Somebody That I Used to Know
The NEF Project/Gotye Lyrics


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Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody (I used to know)
(Somebody) now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody (I used to know)




(Somebody) now you're just somebody that I used to know
I used to know, that I used to know, I used to know somebody

Overall Meaning

The song "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye (featuring Kimbra) is a heart-wrenching tale about the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics are sung from both the perspective of the singer and his ex-girlfriend. The opening lyrics express the singer's nostalgia when he thinks back to the time when he and his ex-girlfriend were together. He even remembers the time when she said she was so happy with him that it felt like she could die. However, he goes on to admit that he felt lonely when he was with her, despite her being 'right' for him. The singer is still aching from this sense of 'love' that he remembers.


The next set of lyrics marks an important shift in the song's narrative. Gotye sings about getting addicted to a certain kind of sadness that comes with a breakup. He likens it to always knowing something is going to end and resigning oneself to that fact. He then describes the moment when it became clear to him that the relationship wasn't working anymore. Despite this, they agreed to remain friends. The singer admits that he was secretly relieved when it was all over. However, the way his ex-girlfriend handled the breakup was painful to him. He didn't expect her to 'cut him off' and treat him like a stranger. He didn't need her love, but he didn't want to be completely erased from her life either.


He sings about how she took the drastic step of changing her phone number and having her friends collect all his records. He suggests that this wasn't necessary since he was willing to just let go of their past together. The final verses of the song are sung by Kimbra, who sings about the times when the singer behaved badly in the relationship, making her feel like she was always in the wrong. She expresses that she doesn't want to live that way anymore and that she believed the singer when he said he could let go of their past. The song ends with a repetition of the phrase 'Somebody That I Used to Know,' which drives home the sense of loss and isolation that the characters are feeling.


Line by Line Meaning

Now and then I think of when we were together
Occasionally, I reminisce about the times when we were in a relationship


Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I recall the moment when you expressed sheer joy and said that you were extremely happy


Told myself that you were right for me
I convinced myself that you were perfect for me


But felt so lonely in your company
However, I felt a deep sense of isolation when I was around you


But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
Despite the pain, I know that it was love and I still remember that feeling


You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
It is possible to become addicted to a particular type of emotional pain


Like resignation to the end, always the end
It feels like submitting to the finality of a situation, knowing that it is going to end


So when we found that we could not make sense
Once we realized that we could not make any sense of our relationship


Well you said that we would still be friends
You suggested that we could still be friends even though the relationship was over


But I'll admit that I was glad it was over
I must confess that I was relieved when the relationship ended


But you didn't have to cut me off
You did not have to completely sever all ties with me


Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
You pretended that our relationship never existed and that we were insignificant to each other


And I don't even need your love
I do not require your love anymore


But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
You behave towards me like a stranger, and it feels very harsh


No, you didn't have to stoop so low
You didn't have to behave so cruelly


Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
You arranged for your friends to take your belongings from me and then changed your number to cut off all contact


I guess that I don't need that though
Although it was hurtful, I realize that I do not need that kind of behavior in my life


Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now, you are just a person that I knew in the past and have moved on from




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Luiz Bonfa, Walter Andre De Backer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Heyitsmepotat0

That's the most underrated remix I've ever heard in my life.

@chrisreid3299

This is probably the best remix to a song made in the last 15 years, its perfect the drops go with the vocals, beat is dope af, and the verses twist real nice.... Its better than the original song by far....

@Devandra

This song takes me back to the summer of 2013. Good times

@MexicanGuyFromEveryMovie

Devandra Damn man! Tell me about it.

@voice-over

The BEST REMIX.. THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE!!

@101293562

Good mix Dude ! Keep up the good work. (:

@Danilloforti

Love this music... Great one....

@StylesSounds

It is a great remix from NEF Project!

@MoDeDLoBiEz69

Make this available on iTunes!!!

@flotars

This needs far more views than 300, good quality music!

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