I Never by Rilo Kiley Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Love and Redemption

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Rilo Kiley's I Never at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I’m only a woman
Of flesh and bone
And I weigh too much
We all do
I thought I might die alone

But I
Had never, never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, had never met you

So baby be good to me
I got nothing to give you, you see
Except everything, everything, everything, everything
All the good and the bad

‘Cause I’ve been bad
I’ve lied, cheated, and stolen
And been ungrateful for what I’ve have
And I’m afraid habits rule my waking life
I’m scared and I’m running in my sleep for you
But all of the oceans and rivers and showers
I’ll wash it all away and make me new for you

‘Cause I
Had never, never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, had never met you

So let’s take a loan and I’ll put it down on a house
In a place we’ve never lived
In a place that exists in the pages of scripts
And the songs that they sing
And all of the beautiful things
That make you weep
But don’t have to make you weep

‘Cause I
Never, never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never
Never, never have loved somebody
The way that I loved you

Rilo Kiley, an indie rock band known for weaving intricate narratives into their music, presents a profound exploration of love, self-awareness, and the potential for transformation in their song ‘I Never’. The track serves as a testament to the band’s ability to juxtapose human vulnerability with a hopeful outlook.

Delving into the emotional complexities behind the lyrics of ‘I Never’, listeners are invited to a journey through personal shortcomings and the redemptive power of love. It’s a confession, an emotional striptease that lays bare the flaws and fears of the protagonist while simultaneously celebrating a life-changing love.

Embodiment of Vulnerability: ‘I’m only a woman of flesh and bone’

The opening lines of ‘I Never’ present a raw and unfiltered admission of humanity’s inherent fragility. Rilo Kiley’s lead, Jenny Lewis, expresses a grounding affirmation that despite our physical limitations and personal insecurities, we’re all subject to the same earthly conditions. The statement ‘I weigh too much, we all do’ underscores a shared burden of existential weight that audience members can intimately relate to.

In these verses, the band encapsulates more than just self-awareness; they distill a sentiment that reflects our collective yearning to be more than our corporeal selves—a desire to transcend the heaviness of our imperfections in pursuit of something greater.

Love’s Transformative Power: ‘But I had never met you’

The repetition of ‘never’ serves as a stark awakening to the life-altering impact of a significant other. It is the moment of contrast, the before and after, the line in the sand between a life once lived and a new existence born from an encounter with another soul. This seismic shift in perspective only occurs when one truly significant individual dares enter the arena of our lives.

It’s a hymn to the unique experience of first-time love that feels so profound, it’s as if past loves pale into nonexistence. Only by meeting ‘you’ does the protagonist realize the depths of emotion and transformation that true love can induce. This epiphany is what sets the narrative into a roller-coaster of introspection and aspiration.

The Complex Tapestries of Affection: ‘Except everything, everything’

There’s a profound paradox presented in the lyrics ‘I got nothing to give you, you see / Except everything, everything’. This juxtaposition reveals a deep-seated recognition of one’s emotional bankruptcy while also acknowledging the all-encompassing sacrifice they are willing to make for love.

It speaks to the understanding that, in affairs of the heart, material wealth pales in comparison to the rich tapestry of experiences, emotions, and shared moments that define our relationships. The phrase becomes a mantra, a pledge of absolute devotion despite the protagonist’s acknowledgment of their flawed and humble human nature.

Unpeeling the Song’s Hidden Meaning: Redemption in Confession

Rilo Kiley strikes deep into the well of introspection with ‘I’ve been bad / I’ve lied, cheated, and stolen’. The confession is raw and truthful, exposing personal transgressions and the innate fear that our habits dictate our destiny.

Yet, there’s a sliver of hope – the notion that love can cleanse and renew. The waters ‘will wash it all away and make me new for you,’ suggesting the possibility of redemption, not solely by one’s own merits but through the transformative acceptance and forgiveness of another. This is the heart of the song’s hidden meaning: the belief in the salvaging grace of love’s embrace.

Memorable Lines: Dreams of an Idealized Life ‘In a place we’ve never lived’

The song crescendos into an idyllic vision encapsulated in ‘Let’s take a loan and I’ll put it down on a house / In a place we’ve never lived’. The lyrics offer escapism not just to a different place, but to an entirely different state of being—one that finds its foundation in the celluloid utopias of script pages, the elevated realities of songs, and the pristine beauty of things that spark emotion without sorrow.

It is in these carefully crafted lines that Rilo Kiley pivots from personal admission to collective dreams, from the intimate refusal to let love induce pain to the universal longing for a reality untainted by past regrets. The idea of a clean slate in a new, unblemished abode mirrors the song’s overarching theme: love is not about perfection, but about the chance to start anew, together, despite all odds.