You Never Know
Lipnicka & Porter Lyrics


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The sun came crashing in onto the floor
When I look at you I want more
She threw a blanket over me
Cause she thought I was looking cold
You never know who you've got
Till they've gone

An angel came down bearing a light
To illuminate her one-way flight
She had to change my station
It seems that something wasn't right
You never know who you've got
Till they've gone

It was dark when I opened my eyes
Felt an exhausted presence by my side
I don't know where she came from
I got up and closed my window tight




You never know who you've got
Till they've gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lipnicka & Porter's song You Never Know seem to describe a moment of realization that hits the singer when he realizes the importance of the person next to him. The opening lines describe a sudden event, the sun crashing in onto the floor, that provokes the singer to look at the other person with new eyes. The lines that follow suggest that the person is attentive to the singer's needs, having thrown a blanket over him when she thought he was cold. The chorus is a reminder that we often fail to appreciate the people around us while they are still with us; it is only when they leave that we recognize their value.


The second verse uses imagery of an angel coming down to illuminate "her one-way flight," suggesting that the singer may be referring to a lover who has just left him. The line "she had to change my station" could be interpreted to mean that the lover's departure forced the singer to change his usual routine, or perhaps his emotional state. Again, the chorus emphasizes how easy it is to take people for granted until they're no longer around. The final verse is slightly more mysterious - the singer wakes up feeling someone's presence, but doesn't know where she came from. The line "I got up and closed my window tight" could be seen as an attempt to shut out whatever influence the presence represents, or perhaps as a metaphor for closing off the singer's emotions.


Overall, the song seems to be exploring the theme of loss, and the difficulty many of us have in appreciating what we have until it's gone - whether that's a person, a relationship, or simply a routine that we've grown used to. The use of imagery like the crashing sun and the angel come across as evocative and hint at a deeper meaning. The lyrics also make use of repetition, which underlines the importance of the message: we should cherish the people we love while we still can.



Line by Line Meaning

The sun came crashing in onto the floor
The sudden appearance of light flooded the room and caught my attention.


When I look at you I want more
I desire a deeper connection with you everytime I gaze at you.


She threw a blanket over me
She cared for me and made sure I was comfortable.


Cause she thought I was looking cold
She was concerned about my well-being and wanted to make sure I wasn't cold.


You never know who you've got
One can never fully realize the worth of someone until they're no longer around.


Till they've gone
One doesn't fully appreciate what they had until it's no longer available.


An angel came down bearing a light
Someone divine or special came into my life.


To illuminate her one-way flight
This person served to brighten up an otherwise bleak life journey


She had to change my station
This person's influence in my life demanded me to shift from status quo or old ways.


It seems that something wasn't right
My life was headed towards a direction I wasn't comfortable with.


It was dark when I opened my eyes
Without this person, my life returned to a state of darkness or emptiness.


Felt an exhausted presence by my side
A lack of energy or joy near me.


I don't know where she came from
I was unfamiliar with this person's origins or background.


I got up and closed my window tight
Without this person, my life returned to a state of isolation.




Writer(s): Gary Portnoy, John Tirro, Gloria Nissenson

Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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