King was born on the 24th August 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., the first of two daughters. While King was a small child, her father noticed her natural musical ability, and encouraged her interest in music. She was introduced to the guitar at the age of four, and played for several years, but after taking up the drums a few years later, they became her primary instrument as an adolescent.
Convinced that her break in music would come from being a drummer, King played in bands in high school with classmate Morgan Jahnig, who would later become the bassist of Old Crow Medicine Show. Upon graduating from The Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1998, the two friends made their way to New York University. During her time there, King picked up the guitar again, and revisited the finger-style techniques that intrigued her as a child. From there, King played a few occasional gigs and busked in the New York subways.
In February 2006, Rolling Stone released a list of "The New Guitar Gods", with King as the sole woman and youngest artist honoured. In addition to a ten-year career that includes six LP and two EP albums, King has also spent significant time scoring music for television and film. She worked alongside Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook, contributing the music for the soundtrack to Sean Penn's Into the Wild, for which King, Vedder, and Brook were nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.
King's style combines fret-tapping with slap bass techniques, using the guitar for percussive beats, as well as sound layering and looping. Her playing style has been compared to Michael Hedges and Preston Reed; she explicitly cites the latter as an influence.
I Never Said I Love You
Kaki King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the truth
But if you were the one, baby, you'd've heard it by now
But I never said I love you
You are a dream-come-true for someone
But not for me
Still, can't we have fun, darling?
You give me more than I can contain
It hurts to know the truth
But this will never go your way
I never said I love you
Sweet thing, come to me
Sweet thing, come to me
Kaki King's song "I Never Said I Love You" is a melancholic and poignant reflection on the complexity of love and relationships. The song's opening lyrics, "You're so beautiful, so strange, so lovely, that's the truth" highlights the paradoxical nature of knowing and not knowing one's true feelings. The singer acknowledges the beauty and attractiveness of the other person, but denies having any romantic feelings for them.
The chorus of the song, "But if you were the one, baby, you'd've heard it by now, but I never said I love you" further emphasizes the theme of honesty and the importance of expressing one's true feelings. The singer acknowledges the possibility of the other person being "the one," but their inability to say "I love you" shows their emotional availability and unwillingness to commit.
The bridge of the song, "You give me more than I can contain, it hurts to know the truth, but this will never go your way, I never said I love you" portrays the pain and disappointment of unrequited love. The singer recognizes the other person's worth and value, but their inability to reciprocate feelings of love causes pain and heartache.
Overall, "I Never Said I Love You" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexity of love and relationships, and the importance of honesty and emotional vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so beautiful, so strange, so lovely
You are an attractive individual, unique and enchanting.
That's the truth
This statement is an honest reflection of my thoughts.
But if you were the one, baby, you'd've heard it by now
Had you been the person for me, I would have expressed my love already.
But I never said I love you
I have not mentioned or implied any feelings of love towards you.
You are a dream-come-true for someone
You possess qualities that are attractive to another person.
But not for me
However, these qualities do not appeal to me personally.
Still, can't we have fun, darling?
Despite this, can't we enjoy each other's company in a non-romantic way?
I can't say what I don't mean
I refuse to express emotions that I do not genuinely feel.
You give me more than I can contain
Your actions or feelings for me are overwhelming and too much to handle.
It hurts to know the truth
I am pained to acknowledge this reality and express it to you.
But this will never go your way
I cannot reciprocate your feelings, and this situation will not progress to a romantic relationship.
Sweet thing, come to me
A request for physical intimacy and closeness.
Sweet thing, come to me
Reiteration of the desire for physical connection.
Contributed by Owen G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.