I Know Things Now
Julia Lester Lyrics
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Not to delay or be misled
I should have heeded her advice
But he seemed so nice
And he showed me things
Many beautiful things
That I hadn't thought to explore
So I never had dared
I had been so careful
I never had cared
And he made me feel excited
Well, excited and scared
When he said, "Come in"
With that sickening grin
How could I know what was in store?
Once his teeth were bared
Though, I really got scared
Well, excited and scared
But he drew me close
And he swallowed me down
Down a dark, slimy path
Where lie secrets that I never want to know
And when everything familiar
Seemed to disappear forever
At the end of the path
Was Granny once again
So we wait in the dark
Until someone sets us free
And we're brought into the light
And we're back at the start
And I know things now
Many valuable things
That I hadn't known before
Do not put your faith
In a cape and a hood
They will not protect you
The way that they should
And take extra care with strangers
Even flowers have their dangers
And though scary is exciting
Nice is different than good
Now I know
Don't be scared
Granny is right
Just be prepared
Isn't it nice to know a lot?
And a little bit not
The lyrics of Julia Lester's song "I Know Things Now" tell a cautionary tale about the singer's encounter with an enticing yet dangerous individual. In the first verse, the singer reflects on their mother's advice to stay focused and not be misled, but they chose to overlook it because the person they encountered seemed nice. This decision leads them to experience a sequence of events that takes them off their intended path.
The second verse depicts the allure of the person who showed the singer "many beautiful things" that they had never considered exploring before. The singer admits that they had been cautious and had never taken risks, but this person made them feel both excited and scared. The sickening grin the person displays hints at the underlying danger that the singer is about to face.
As the story progresses, the singer reveals that they were deceived by this individual. They were drawn closer to them, only to be consumed and taken down a dark, slimy path filled with horrifying secrets. The lyrics express the singer's regret for ever venturing into this path, as everything they held familiar disappears until they find themselves facing their grandmother once again. This image suggests that the person they encountered had transformed into a grotesque version of their grandmother, emphasizing the betrayal and deception they experienced.
The chorus suggests that the singer and their grandmother wait in the darkness, hoping for someone to rescue them and bring them back into the light. The lyrics highlight the valuable lessons the singer has learned from this harrowing experience. They caution against putting blind faith in appearances, even mentioning the ineffectiveness of capes and hoods as symbols of protection. The lyrics also emphasize the importance of being cautious around strangers, noting that even seemingly harmless things like flowers can pose dangers. The singer acknowledges that while scary experiences can be exciting, being nice is fundamentally different from being good.
The final lines of the song reflect the newfound wisdom and resilience the singer has gained through these events. They assert the importance of not being scared and being prepared, echoing their grandmother's earlier advice. The lyrics conclude by highlighting the contrast between knowledge and ignorance, emphasizing the value of understanding the world and its dangers, while acknowledging that there is always more to learn.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother said, "Straight ahead"
My mother advised me to stick to the straight path and not be distracted.
Not to delay or be misled
She cautioned me against wasting time or being deceived.
I should have heeded her advice
I should have listened and taken her advice seriously.
But he seemed so nice
However, the person I encountered appeared to be kind and pleasant.
And he showed me things
He introduced me to new experiences and ideas.
Many beautiful things
I discovered numerous captivating and enchanting aspects of life.
That I hadn't thought to explore
I had never considered exploring these things before.
They were off my path
These experiences were outside of my intended journey.
So I never had dared
I never had the courage to venture into these unknown territories.
I had been so careful
I had always been cautious and mindful.
I never had cared
I had never truly taken an interest in stepping outside my comfort zone.
And he made me feel excited
He ignited a feeling of thrill and anticipation within me.
Well, excited and scared
I was simultaneously thrilled and afraid of what lay ahead.
When he said, "Come in"
When he invited me in with those words.
With that sickening grin
His unsettling smile accompanying his invitation.
How could I know what was in store?
I had no way of predicting the future or foreseeing the consequences.
Once his teeth were bared
After he revealed his true character and intentions.
Though, I really got scared
I was genuinely frightened then.
Well, excited and scared
Still, my emotions fluctuated between excitement and fear.
But he drew me close
He pulled me in closer.
And he swallowed me down
He consumed me entirely.
Down a dark, slimy path
Into a treacherous and repulsive journey.
Where lie secrets that I never want to know
A place where horrifying secrets dwell, knowledge I never wished to possess.
And when everything familiar
As everything I once knew well
Seemed to disappear forever
Seemed to vanish forever
At the end of the path
When reaching the path's conclusion
Was Granny once again
I found myself back with Granny, once more in her presence
So we wait in the dark
We endure the darkness, biding our time
Until someone sets us free
Until someone rescues us and liberates us
And we're brought into the light
And we're guided towards brightness and illumination
And we're back at the start
And we find ourselves returned to the beginning
And I know things now
And I have learned valuable lessons and insights
Many valuable things
Numerous significant and meaningful truths
That I hadn't known before
That were previously unfamiliar to me
Do not put your faith
Do not place your trust
In a cape and a hood
In the appearance of heroism or disguise
They will not protect you
These symbols won't shield you
The way that they should
As effectively as they are expected to
And take extra care with strangers
Exercise additional caution when dealing with unfamiliar individuals
Even flowers have their dangers
Even seemingly harmless things can possess hidden threats
And though scary is exciting
Despite fear being thrilling
Nice is different than good
Kindness is distinct from being morally upright
Now I know
Now I understand
Don't be scared
There's no need to be afraid
Granny is right
Grandmother's advice is correct
Just be prepared
Simply be ready and cautious
Isn't it nice to know a lot?
Isn't it pleasant to possess a wealth of knowledge?
And a little bit not
Even if there are some things remaining unknown
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind