final verse shows the main character coming to terms with having let go and being able to forgive and move on from the past. The line "I know you don't think you did me wrong/And I can't stay this mad for long" highlights that the main character is ready to move on without holding any grudges. The chorus repeats the title, emphasizing that the other person is now just a memory of someone they used to know.
Overall, the song carries strong themes of forgiveness, growth, and letting go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I had tender feelings that you made hard
I had vulnerable emotions that you made difficult for me to express
But it's your heart, not mine, that's scarred
You have emotional wounds that were caused by your own actions, not mine
So when I go home, I'll be happy to go
I'll be relieved when I leave and go home
You're just somebody that I used to know
You're no longer important to me and I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore
You don't need my help anymore
You're independent and don't require my assistance
It's all now to you, there ain't no before
You're in control of your own life now and there's no turning back
Now that you're big enough to run your own show
You're mature enough to manage your own life
I watched you deal in a dying day
I saw you handle a situation that was ending poorly
And throw a living past away
You discarded a past that was still relevant and valuable
So you can be sure that you're in control
You made these decisions to prove to yourself that you have power over your own life
I know you don't think you did me wrong
You believe that you didn't hurt me
And I can't stay this mad for long
I can't stay angry with you forever
Keeping a hold of what you just let go
I'm holding onto something that you've already moved on from
You're just somebody that I used to know
Once again, you're no longer important to me and I don't want to interact with you anymore
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.