The series stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, a legendary country music superstar, whose stardom begins fading. Her producers offer her a joint tour with the up-and-comer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), the young and sexy future of country music. But both singers are pursuing their goals. Juliette wants to take the place of Rayna. Rayna thinks that a few songs written by talented author Scarlett O'Connor (Clare Bowen) will help to revive her success. Rayna's father is Lamar Wyatt (Powers Boothe), a powerful politician in Nashville, who forced her to marry Teddy Conrad (Eric Close), who lives on her money.
If I Didn't Know Better
Nashville Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I didn't know better I'd follow you up the stairs
Stop saying those sweet things you know I like to hear
The horns are blowing louder and the bailiffs drawing near
Why do I keep drinking
Wasting my time on you
Well damn it
I do
There's a hole in what you're saying
I can plainly see
You have a lover that's waiting but baby you're right
Here with me
Oh, you might as well be the devil
Oh, keeping me out past three
Oh, you're the one with that apple so baby you can't
Blame me
Why don't you keep drinking
Get me one night with you
If I didn't know better
Well damn it
I do
You know that I do
Oh, baby you're right here with me
Oh, baby you know
“If I Didn’t Know Better” is a love song by the Nashville Cast from the first season of the TV series Nashville. It was written by John Paul White and Arum Rae and performed by Scarlett O'Connor, played by Clare Bowen, and Gunnar Scott, played by Sam Palladio. The song is about two people who have a complicated relationship because she knows he’s not trustworthy but can’t resist him. If she didn’t know better, she’d trust him, but she does know better and can’t help herself. In the song, they are at a bar, and the music is loud and intense, reflecting the tension and attraction between them. She wants to follow him upstairs, but she knows he’s trouble. He’s saying all the right things, but she can’t ignore the warning signs. She knows he has another lover but is staying with her anyway. She compares him to the devil and the temptation of the apple in the Garden of Eden. They both know this is a bad idea but can’t resist the chemistry between them.
The lyrics are about the thrill of temptation and the risks that come with it. The singer knows better than to trust this person, but she can’t help being drawn to him. The horns in the song represent the temptation that is getting louder and harder to resist. The line “you might as well be the devil” refers to the fact that he is leading her down a dangerous path. She knows she shouldn’t be with him, but she is powerless to resist. The song’s intensity builds as Scarlett and Gunnar’s voices blend together for the chorus, creating a sense of passion and longing that can’t be denied.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't know better I'd hang my hat right there
I'm so captivated by you that I could stay here forever.
If I didn't know better I'd follow you up the stairs
I can't resist your charm, and would follow you anywhere you lead me.
Stop saying those sweet things you know I like to hear
You know just what to say to keep me hanging on, and it's not fair.
The horns are blowing louder and the bailiffs drawing near
I should be listening to my instincts that tell me this is a bad idea, but I'm ignoring them.
Why do I keep drinking
I'm trying to numb the pain of loving you and feeling like I'm being played.
Wasting my time on you
I know deep down that you're not worth my time, but I can't seem to break away.
Well damn it
I know the truth, even if I don't want to admit it.
There's a hole in what you're saying
I see through your lies and I'm tired of being deceived.
I can plainly see
Your true intentions are clear to me now.
You have a lover that's waiting but baby you're right
You claim to care about me, but I know deep down that you're with me while keeping someone else waiting.
Here with me
I'm just a temporary distraction for you, while you wait for something better.
Oh, you might as well be the devil
Your temptation is too strong for me to resist.
Keeping me out past three
You're leading me into dangerous territory, but I'm unable to stop myself from following you.
You're the one with that apple so baby you can't
You know exactly what you're doing to me, but I'm unable to resist your charms.
Blame me
My weakness for you is something I can't control, and it's your fault for taking advantage of it.
Why don't you keep drinking
I know that being with you is bad for me, but I can't help myself from coming back for more.
Get me one night with you
I'm willing to risk it all just to be with you, even for one more night.
You know that I do
I know what you're doing to me, but I can't help myself from falling for you again and again.
Oh, baby you're right here with me
I'm willing to put aside all logic and reason just to be near you.
Oh, baby you know
You know that you have control over me, and you're using it to your advantage.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ARUM RAE, JOHN WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind