You Won't Know

Brand New's song 'You Won't Know' delves into themes of regret, unspoken love, and the inevitability of separation. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that paint a picture of a person grappling with their own shortcomings and the impact these have on their relationships. The opening lines, 'Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Hangman / You go get your rope,' set a dark tone, suggesting a sense of impending doom or judgment. The reference to a 'slippery slope' indicates a fear of losing control and falling into a pattern of mistakes.

The song's narrator expresses a deep sense of regret and sorrow, particularly in the lines, 'I wish that I could tell you right now, I love you / But it looks like I won't be around / So you won't know.' This suggests a separation, either physical or emotional, that prevents the narrator from expressing their true feelings. The repeated refrain, 'You won't know,' underscores the theme of unspoken emotions and the pain of not being able to communicate one's love and remorse.

The song also touches on themes of resilience and defiance. Lines like 'They can fire everything they've got / And when you think I'm sunk / I will float on and on' convey a sense of determination to persevere despite the odds. However, this resilience is tinged with fear and uncertainty, as seen in 'Even though I'm scared I won't burn that bright.' The song concludes with a poignant reflection on mortality and the afterlife, with the narrator lamenting that they won't be able to communicate their fate to their loved ones, leaving them in the dark.