Finding his voice in a school choir, Crawford began his professional career still a teenager. Having some luck on the London stage in the early 60s, he then found his way onto the BBC and starred in various programmes such as 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. He also had film roles in 'The War Lover', 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. and 'How I Won the War' (which brought him into the same work as John Lennon).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's casting of him opposite Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton as the Phantom in 1986 shot his career into high gear. Winning a Tony Award for his role, Crawford also had the aforementioned tune, "The Music Of The Night", reach the British Top Ten. He has released several studio albums such as 'A Touch of Music in the Night' and 'On Eagle's Wings' among others.
I Know The Truth
Michael Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Amneris:
How did I come to this?
How did I slip and fall?
How did I throw half a lifetime away
Without any thought at all?
It's over, it never began
I closed my eyes to so much for so long
and I no longer can
I try to blame it on fortune
Some kind of shift in the stars
But I know the truth and it haunts me
it's flown just a little too far
I know the truth and it mocks me
I know the truth and it shocks me
It's flown just a little, too far.
Why do I want her still?
Why when there's nothing there?
How to go on with the rest of my life
To pretend I don't care
This should've been my time
It's over-It never began
I closed my eyes to so much for so long
and I no longer can
I try to blame it on fortune
Some kind of twist in my fate
But I know the truth and it haunts me
I learned it a little too late
I know the truth and it mocks me
I know the truth and it shocks me
I learned it just a little too late
In Michael Crawford's song "I Know The Truth" from the musical Aida, the character Amneris reflects on her life's mistakes and missed opportunities. She wonders how she ended up where she is and how she let time slip away without realizing it. She questions why she still has feelings for someone who is no longer there and how she can move on without pretending to not care.
Amneris tries to blame her situation on things out of her control such as fortune or destiny, but she knows deep down that it was her own choices that led her to where she is. She has learned the truth a little too late and now it haunts, mocks, and shocks her. This song is a powerful reflection on regret and the consequences of our actions in life.
Overall, "I Know The Truth" is a beautifully written and emotionally charged song that can resonate with anyone who has experienced regret in their life. Whether it's regret over missed opportunities, lost love, or other mistakes, this song speaks to the heart and soul of what it means to confront the truth and live with the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I come to this?
Amneris is reflecting on her current situation and questioning how she reached this low point in her life.
How did I slip and fall?
Amneris is wondering how she let herself fall so far and what led to her downfall.
How did I throw half a lifetime away without any thought at all?
Amneris is regretting the choices she made in the past that led to her present situation and realizing that she didn't think about the consequences of her actions.
This should have been my time. It's over, it never began.
Amneris is realizing that this was supposed to be her moment to shine, but it's already over and she never got the chance to make it happen.
I closed my eyes to so much for so long and I no longer can.
Amneris is admitting that she ignored a lot of things for a long time, but now she can't ignore them anymore and has to face the truth.
I try to blame it on fortune. Some kind of shift in the stars.
Amneris is trying to find an external factor to blame for her situation, like fate or destiny, rather than accepting responsibility for her own actions.
But I know the truth and it haunts me. It's flown just a little too far.
Despite her attempts to shift blame, Amneris acknowledges that she knows the truth of what happened and it's too late to fix it.
I know the truth and it mocks me. I know the truth and it shocks me.
Amneris is deeply affected by the truth of her situation, which she can no longer ignore or deny.
Why do I want her still? Why when there's nothing there?
Amneris is questioning why she still desires something or someone when there is nothing left to gain from it.
How to go on with the rest of my life, to pretend I don't care?
Amneris is struggling with how to move forward from her past mistakes and whether or not she can truly let go and move on.
I try to blame it on fortune. Some kind of twist in my fate.
Amneris is once again trying to find an external factor to blame for her situation, rather than accepting responsibility.
But I know the truth and it haunts me. I learned it a little too late.
Amneris realizes that she has learned the truth too late, and now must face the consequences of her actions.
I know the truth and it mocks me. I know the truth and it shocks me. I learned it just a little too late.
Amneris is haunted and shocked by the truth of what happened, and regrets not realizing it sooner.
Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.