☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a painful breakup and dealing with the aftermath of this event
- The singer remembers the times of love but still feels lonely - hinting at an unhealthy relationship
- Although the relationship didn't work, there was hope for friendship. However, the singer confesses that he was glad when it was over
- The former partner cuts all ties, which deeply hurts the singer. Changing the phone number and having friends pick up personal belongings increases the alienation
- The singer reflects on bad times when he felt like a scapegoat and is exhausted from excessive analysis. He believes she is not over the relationship yet
- The lyrics address the pain of alienation from someone once loved and speak of feelings of loss, betrayal, and estrangement
Interpretation
The lyrics of "Somebody That I Used to Know" by
Gotye are about a painful breakup and how to deal with the aftermath.
The first verse describes how the singer remembers times when he and his ex-partner were together. Despite the love he felt for her, he felt lonely in her presence, indicating an unhealthy relationship.
In the second verse, he talks about the kind of sadness one can get used to when a relationship ends. Even though the relationship didn't work out ("we could not make sense"), he hoped they could still be friends. But he admits he was glad when it was all over.
The chorus expresses the main point of the song: the singer feels completely disconnected from his ex-partner and treated like a stranger ("you treat me like a stranger"). He feels hurt that she has stooped so low as to let her friends pick up their shared things and change her phone number.
In the third verse, he remembers the many times she made him feel like he was the cause of her problems ("all the times you screwed me over"). He no longer wants to live like that and analyze every word she says. She said she could let it go, but he doesn't believe she's moved on from their old relationship.
The song is about how painful it can be when someone you used to love and know suddenly treats you like a stranger. It addresses feelings of loss, betrayal, and alienation that often come with the end of a relationship.