Abel describes a recurring tale of his attempts to remedy his happiless life, while spinning it as if it's of someone elses, which does repeatedly with the line "it was like he was never there", despite the title being "I Was Never There"
He's unable to deal with the break-up in a healthy way, resorting to drugs, alcohol, and casual sex to numb the pain. While he recognizes that this is self-destructive, he pins the blame on the other party.
As with the rest of My Dear Melancholy, there is speculation as to whether Bella Hadid or Selena Gomez is the subject of this song. It is likely the latter, considering she features as a theme for the majority of the rest of the album as well.
“I Was Never There” (along with “Hurt You,” also from My Dear Melancholy,) marks The Weeknd’s first collaboration with Gesaffelstein.
I Was Never There
The Weeknd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Cry, cry, cry, cry)
What makes him wanna take his life?
Ah, oh (ah)
His happiness is never real
(Real, real, real, real)
And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he feels
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter (it don't matter)
It won't matter (matter)
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (time, it's time, babe)
It won't matter (it won't matter, babe)
It won't matter (yeah)
It was like I was never there
(It was like I was never there)
It was like he was gone in thin air (no)
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (oh, baby)
It won't matter (it won't matter, babe) it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
It was like I was never there
It was like he was gone in thin air
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
(When it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
(It won't matter, it won't matter)
(When it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
(It won't matter, it won't matter)
Ooh, and now I know what love is
And I know it ain't you for sure
You'd rather something toxic
So, I'll poison myself again, again
'Til I feel nothing
In my soul (in my soul)
I'm on the edge of something breakin'
I feel my mind is slowly fadin'
If I keep goin', I won't make it
If I keep goin', I won't make it
And it's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
Whoa, whoa (when it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
Don't you, baby, hey (it won't matter, it won't matter)
It won't matter, baby (when it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
Don't you know? (it won't matter)
Don't you know? (it won't matter)
Ooh, oh, hey
(When it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
(It won't matter, whoa-oh)
The Weeknd's song "I Was Never There" is a melancholic ballad that delves into the mind and heart of a man who is deeply troubled and consumed by his own personal demons. The opening lines of the song ask the haunting question, "What makes a grown man wanna cry? What makes him wanna take his life?" The answer, it seems, is that the singer's happiness is never real, and he seeks solace in mindless sex, a hollow ritual that only magnifies his sense of emptiness.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "It was like I was never there" coupled with "when it's time, it won't matter." The singer has become insignificant and invisible, a mere shadow of his former self, and his fate is sealed, regardless of his actions or decisions. He is on the edge of something breaking and feels his mind slowly fading, as though he is losing control over his life. The somber mood of the song suggests that nothing can save him, and he is resigned to his fate.
At the end of the song, the singer muses, "And now I know what love is, and I know it ain't you for sure / You'd rather something toxic / So, I'll poison myself again, again / 'Til I feel nothing in my soul." He has come to realize that his love is wasted on someone who is toxic, and he chooses to poison himself to numb the pain, preferring to feel nothing rather than be consumed by his inner turmoil. In the final lines of the song, he acknowledges that his downfall is all because of the person he loved and trusted.
Line by Line Meaning
What makes a grown man wanna cry?
What causes a man to feel such deep emotional pain that he wishes to cry?
Ah, oh (ah)
Expressing a feeling of pain and sadness.
His happiness is never real
His happiness is a façade that is not genuine, and ultimately fades.
And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he feels
He uses sex to fill a void within himself, but it does not bring him any true satisfaction or happiness.
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter (it don't matter)
It won't matter (matter)
Eventually, nothing will hold any significance or importance anymore.
It was like I was never there
(It was like I was never there)
It was like he was gone in thin air (no)
He felt as though he was nothing to the person he loved or cared for, as if he didn't even exist.
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (oh, baby)
It won't matter (it won't matter, babe) it won't matter
At some point in time, nothing in this world will hold any importance or significance anymore.
Ooh, and now I know what love is
And I know it ain't you for sure
You'd rather something toxic
So, I'll poison myself again, again
'Til I feel nothing
He has come to understand that the love he had for someone was not genuine or healthy, it was toxic, therefore he will harm himself over and over in order to numb those feelings and emotions.
In my soul (in my soul)
I'm on the edge of something breakin'
I feel my mind is slowly fadin'
If I keep goin', I won't make it
If I keep goin', I won't make it
He feels as though his soul is breaking, and his mental state is slowly deteriorating. He feels as though he cannot keep going on in this state, as it will lead to his downfall.
And it's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
All the pain he is feeling is because of this person he loved or cared for.
Whoa, whoa (when it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
Don't you, baby, hey (it won't matter, it won't matter)
It won't matter, baby (when it's time, when it's time, when it's time)
Don't you know? (it won't matter)
Don't you know? (it won't matter)
Ooh, oh, hey
Repeating that nothing will hold any importance or significance over time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abel Tesfaye, Mike Levy, Adam Feeney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rashanka123
What makes a grown man wanna cry?
(Cry, cry, cry, cry)
What makes him wanna take his life?
(Yeah)
His happiness is never real
(Real, real, real, real)
And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he feels
[Chorus]
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter (it don't matter)
It won't matter (matter)
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (time, it's time, babe)
It won't matter (it won't matter, babe)
It won't matter (ya)
It was like I was never there
(It was like I was never there)
It was like it was more than thin air, oh
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time, oh baby
It won't matter, it won't matter, baby
[Post-Chorus]
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
It was like I was never there
It was like it was more than thin air
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
[Interlude]
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
[Bridge]
Ooh, now I know what love is
And I know it ain't you for sure
You'd rather something toxic
So, I poison myself again, again
'Til I feel nothing
In my soul (in my soul)
I'm on the edge of something breaking
I feel my mind is slowly fadin'
If I keep going, I won't make it
If I keep going, I won't make it
[Outro]
And it's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
Woah, woah
Don't you, baby, hey
It won't matter, baby
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Ooh, no
@samratdas5473
What makes a grown man wanna cry?
(Cry, cry, cry, cry)
What makes him wanna take his life?
Ah oh (Ah)
His happiness is never real
(Real, real, real, real)
And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he feels
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter (it don't matter)
It won't matter (matter)
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (time, it's time, babe)
It won't matter (it won't matter, babe)
It won't matter (ya)
It was like I was never there
(It was like I was never there)
It was like he was gone in thin air (no)
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (oh baby)
It won't matter (it won't matter babe) it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
It was like I was never there
It was like he was gone in thin air
When it's time, when it's time, when it's time
It won't matter, it won't matter
Ooh, and now I know what love is
And I know it ain't you for sure
You'd rather something toxic
So, I'll poison myself again, again
'Til I feel nothing
In my soul (in my soul)
I'm on the edge of something breaking
I feel my mind is slowly fadin'
If I keep going, I won't make it
If I keep going, I won't make it
And it's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
Woah, woah
Don't you, baby, hey
It won't matter, baby
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Ooh, no
@shivannawal
That background music is too surreal. Takes the song to another level.
@aryanmehtele6343
indeed it is!!
@sangamharsolia5069
Very true
@josealmeida5601
Is like 90% of the good content in the music
@AP-lm1qn
But it’s so good! 🔥🔥🔥
@basti_marr
Gesaffelstein baby
@briannaconner5628
I was listening to this song on an airplane, and when the song hit 2:16 the plane went above the clouds, and it was the most beautiful thing
@agthaog1986
thats dope i believe u. its funny how art imitates life and sometimes imitates it in multi forms. almost like the soundtrack to YOUR movie
@rebecasoares6702
Wow 😍
@yesterday1788
Cool vibez😎