Music isn't always about finding answers. Sometimes, it’s just about sitting in the mess of not knowing why someone left or why a relationship disintegrated despite your best efforts. When Teddy Swims released "Some Things I'll Never Know," it didn't just climb the charts; it sort of became a communal therapy session for anyone who has ever been ghosted by a "forever" person. The some things i'll never know lyrics are a brutal, stripped-back autopsy of a heartbreak that lacks closure.
It’s raw. It’s painful. It’s the sound of a man realizing that the "why" doesn't actually matter because the "who" is already gone.
The Raw Reality Inside the Lyrics
Most breakup songs are about the fight or the cheating or the dramatic slamming of doors. This one? It’s different. Teddy Swims—born Jaten Dimsdale—has this way of making his vocal cords sound like they’re literally fraying at the edges. The song focuses on the silence that follows a breakup. It’s the internal monologue you have at 3:00 AM when you’re staring at a ceiling fan, wondering if they ever actually meant the things they said.
The opening lines set a specific, haunting stage. You’ve got this person who was your entire world, and suddenly, they’re a stranger who knows all your secrets. That’s a terrifying thought. The lyrics grapple with the terrifying "permanence" of moving on. When he sings about the things he’ll never know, he’s talking about those private conversations his ex is now having with someone else. He's talking about the "logic" behind a decision that felt illogical to him.
Honestly, the power of these lyrics lies in their simplicity. There are no fancy metaphors here. No complex poetry. Just the blunt, honest admission that losing someone is a form of ego death. You want the truth, but you realize the truth won't actually fix the hole in your chest.
Why Closure is Usually a Lie
We’ve been conditioned to think we need "closure." We think if we can just have one last coffee, one last phone call, or one last long-winded text exchange, we can move on peacefully. The some things i'll never know lyrics argue the exact opposite. They suggest that the "not knowing" is actually the final stage of grief.
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Psychologists often talk about "ambiguous loss." It’s a state where you don't have a clear ending. There's no funeral for a relationship; people just stop choosing each other. When Teddy sings about how he's "still the same" while the other person has changed, he’s highlighting the lopsided nature of healing. One person is usually further ahead in the process than the other.
- The lyrics emphasize the "gap" between two people.
- They highlight the futility of asking questions to someone who has already checked out emotionally.
- The song acknowledges that some questions don't have answers—or at least, not answers you'd want to hear.
Think about the line where he mentions how he can’t hate them. That’s the kicker. It’s easy to move on if someone is a villain. It’s nearly impossible when you still see the good in them, but they’ve decided they don’t see the "us" anymore. That’s the specific brand of torture this song captures.
Teddy Swims and the Art of the "Soul-Country" Ballad
If you look at the trajectory of Teddy Swims, he didn't start as a chart-topping powerhouse. He was a guy doing covers on YouTube, blending soul, country, and R&B in a way that felt authentic to his Georgia roots. By the time he got to "Some Things I'll Never Know," he had mastered the art of "the gravelly whisper."
You can hear the influence of Otis Redding and Bill Withers in his phrasing. He doesn't just sing the notes; he pushes air through them in a way that sounds like he’s crying without actually shedding tears. This isn't over-produced pop fluff. It’s a piano and a voice. That's it. That’s all you need when the writing is this honest.
People often compare this track to his other massive hit, "Lose Control." While "Lose Control" is about the addiction to a person, "Some Things I'll Never Know" is about the withdrawal. It’s the comedown. It’s the realization that the high is over and you’re left with a very quiet, very empty house.
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Breaking Down the Most Relatable Lines
When you dive into the specific phrasing, you see why people are tattooing these words on their arms. There's a section about "the way you looked at me" that feels particularly jagged. It points to the betrayal of memory. You remember the look of love, so how do you reconcile that with the current look of indifference?
The song asks: Did you lie then? Or are you lying now?
The reality is probably neither. People change. Feelings evaporate. But the human brain isn't wired to accept that "vaporization" of emotion. We want a cause and an effect. The some things i'll never know lyrics act as a white flag. They are a surrender to the mystery of human behavior. You realize you can't control someone else's heart, and you certainly can't demand an explanation from a heart that no longer speaks your language.
The Difficulty of Modern Dating and Ghosting
In a world of "read receipts" and "soft launching," the lack of clarity is a modern epidemic. This song resonates because we live in an era where people can disappear from your life while still appearing on your Instagram feed. You see them living, laughing, and eating brunch, while you’re stuck with a thousand "whys."
Teddy Swims captures that digital-age haunting. You're left with the "data" of a person but none of the "connection."
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Practical Steps for Finding Peace Without Answers
If you’re listening to this song on repeat because you’re currently in the thick of it, you’ve got to find a way to stop seeking the "why." It’s a trap. It really is.
Accept the silence as the answer. When someone doesn't give you a reason, that is the reason. Their silence tells you that they are no longer invested in your peace of mind. It’s harsh, but it’s the most honest closure you’ll ever get.
Stop the forensic investigation. Don't go back through old texts. Don't check their Spotify "Recently Played." Don't look for clues in the some things i'll never know lyrics to see if they apply to your specific situation. You are just poking a wound that’s trying to scab over.
Write your own ending. If they won't give you a conclusion, write one for yourself. Decide that the relationship ended because it reached its expiration date. You don't need their signature on the document to make the breakup official.
Lean into the discomfort. The song is popular because the feeling is universal. You aren't "weak" for hurting. You're just human. Let the music play, feel the weight of it, and then eventually, turn the volume down.
The most powerful thing you can do is decide that you don't need to know everything to be okay again. Sometimes, the most important thing you'll ever know is that you're capable of surviving the "not knowing."
To truly move forward, focus on creating a new narrative that doesn't involve your ex-partner's input. Start by physically distancing yourself from reminders of the "unknowns"—delete the old message threads that you keep re-reading for "clues." Redirect that investigative energy into a new habit or a project that requires your full focus. Finally, acknowledge that your value isn't tied to someone else's ability to explain their departure; your worth remains intact regardless of the answers you never received.