The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, guitar, baritone guitar, banjo, ukulele, upright bass, vocals), Coy Bowles (guitar, keyboards), Chris Fryar (drums), Clay Cook (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, steel guitar, vocals), Matt Mangano (bass guitar), and Daniel de los Reyes (percussion).
Someone I Used to Know
Zac Brown Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burned out, high life super star, you know
Kept a buzz to fill the hole
Loved the lights and stole the show
Someone I used to know
Would stay another round
Someone I used to know
It's been a long time comin'
Couldn't keep on runnin'
Had to hit rock bottom to know
When you keep on losin'
With the path you're choosin'
And it's time to let go
Of someone that I used to know
Of someone that I used to know
Rides the high that tears him down
Hates himself and loves the crowd
The king of fools a heavy crown
He didn't know he almost drowned
Someone I used to know
Would stay another round
Someone I used to know
Ran himself in the ground
It's been a long time comin'
Couldn't keep on runnin'
Had to hit rock bottom to know
When you keep on losin'
With the path you're choosin'
And it's time to let go
Of someone that I used to know
It's been a long time comin'
Couldn't keep on runnin'
Had to hit rock bottom to know
When you keep on losin'
With the path you're choosin'
And it's time to let go
Of someone that I used to
Someone that I used to
Know, know, know
(Know, ooh)
The Zac Brown Band's song "Someone I Used to Know" is a ballad that tells the story of a once-successful hometown hero turned high-life celebrity who has struggled with addiction and found himself at rock bottom. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who loved the thrill of the spotlight and the fame that came with it but ultimately succumbed to the darkness of addiction. The chorus repeats the phrase, "Someone I used to know," as a way to lament the loss of the person this character once was before the addiction took hold.
The song touches on the themes of loss, addiction, and redemption. The lyrics express a sense of sorrow and longing for the person this character used to be, and the realization that it's time to let go of that person and move on. The lyrics also suggest that hitting rock bottom was necessary to reach a point of clarity and understanding, and that letting go of the past is a crucial step toward healing.
Overall, the song "Someone I Used to Know" is a poignant reflection on the destructive nature of addiction and the difficult process of letting go of who someone used to be in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Hometown hero at the bar
A person who was once celebrated in their hometown is now found constantly in bars
Burned out, high life superstar, you know
The person was once a high life star but has been drained out and exhausted over time
Kept a buzz to fill the hole
The person drinks to hide the emptiness they feel inside
Loved the lights and stole the show
The person was always drawn to the limelight and enjoyed being the center of attention
Someone I used to know
The artist is referring to a person they used to know
Would stay another round
The person they used to know was known to stay for another drink or another round of drinks
Ran himself in the ground
The person they used to know pushed themselves too hard and brought themselves down
It's been a long time comin'
The artist has been watching the person's downfall for a long time
Couldn't keep on runnin'
The person has reached a point where they can no longer keep up the same lifestyle
Had to hit rock bottom to know
The person needed to reach their lowest point to realize they needed to change
When you keep on losin'
Continuing down the same path leads to more losses
With the path you're choosin'
The person is responsible for the choices they make and the consequences that come with them
And it's time to let go
It's time for the singer to let go of the person they used to know
Of someone that I used to know
Reiterating that the singer is talking about someone they used to know
Rides the high that tears him down
The person experiences temporary highs that ultimately bring them down
Hates himself and loves the crowd
The person has low self-esteem and seeks validation from a crowd
The king of fools a heavy crown
Being foolish has a heavy burden on the person
He didn't know he almost drowned
The person didn't realize how close they were to hitting rock bottom
Know, know, know
Repeating the word 'know' emphasizes that the singer knows this person well
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Watt, Ben Simonetti, Niko Moon, Shawn Mendes, Zac Brown, Andrew Wotman, Zachry Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sally c
