You Don't Know What You've Got
Joan Jett Lyrics
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When you made other plans
Promises you swore to keep
Where more than you could stand
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
I can't stand to hear your name
'Cause you were so unkind
And though you think you made out well
Someday you will find
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
Shame on you, I gave you love
I gave you love so true
But you ran away
So you just don't know what cha' blew
Yeah, yeah
You don't know what you've got
Oh baby
You don't know what you've got
I thought I knew you
You don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
I was weak when you were there
And I felt so protected
But I'll make sure that you regret
The one that you rejected
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
You don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
Oh baby
You really blew it
Oh baby
I thought you knew me
Oh baby
Oh baby
In "You Don't Know What You've Got" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the singer expresses her hurt and frustration towards a past lover who betrayed her trust. She feels blindsided by their sudden change of heart and inability to keep their promises, and in turn, she warns them that they won't realize what they had until it's gone. The lyrics indicate that she had deep feelings for this person and gave them her all, but they were unkind to her and didn't appreciate her worth. Despite feeling weak around them, she plans to show them what they lost in the end.
Overall, the song is a reflection on how the things we take for granted are often the things that we truly cherish once we lose them. The lyrics are a reminder to appreciate those we love and to value their presence in our lives before it's too late. In contrast, the song also touches on the power dynamics in relationships, where one person may hold more power over the other.
Line by Line Meaning
I was caught so unaware
I was surprised and unprepared when you made other plans.
When you made other plans
When you made plans with someone else instead of keeping your promises to me.
Promises you swore to keep
You made commitments to me, but failed to follow through on them.
Where more than you could stand
You couldn't keep the promises you made because they were too much for you to handle.
You don't know what you've got
You are unaware of the value of what you possess.
Till it's gone
You will only realize the true value of something when you no longer have it.
I can't stand to hear your name
I refuse to even hear your name because of how badly you hurt me.
'Cause you were so unkind
You were cruel and hurtful in your treatment of me.
And though you think you made out well
You may think you benefited from your actions, but you will soon realize your mistake.
Someday you will find
Eventually, you will come to understand the true consequences of your actions.
Shame on you, I gave you love
You should be ashamed of yourself for not appreciating the love I gave you.
I gave you love so true
I gave you genuine and heartfelt love.
But you ran away
You chose to leave and abandon the love I gave you.
So you just don't know what cha' blew
You don't fully understand what you lost when you let go of my love.
I thought I knew you
I believed I understood who you were as a person.
Till it's gone
It's only when something is missing that you realize its importance and worth.
I was weak when you were there
I felt vulnerable and dependent on you when you were around.
And I felt so protected
I felt safe and secure when I was with you.
But I'll make sure that you regret
I will ensure that you feel remorseful for your actions and treatment of me.
The one that you rejected
You turned away from the one who loved you and wanted to be with you.
You really blew it
You made a huge mistake and missed out on something great.
I thought you knew me
I assumed that you truly understood and cared for me.
Oh baby
Expressing continued frustration and disappointment towards the subject of the song.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOAN JETT, KENNETH LAGUNA, RITCHIE CORDELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Genovese
The first time I saw Joan Jett was in 1980 when she and the Blackhearts opened for Iggy Pop. Her first solo album was on sale in the club, still on her own Blackheart label. Still have it in my collection. She'll always be one of the best rockers of the era.
7SeasOfQ
Thats pretty cool! I'd love to see how it looks like :)
Scotty Labeam
I know Joan’s trying to look rebellious here but can’t help but noticing how adorable she is.
Air Guitarist
Excatly
Cowboy Kelly
Ya, your right.. it's TOO Cute
Dogestoevsky
She's absolutely gorgeous...
GuitarStudioA
One of Joan Jett's best backing bands, cut tracks for the Bad Reputation, as well as "I Want You," Greatest Hits (probably Joan's best Punk track)!
FANoftheLEAFS_RAPTORS_JAYS
I bought the 45 record (remember those!?) to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock N' Roll" and side B was this song. That was in the early '80s and it was the first time I heard the song, and 35+ years later...I've NEVER forgotten this song and still love it
Jeff Evans
That is not the same version on the B-side of I Love Rock n Roll.
1967PONTIACGTO
this is a very underrated song