Knew You
“Knew You” is the oldest song on “Recognize, De-escalate & De-code”. I did a version of it with my band The Previous when we toured in 1995. I worked with the musicians to re-create the musical breakdown section as we’d arranged it in the band.
The honest origins of this song are too personal to share but over the years it has proven useful in contending with a lot of people and situations that turned out different than they initially seemed.
Lyrics
KNEW YOU
I thought I saw you hangin’ on the scene
standin’ on the corner talkin’ mean
I thought I saw ya hangin’ ‘round downtown
with yer hands in yer pockets and yer head slung down
lookin’ like a mutant Steve McQueen
But I could be wrong
I could be mistaken
and maybe that wasn’t you
Hangin’ ‘round with your new crew
Yeah, you look so bad
but you got nothin’ better to do
I thought I knew you
I thought I saw you lurking in the eyes
of the kind of guys that we had once despised
I thought I saw you look away
I thought I saw you fade to grey
I thought I saw the crack in disguise
But I could be wrong
I could be mistaken
and maybe that wasn’t me
Seein’ things I didn’t see
Yeah, you look so bad
but you got nothin’ better to be
I thought I knew you
Yer head is blowing up
like it’s a big balloon
I hate to interrupt
yer masquerade but soon
it’s going to erupt
and it’ll just go…
boom
I thought I saw you hangin’ on the scene
with the seventh son of Martin Sheen
I thought I saw you bein’ cool
I thought I saw you bein’ cruel
I thought I saw the line blur in between but…
I could be wrong
I could be mistaken
and maybe that wasn’t you
hangin’ ‘round with yer new crew yeah
you look so bad
but you got
you got nothin’ better to do…
I thought I knew you…
…but I never knew you
Credits
Written & Produced by Andras Jones
Andras Jones – Lead & Harmony Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
Ken Stringfellow – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals & Percussion
Jordan Katzman – Trumpet
Sebastian Steinberg – Bass
Jimmy Paxson – Drums
Based on a Previous arrangement
with Marshall Thompson, John Nason, Brian Schey & Colin Mahoney
Recorded by Sheldon Gomberg & Kevin Smith & Ken Stringfellow
Mixed by Ken Stringfellow
Purchase
$1.50