Don't Forget Me
Smash Cast feat. Katharine McPhee Lyrics
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I wish you were a bad man
I wish you made it easier
I wish you'd done something unforgivable
'Cause holding onto you is that all I can do until
I learn the hands around my throat are my own
Don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let me go
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
[Karen & Jimmy:]
I wish I never met you
Now I gotta forget again
I wish you didn't know me
So damn well
Mmmmm.... Don't tell me that you're scared
Every time that I'm not (she isn't) there
Don't you open up my heart again
[Karen:]
Oh, don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let go
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
If you think there's a chance you can fall again
That you've tried and you've failed to stop loving me
[Karen & Jimmy:]
Don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let go
[Karen:]
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
Don't let me know
[Jimmy:]
Don't let me know
The song "Don't Let Me Know" by SMASH Cast focuses on the theme of love and the struggles that come with it. In the first verse, Karen expresses her desire for her lover to have done something unforgivable or to be a bad person, to make it easier for her to let go of the relationship. She realizes that she's holding onto someone who is not good for her, and the hands around her throat are of her own making, implying that she's suffocating herself in the relationship. Karen then pleads with her lover not to let her know if it hurts when they part ways. She doesn't want to be the friend he turns to in times of need, but one he can't let go of.
In the second verse, both Karen and Jimmy sing about their regrets in getting involved with each other. Karen wishes she had never met her lover, as forgetting him is a constant battle. She also wishes that he didn't know her so well, making it hard for her to walk away from the relationship. Jimmy talks about his fear of losing Karen and how he doesn't want to be scared every time she's not around. They both agree that opening up their hearts to each other again is not a good idea.
The chorus sees Karen and Jimmy imploring each other not to let them know if it hurts to end the relationship. They don't want to be the person that the other falls back on, but neither can they let each other go.
Overall, the song's lyrics convey the pain and struggle of letting go of a relationship, even when it's clear that it's not good for either party.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish you were a bad man
I wish you were not the perfect person who makes it harder to let go.
I wish you made it easier
I wish you weren't so good, so I could move on more easily.
I wish you'd done something unforgivable
I wish you'd done something so terrible that I could hate you and finally let you go.
'Cause holding onto you is that all I can do until
I'm holding onto you with all my strength because it's the only thing stopping me from falling apart.
I learn the hands around my throat are my own
I realize that the only person suffocating me is myself; holding onto the past is not letting me move on.
Don't let me know if it hurts
Don't show me if you're in pain because I can't handle it; it makes it harder for me to let go.
If it hurts you
I don't want to see you suffer because of my struggles letting go.
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
I don't want to be caught in the middle of your life when I'm trying to move on.
That you won't pull me close
I don't want to be tempted to hold onto you when it's not good for either of us.
But you can't let me go
I don't want you to push me away because it hurts, but you can't keep holding onto me either.
I wish I never met you
I wish I could erase all memory of you from my life and start over.
Now I gotta forget again
I thought I was over you, but now I have to start over again.
I wish you didn't know me so damn well
I wish you didn't have such a deep understanding of who I am and what I need.
Mmmmm.... Don't tell me that you're scared
Don't tell me that you're afraid of losing me because it makes it harder for me to let go.
Every time that I'm not (she isn't) there
Every time I'm not around, I know you're thinking about me, and it's hard for both of us.
Don't you open up my heart again
Don't try to come back into my life and make me feel things I don't want to feel.
If you think there's a chance you can fall again
If you think there's a possibility of us getting back together, don't tell me because it makes it harder for me to move on.
That you've tried and you've failed to stop loving me
If you've realized you still love me but can't be with me, keep it to yourself to make it easier for both of us.
Don't let me know
Don't tell me anything about your feelings that might make it harder for me to let you go.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LUCIE SILVAS, JAMIE HARTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rachel Winter
This song is absolutely amazing - I love it. Reminds me of the first time I heard Idina Menzel singing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. Katharine McPhee is gifted with a gorgeous voice
JOUD ABDULLAH
Future
Astrum
I love this song so much, I sooooo wish Bombshell was a real musical :(
Marin Ashby
soon it might be...
A L
Same
TheAnita99
Katharine Mcohee has such an AMAZING voice. Love the voice! Team Karen all the way!
Helena Koerner
I love how this song contains elements from Lets be bad, Second hand white baby grand and of course Let me be your star. If this was real, I feel like it could rival Lin Manuel Miranda's Hamilton.
Starlight Saffire
I still get goosebumps from this song and her voice.
Eileen Chmielewski
You and me both! Obsessed!!!
Kitti Németh
I love the way how the theme of Let me be your star comes back at the end of this song. It gives a frame for the whole musical, I find it a good idea.