ZAC BROWN BAND (2018) – SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW (Traducción)
Hometown hero at the bar
El héroe local en el bar
Burned out high life super star
Consumió la gran vida de superestrella
You know
Ya sabes
Kept a buzz to fill the hole
Mantenía el colocón para llenar el vacío
Loved the lights and stole the show
Le encantaban las luces y acaparar la atención
Someone I used to know
Quien yo conocía
Would stay another round
Se hubiera quedado otra ronda
Someone I used to know
Quien yo conocía
Ran himself in the ground
Hubiera acabado rendido
It's been a long time comin'
Hace tiempo que se veía venir
Couldn't keep on runnin'
No pudo seguir corriendo
Had to hit rock bottom to know
Tuvo que tocar fondo para saber que
When you keep on losin'
Cuando sigues perdiendo
With the path you're choosin'
Con el camino que eliges
And it's time to let go
Es el momento de dejar ir
Of someone that I used to know
A quien conocía
Know, know
Conocía, conocía
Know, know
Conocía, conocía
Someone that I used to know
Alguien a quien conocía
Rides the high that tears him down
Llega tan alto que se derrumba
Hates himself and loves the crowd
Se odia a si mismo y le encanta la multitud
The king of fools a heavy crown
El rey de los tontos, una pesada corona
He didn't know he almost drowned
No supo que casi se ahogó
Someone I used to know
Quien yo conocía
Would stay another round
Se hubiera quedado otra ronda
Someone I used to know
Quien yo conocía
Ran himself in the ground
Hubiera acabado rendido
It's been a long time comin'
Hace tiempo que se veía venir
Couldn't keep on runnin'
No pudo seguir corriendo
Had to hit rock bottom to know
Tuvo que tocar fondo para saber que
When you keep on losin'
Cuando sigues perdiendo
With the path you're choosin'
Con el camino que eliges
And it's time to let go
Es el momento de dejar ir
Of someone that I used to know
A quien conocía
Know, know
Conocía, conocía
Know, know
Conocía, conocía
It's been a long time comin'
Hace tiempo que se veía venir
Couldn't keep on runnin'
No pudo seguir corriendo
Had to hit rock bottom to know
Tuvo que tocar fondo para saber que
When you keep on losin'
Cuando sigues perdiendo
With the path you're choosin'
Con el camino que eliges
And it's time to let go
Es el momento de dejar ir
Someone that I used to
A quien
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Ooh
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Know / Conocía
Merideth Molnaird
Did anyone else think the opening was meant to be a way to show how people use alcohol, drugs, and sex to fill the empty, unsatisfied feeling/void depression leaves you with? Like, you'll find any way just to numb your brain for a little bit?
Awesome song and still one of the best bands I've ever seen live.
SouthernCross
Merideth Molnaird Absolutely and it’s clear there is no intimacy here or emotions. It’s seen as she could have been anyone, or anything. Sadly there’s veterans and other people going through life with unresolved pain, trauma, with an empty tank/void. All they care about in those moments is seeking ways to fill it, a temporary quick fix. Risky behaviors/addictions destroy their interpersonal relationships. People aren’t important, some become things for them to use. Maybe others have heard someone say they’d rather burn it all down to the ground, with nothing to fix, they would rather be Hated over doing the hard work. While this vicious cycle continues they don’t care about the trail of hurt, and broken people, families they left in their past....
Jeremy Menning
That's how the chemicals in our brain work. Seek serotonin, norepinephrine, adrenaline, oxytocin, dopamine....the depression sets in when your brains pleasure center becomes devoid of all these fun chemical and hormones....so ya gotta feed it some more. Sex...drugs...alcohol...they all feed that monster.
Blair Fuhr
Merideth, you are absolutely correct.
This song hits home
Zach s
I didnt but that's a good point
Keith Link
STFU unless you've been there
Kimberly Barrett
Depression will kill you if you let it! Its awsome that they are addressing this issue. You guys rock 🤘
bill jones
This sounds like something Avicii would have produced yet used ZBB for the vocals. Great song
TheStapleGunKid
ZB did work with Avicii in the past. This song was released a few months after Avicii died, so it's safe to assume it may have been inspired by that tragedy in some way.
The Andrew Show
Needed this song. Currently in the Army. Depression is a dangerous place to be in, but with great friends and loved ones, it can be put to an end. Don't be afraid to ask for help!