My buddy Ross, who grew up in Australia, hipped me to a song by an artist I’d never heard of, since I live in America and apparently don’t hear about awesome things that happen in other countries.
Anyway, this song has been haunting me ever since. It makes my heart ache and I’m not really sure why, considering I don’t directly relate to what the song is about. Perhaps it’s symbolic of some other kind of relationship in my life (i.e. with a friend, loved one, or perhaps god) that has struggled, changed, or ended. The more I think about it, the more that seems likely. Anyway, sometimes I listen to this song and it almost makes me cry. I think it’s beautiful.
Also, his vocals at the bridge remind me of Sting (in a good way, not a bad way). A perfect example of slow slow build and artful use of the AABA form. …Ok, sorry to get all music-y on you there. Anyway, enjoy. Lyrics are below.
LYRICS:
[Gotye:]
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 that it was over
BRIDGE:
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
[Kimbra:]
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
And 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
[Gotye:]
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
And 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)
