I don't know why
The Cruel Sea Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I, I don't know why
But my life just passed me by
And I, I have no fear
'Cause I'm not sure that I'm even here

One thing I know
And it's no lie
If you never ever live
You'll never ever die

But I don't, I don't know why
My whole life just passed me by

One thing I know
And it be no lie
If you never ever live
You'll never ever, ever, ever die

But I don't, I don't know why
What can I say, just say goodbye





Goodbye

Overall Meaning

The Cruel Sea's song "I Don't Know Why" is a melancholic and introspective tune that delves deep into the singer's psyche, showcasing the hopelessness and confusion that comes from feeling disconnected from one's own life. The first verse of the song begins with the admission that the singer is unsure of why their life has passed them by, leaving them feeling adrift and disconnected. However, instead of experiencing fear or anxiety, the singer almost seems resigned to their situation, uncertain that they even truly exist.


The second verse of the song adds another layer to the singer's reflections. Here, they acknowledge the truth that if one never truly lives, they will never experience death either. This line speaks to the idea that a life not fully lived is perhaps not worth living at all, and that a lack of authentic experience and emotion can lead to a numbing of the soul. The repetition of the phrase "I don't know why" throughout the song becomes almost mantra-like, emphasizing the feelings of confusion and disconnect that the singer experiences.


Overall, "I Don't Know Why" is a poignant exploration of the emptiness that can result from feeling disconnected and lost in one's own life. The song's simple melody and repetitive lyrics lend themselves to a feeling of meditative reflection, while the melancholic tone of the music reinforces the singer's feelings of aimlessness.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I, I don't know why
I am unsure of why I am in the position I am currently in


But my life just passed me by
I feel as though I have missed out on living and experiencing things in my life


And I, I have no fear
I am not afraid because I am uncertain if I even exist


'Cause I'm not sure that I'm even here
I am unsure if I am truly alive or if I am just going through the motions without really living


One thing I know
Despite my uncertainty, there is one thing I am absolutely sure of


And it's no lie
This is not something I am making up or exaggerating


If you never ever live
If you don't take the time to truly experience life


You'll never ever die
You may physically exist, but you will not truly live and experience all the joys that come with it


But I don't, I don't know why
Even though I am aware of this fact, I still don't understand why I have not been able to fully live my life


My whole life just passed me by
I feel as though I have missed out on significant experiences and moments in my life


What can I say, just say goodbye
I am at a loss for words and am ready to say goodbye to my unfulfilled life thus far




Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions