Who Knows You
Paul Travis Lyrics
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the color you didn't see
Against all of my instincts I will call
In the winter I'm your ghost
the one you walk through most
The place on your floor that catches all your clothes
When your heart is sedated and you're fully naked, who knows you?
Let me scrape all of the rust from your soul,
then I'll disappear like the tracks in the snow.
In the summer I'm your shade
your tee shirt in the rain
Your seasonal anesthetic for your pain.
When you are sober and couldn't be colder, who knows you?
When your heart is sedated and you're fully naked, who knows you?
Let me scrape all of the rust from your soul,
then I'll disappear like the tracks in the snow.
Remember what I said
at the foot of your bed
I'm just your season
And you are the hand in my ribcage
pulling me closer into myself
I hate
that I can't breathe the same
Do your lungs still burn for me
When you are sober and couldn't be colder, who knows you?
When your heart is sedated and you're fully naked, who knows you?
I do.
The lyrics of Paul Travis's song, "Who Knows You," are deeply reflective and can be interpreted in multiple ways. The crux of the song is captured in the chorus where the artist asks the listener, "When you are sober and couldn't be colder, who knows you? When your heart is sedated and you're fully naked, who knows you?" This is a poignant and profound commentary on how we often conceal our true selves and emotions when confronted with tough situations. It is only when we let someone scrape all the rust from our souls that we can truly be known.
The song's first verse talks about how the artist is the listener's dead leaf in fall, the one that goes unnoticed amidst the changing colors. In winter, he becomes the ghost that is most familiar to the listener. In summer, he is the listener's comfort - their shade and tee shirt in the rain. The artist's desire to disappear like tracks in the snow after scraping the rust from the listener's soul is a metaphor for how we often feel drained and emptied after baring our souls to someone.
The final verse seems to be directed towards a specific person. The artist speaks about this person being the hand in his ribcage, pulling him closer into himself, and how they can't seem to breathe the same. The line, "Do your lungs still burn for me," is indicative of a past relationship that has ended, leaving both parties longing for each other.
Line by Line Meaning
In the fall I'm your dead leaf
I represent the end of something beautiful, just like how a dead leaf means the end of autumn.
the color you didn't see
You took for granted the beauty that was once there, and didn't realize its worth.
Against all of my instincts I will call
Despite my reservations, I will reach out to you because I care.
In the winter I'm your ghost
I am a reminder of something that once was, but now haunts you.
the one you walk through most
You can't escape me, I am always present in your mind.
The place on your floor that catches all your clothes
I am the mess that you constantly trip over, that you can't seem to get rid of.
Let me scrape all of the rust from your soul,
Allow me to help you remove the pain and damage that holds you back.
then I'll disappear like the tracks in the snow.
Once my purpose is served, I will fade away silently.
In the summer I'm your shade
I protect and shelter you from the harsh, burning elements of life.
your tee shirt in the rain
I am the comfort that you seek when everything else is falling apart.
Your seasonal anesthetic for your pain.
I provide temporary relief from the emotional turmoil you experience during certain times of the year.
Remember what I said
Don't forget my words because they hold meaning.
at the foot of your bed
I said these words to you when you were vulnerable and open with me.
I'm just your season
I am a part of your cyclical journey through life, and can't be with you forever.
And you are the hand in my ribcage
You are the one who has the power to control my emotions, for better or for worse.
pulling me closer into myself
You compel me to become more introspective and examine myself more closely.
I hate
It's difficult for me to process these strong emotions.
that I can't breathe the same
You have taken my breath away, and I can't be the same without you.
Do your lungs still burn for me
Do you still feel that same passion and desire for me as I do for you?
I do.
I still understand and care for you, even when you're at your worst.
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.