Told You So
Modern Suspects Lyrics

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I am here alone
Standing next to you
As you quietly stare back with a very different view
You are so far away
We are so far away
'Cause you don't understand
I told you, I told you, I told you so2x
Maybe next time

When ya starving
You'll remember
These words and come to know
they were true
You are so far away
We are so far away
'Cause you don't understand
I told you, I told you, I told you so2x
You play the marauder and I'll play the victim this time
'Cause all that we had was torn from our hands in crime
You play the marauder and I'll play the victim this time

'Cause all that we had was torn from our hands in crime
I told you, I told you, I told you so2x

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Modern Suspects' "Told You So" convey a sense of frustration and distance between two people who used to have something special. The singer is standing next to someone they care about, but they are alone because the other person's perspective is so different from their own. The repeated line "I told you so" suggests that the singer had warned the other person about something, but they did not listen. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, the singer hopes that the other person might see the truth and acknowledge that they were right.

The second verse takes a darker turn, with the singer imagining a scenario where the other person is "starving" and finally realizes that the singer's warning was accurate. The metaphorical language of "You play the marauder and I'll play the victim this time" suggests that some kind of betrayal or wrongdoing has occurred, and that the singer is now resigned to being victimized. The final lines of the song are a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's frustration and disappointment.

Overall, "Told You So" is a song about the difficulty of communicating with someone who doesn't share your perspective, and the pain of being proved right in a situation that could have been avoided. The lyrics are universal enough to apply to a range of relationships, whether romantic or platonic, but they also convey a very personal sense of emotion and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

I am here alone
I am physically present next to you, but emotionally and mentally separate

Standing next to you
I am in close proximity to you

As you quietly stare back with a very different view
You are looking at me but have a completely different understanding or perspective than I do

You are so far away
Your perspective is so distant or different from mine

We are so far away
Our understanding or perspectives are so far apart that it feels like we are distant from each other

'Cause you don't understand
The reason we have such different views is that you don't comprehend my perspective or situation

I told you, I told you, I told you so2x
I warned you numerous times about the outcome that has now occurred

Maybe next time
Perhaps in the future

When ya starving
When you are hungry or in need

You'll remember
You will recollect or have a memory of

These words and come to know
My previous warnings and advice will finally be acknowledged or understood