I Don't Know Why I Like You but I Do
The Wombats Lyrics


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You're in the DNA between the molecules
You're in the beside place and all else I look
You're in the subtext and all the overtones
You're in the telly sales that dominate my phone

We both know that it's time to go
We both know you're going to stay
I don't know why I like you but I do
I don't know why I like you but I do
And I'm just tryna fire a cannon from a canoe
I don't know why I like you but I do

You're in the cherry cake and swimming in my wine
You're in the orange juice that I spill at halftime
I'm keeping up to date and you stay misinformed
Just like the cameraman, you're forced to shoot your pawn

I don't know why I like you but I do
I don't know why I like you but I do
And I'm just tryna fire a cannon from a canoe
I don't know why I like you but I do

We both know that it's time to go
We both know you're going to stay

I don't know why I like you but I do
I don't know why I like you but I do
And I'm just tryna fire a cannon from a canoe
I don't know why I like you, I don't know why I like you but I do




I don't know why I like you, I don't know why I like you but I do
I don't know why I like you, I don't know why I like you but I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Wombats song "Do You Remember" contain cryptic and abstract lines that reflect the confusion and emotional turmoil experienced by the singer regarding their romantic feelings. The opening line, "You're in the DNA between the molecules," suggests that the person they are singing about is so ingrained in their being that they cannot escape their presence. The next line, "You're in the beside place and all else I look," reinforces this idea and implies that they see their object of affection everywhere they turn.


The following lines, "You're in the subtext and all the overtones, You're in the telly sales that dominate my phone," convey a sense of overwhelming obsession and an inability to escape their fixation. The singer seems to be aware that it is time to move on, with the lines "We both know that it's time to go, We both know you're going to stay." However, they remain inexplicably drawn to this person and their attraction to them remains a mystery to them, as demonstrated by the refrain, "I don't know why I like you but I do," which is repeated throughout the song.


The inclusion of metaphorical references to cherry cake, swimming in wine, and spilling orange juice further emphasizes the chaotic and unpredictable nature of their emotions. The lines "I'm keeping up to date and you stay misinformed, just like the cameraman, you're forced to shoot your pawn" hint at a power dynamic in the relationship, with the singer feeling that they are more informed and in control than their counterpart.


Overall, the lyrics of "Do You Remember" paint a portrait of a person who is struggling to come to terms with their feelings for someone who is seemingly omnipresent in their life. Despite their awareness that they should move on, they remain tethered to this person and cannot explain why.


Line by Line Meaning

You're in the DNA between the molecules
You are deeply ingrained in every part of me, even at a molecular level.


You're in the beside place and all else I look
No matter where I turn, there you are, always by my side.


You're in the subtext and all the overtones
Your presence is felt in the hidden meaning behind everything I say and all the emotions I convey.


You're in the telly sales that dominate my phone
Even the telemarketers that call me remind me of you, as if everything in my life is a reminder of your presence.


We both know that it's time to go
We are aware that the situation we are in is not ideal and that it's time for us to move on.


We both know you're going to stay
Despite knowing that it's time to go, we both know that you will choose to stay with me.


I don't know why I like you but I do
I am unsure of what it is about you that draws me to you, but I am inexplicably and undeniably attracted to you.


And I'm just tryna fire a cannon from a canoe
I am attempting to do something impossible or difficult, like trying to launch a cannon from a small, unstable boat.


You're in the cherry cake and swimming in my wine
Even the things I consume, like food and drink, remind me of you and your presence in my life.


You're in the orange juice that I spill at halftime
Even the mundane things I do, like spilling orange juice during a sports game, remind me of you and your impact on my life.


I'm keeping up to date and you stay misinformed
I try to stay informed and knowledgeable, while you remain ignorant and oblivious to the truth.


Just like the cameraman, you're forced to shoot your pawn
You are being manipulated or forced to do something against your will, similar to how a cameraman is sometimes forced to shoot a certain angle or subject.


I don't know why I like you, I don't know why I like you but I do
I continue to question why I am attracted to you, but the fact remains that I am still drawn to you.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Joseph Haggis, Matthew Edward Murphy, Tord Oeverland Knudsen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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