The song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, the third Oasis song to do so.[1] The song also claimed the number one position in Ireland, Finland, and Spain as well as reaching the Top 5 in Canada, Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand. It sold 162,000 copies in its first day in the shops and 370,000 by the end of the first week. It is Oasis's second biggest selling single in the UK with sales of 745,000, achieving Platinum status in the process.[2] It was the 12th biggest selling single of 1997 in the UK.
In October 2011, NME placed it at number 77 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[3]
In July 2016, an edited, remixed and remastered version of the song was released, entitled D'You Know What I Mean? (NG's 2016 Rethink). The reissue formed part of the wider rerelease of the Be Here Now album to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which was released on 14th October 2016.
D'You Know What I Mean
Oasis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back into the hole where I was born
The sun in the sky never raised an eye to me
The blood on the tracks, and they must be mine
The fool on the hill, and I feel fine
Don't look back 'cause you know what you might see
Look into the wall of my mind's eye
The questions are the answers you might need
Coming in a mess, going out in style
I ain't good-looking, but I'm someone's child
No one can give me the air that's mine to breathe
I met my maker
I made him cry
And on my shoulder he asked me why
His people won't fly through the storm
I said, "Hey, listen up man, we don't even know you're born"
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I don't really care for what you believe
So open up your fist or you won't receive
The thoughts and the words of every man you'll need
Get up off the floor and believe in life
No one's ever gonna ever ask you twice
Get on the bus and bring it on home to me
I met my maker
I made him cry
And on my shoulder he asked me why
His people won't fly through the storm
I said, "Listen up man, they don't even know you're born"
All my people right here, right now
They know what I mean yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
They know what I mean yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
They know what I mean yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
The lyrics to Oasis’s song D’You Know What I Mean? touch on themes of introspection, isolation, and the search for meaning in life. The opening verse paints a lonely and bleak picture of the singer’s return to his birthplace. He feels ignored by the world around him and is grappling with a sense of personal responsibility for the blood on the tracks. The reference to the “fool on the hill” suggests that the singer is comfortable with his outsider status.
The second verse delves into the singer’s mind, where he is searching for answers to life’s big questions. His assertion that “the questions are the answers you might need” suggests that he is willing to explore uncertainty and complexity rather than merely seeking simple solutions. The chorus codifies the message of the song: the singer’s people (however he may define them) are all around him, and they all share a collective experience of seeking meaning and connection. He urges them to embrace life and take advantage of the opportunities before them.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of restlessness and longing for something more, but it also suggests that there is hope and possibility in the face of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Step off the train all alone at dawn
I have arrived at a new moment in my life, and I am unaccompanied in this journey.
Back into the hole where I was born
I am returning to the place where I came from after facing the world.
The sun in the sky never raised an eye to me
The universe did not pay attention to me in my journey.
The blood on the tracks, and they must be mine
I have gone through a hard time and I carried the burden of this experience.
The fool on the hill, and I feel fine
I am the misfit, and I have come to terms with my identity.
Don't look back 'cause you know what you might see
It is pointless to dwell on the past and its consequences.
Look into the wall of my mind's eye
I am contemplating introspectively.
I think I know, but I don't know why
I understand the situation I am in, but I still cannot fathom the reasons behind it.
The questions are the answers you might need
The questions I ask myself could hold the key to what I need to know.
Coming in a mess, going out in style
My life may be chaotic now, but it will ultimately end on a high note.
I ain't good-looking, but I'm someone's child
I may not be physically attractive, but I am someone's beloved.
No one can give me the air that's mine to breathe
I rely on no one to sustain my life, I have to take care of myself.
I met my maker
I faced death.
I made him cry
Death was moved by my situation.
And on my shoulder he asked me why
Death questioned the reason behind my sorrow.
His people won't fly through the storm
Many are likely to face hard times without hope of redemption.
I said, "Hey, listen up man, we don't even know you're born"
I told Death to realize that people are yet to experience the worst situations in life.
All my people right here, right now
D'you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah
I am addressing my community at a particular moment, and I want to know if they identify with my observations.
I don't really care for what you believe
So open up your fist or you won't receive
I am indifferent to what people think, but I encourage them to be open-minded if they want to evolve.
The thoughts and the words of every man you'll need
You will depend on the perspectives and speech of others as you journey through life.
Get up off the floor and believe in life
No one's ever gonna ever ask you twice
I urge everyone to rise above their hardships and embrace life because they may not get a second chance.
Get on the bus and bring it on home to me
Embrace life's experience and come share your experiences with me.
They know what I mean yeah, yeah
My people have come to understand my message.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Noel Gallgher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ade Benet
Step off the train all alone at dawn
Back into the hole where I was born
The sun in the sky never raised an eye to me
The blood on the trax and must be mine
The fool on the hill and I feel fine
Don't look back cos you know what you might see
Look into the wall of my mind's eye
I think I know, but I don't know why
The questions are the answers you might need
Coming in a mess going out in style
I ain't good-looking but I'm someone's child
No one can give me the air that's mine to breathe
I met my maker
I made him cry
And on my shoulder he asked me why
His people won't fly through the storm
I said 'Listen up man, they don't even know you're born'
All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean?
All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean?
All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean?
Yeah, yeah
I don't really care for what you believe
So open up your fist or you won't receive
The thoughts and the words of every man you'll need
Get up off the floor and believe in life
No-one's ever gonna ever ask you twice
Get on the bus and bring it on home to me
THE SITE
Now this is what you call a remaster. The song sounds superb, and the video looks insanely crisp and clear, you'd think they filmed this yesterday!
Jirayuth Porka
For the moment, I even wonder how did they come back and do this again lol
Lorelorelore
yee jorahyuth is oasis fanboy
Sander Haraldseid
Some of it atleast..
DurkDiggler
They didn't re-do. It's just a re-scan of the original film rushes. Except on a 4K spirit scanner mastered at 2K. The original master was PAL so 720x576. Rather than this version mastered at 2048x1152 then to HD.
hutch
I'm still blown away by how two brothers with such anger issues can write such beautiful melodies.
Niroshan Fernando
It's got to be that typical sibling rivalry or that Cain & Abel complex!
Marion Leigh
I BLAME THE DAD FOR THE ABUSES
PetShopMod
Actually only 1 of them most of the writing.
Preston Gray
Freaking right!