Heavily influenced by the British Invasion era, and its mod sensibility, they helped pioneer the power pop style.
Producer Jimmy Ienner was responsible for all the Raspberries’ albums, which often attempted to replicate Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound.”
Composed of the “classical” rock & roll ensemble (drums, lead, rhythm and bass guitars), the original lineup was Eric Carmen (lead vocals), Jim Bonfanti (drums), Wally Bryson (guitar) and Dave Smalley (bass).
The Raspberries wore matching ensembles on stage. The group was somewhat ridiculed for making its stage entrance in tuxedos and large bouffant hairdos which, according to Carmen, “complemented the style of our music”.
Nobody Knows
Raspberries Lyrics
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Hurts so bad, you know it's such a sin
To see her love him while I just walk on by
(Nobody knows) what it does to me
(Nobody knows) no one could ever see
Nobody knows what it does to me
Now those tender looks upon her face
Are meant for someone else who's in my place
I can see her dancing with someone else
Holding him so close while I'm by myself
I just want to hit him but that won't do
All I know is I've got to find some way
I can get to you
When I see the way she holds his hand
It burns inside me, I can't understand
How could she love him the way she once loved me
Nobody knows
The lyrics of Raspberries' song "Nobody Knows" explore the painful emotions of unrequited love. The singer is deeply hurt to see the woman he loves with another man, particularly when he remembers how she used to love him. He can barely contain his anger and frustration at the sight of her holding hands or dancing closely with someone else. He feels unable to express his feelings, as nobody seems to understand the extent of his pain. The chorus repeats the phrase "nobody knows what it does to me", emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness.
The use of repetition in the song - particularly in the chorus - creates a sense of emotional intensity and desperation. The lyrics are direct and unambiguous, capturing the singer's raw emotions without embellishment or metaphor. The straightforwardness of the lyrics reflects the simplicity of the musical structure, which is built around a repetitive verse-chorus format. The song features a driving guitar riff and a catchy melody, which add to the infectiousness of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
When I see the way she looks at him
Seeing how she gazes at him makes me ache inside
Hurts so bad, you know it's such a sin
The pain I feel is unbearable and feels like it's wrong to endure
To see her love him while I just walk on by
Watching her cherish him as I walk past leaves me feeling neglected
(Nobody knows) what it does to me
No one has any idea how much this hurts me
(Nobody knows) no one could ever see
No one can perceive the agony I'm going through
Nobody knows what it does to me
No one can fathom the depths of pain this induces in me
Now those tender looks upon her face
I can see the fond expressions she displays
Are meant for someone else who's in my place
She's affectionately looking at someone else who's occupying the role I once held
And he's her lover the way I used to be
He's become her lover in the way that I once was
I can see her dancing with someone else
It's painful to see her dance with someone else
Holding him so close while I'm by myself
It hurts me to watch her embrace him intimately while I remain alone
I just want to hit him but that won't do
My impulse is to lash out at him, but that won't solve anything
All I know is I've got to find some way
My only conviction is that I must find a resolution
I can get to you
I need to get to her somehow
When I see the way she holds his hand
I cringe when I see how she clasps his hand
It burns inside me, I can't understand
It feels like a fire is building inside me and I can't comprehend why
How could she love him the way she once loved me
I can't comprehend how she can dote on him in the same way she once did with me
Nobody knows
No one can empathize with me in this situation
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC CARMEN, DAVID B. SMALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind