You Know What I Mean
The Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics


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It's been a long, dark, lonely hall
Between the cracks, I can read the scrawl
It's written down in a crooked rhyme
You sold me out before my time, you know

But since then I been back down to the end
I can't believe the things you never said
I can't explain the words I never found
My whole world should come crashing down, you know

But you can't sell me out with everything you think about

I think back now I draw a blank, you know but
There ain't no need to dig the past, you know but
I don't want to live my life in a day
I ain't got no need for this plastic cage

'cause you don't think about anything I think about

[Chorus]
You know what I mean [Repeat: x4]

But now you know for sure you're alive
Because you, you watched me leave before your eyes, you know I
I'm afraid to say your name, but I
I ain't afraid to share this blame because

You can't sell me out with everything you think about

[Chorus]

It's been a long, dark, lonely hall
Between the cracks, I can read the scrawl
Find a place that feels like home, you know
And get some clue to where I'm going, you know but

You don't think about anything I think about





[Chorus: x2]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Goo Goo Dolls' "You Know What I Mean" speak to the pain of betrayal and the longing for connection. The first verse sets the tone, describing the singer's experience of being sold out before their time. The lyrics conjure a sense of isolation and despair, which is compounded by the revelation that there are things left unsaid, words left unspoken. Despite the pain, however, the singer refuses to be entirely defeated by the betrayal, insisting that they cannot be sold out by "everything you think about," which suggests an internal resilience and an unwillingness to define themselves entirely by the actions of others.


The second verse takes a more ambiguous turn, with the singer "draw[ing] a blank" and acknowledging that there is "no need to dig the past." These lines feel almost like a challenge to the listener, as if to say, "I may be hurting, but I'm not going to dwell on it forever." The singer rejects the idea of living their life in a single day and asserts their desire for freedom from a "plastic cage."


The song's chorus, which repeats the title phrase, "You know what I mean," emphasizes the theme of communication and the difficulty of truly understanding one another. The verses suggest that there are things left unspoken, but the repetition of the chorus implies that even when we do express ourselves, misunderstandings and emotional distance persist. The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer looking for a place that feels like home and craving a sense of direction, but still aware that there are fundamental differences between their perspective and the person who sold them out.


Line by Line Meaning

It's been a long, dark, lonely hall
I've been through a long and difficult journey, full of darkness and loneliness.


Between the cracks, I can read the scrawl
Amidst the hardships I faced, I could still read the hidden messages or clues.


It's written down in a crooked rhyme
Those messages or clues were written down in a misleading or deceptive way.


You sold me out before my time, you know
You betrayed or abandoned me before I was fully prepared or ready for it.


But since then I been back down to the end
Since then, I've hit rock bottom again.


I can't believe the things you never said
I'm shocked and hurt by the things you never told me, the things left unsaid.


I can't explain the words I never found
I can't understand or express the words or explanations that were never given to me.


My whole world should come crashing down, you know
Without those explanations, my whole world could come crashing down or fall apart.


But you can't sell me out with everything you think about
I won't let you betray or deceive me with your thoughts or intentions.


I think back now I draw a blank, you know but
When I try to remember the past, I can't recall anything specific.


There ain't no need to dig the past, you know but
There's no point in dwelling or focusing on the past.


I don't want to live my life in a day
I don't want to rush through life or try to fit everything in a short period of time.


I ain't got no need for this plastic cage
I don't want to live a superficial or artificial life.


'cause you don't think about anything I think about
We have different views or interests, and you don't understand or care about mine.


You know what I mean [Repeat: x4]
You understand what I'm saying, right?


But now you know for sure you're alive
You now realize or confirm that you're still alive and well.


Because you, you watched me leave before your eyes, you know I
You saw me walk away or leave, and that's why you now know you're alive.


I'm afraid to say your name, but I
I'm scared to mention your name or confront you directly, but I


I ain't afraid to share this blame because
However, I'm not afraid to take responsibility or admit my mistakes.


Find a place that feels like home, you know
I want to find a place or environment where I feel comfortable and welcomed.


And get some clue to where I'm going, you know but
I also hope to find some direction or guidance for my future.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEORGE TUTUSKA, JOHN T RZEZNIK, ROBERT C. JR. TAKAC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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