“I Should Have Known Better” by Jim Diamond
Having regrets over leaving someone you love? Wishing they’d forgive you and give you a second chance now that you know better? Well, that’s exactly what this song is about.
Diamond expresses his love for his partner whom he had left – a little too late, though. He even knows that no matter how much he cries or pleads, they will not return.
Chorus
“And I should have known better/To lie to one as beautiful as you” brings about the assumption that this break up was caused by a lie told by Diamond. However, with the line, “I thought you’d understand”, it portrays a little bit of passing the blame onto the partner as perhaps there was an unsolved issue that led to him lying, thus causing this painful break up.
Yet after, what we can deduce, this painful ordeal, Diamond still seeks for forgiveness and loves his (ex) partner very much.
When was “I Should Have Known Better” released?
It was released in 1984 as a single from Diamond’s first solo album, “Double Crossed”. The album was supported by A&M Records. Other singles from the album are:
- “I Sleep Alone at Night”
- “Remember I Love You”
Did Jim Diamond write this song?
Yes. Jim composed it with renowned Scottish songwriter Graham Lyle. Since beginning his career in the 1960s, Lyle composed a ton of hits for a plethora of artists, including Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It?“.
“I Should Have Known Better” flies to Number 1
This song gave Diamond a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom. Outside of the UK, it was also a number 1 hit in three other countries, including Australia.
| United Kingdom | #1 |
| Australia | #1 |
| Ireland | #1 |
| Portugal | #1 |
This British hit went on to enjoy chart success in several other European countries. It was also a huge hit in African nation of South Africa, where it made it to a peak position of 3.
| Countries | Peak Position |
| Belgium | #3 |
| Italy | #5 |
| Netherlands | #2 |
| Norway | #2 |
| South Africa | #4 |
| Switzerland | #3 |
To date, this song remains one of Diamond’s biggest hits – both as a solo artist and as a member of Ph.D. FYI – Ph.D. was an English group best known for their hit single “I Won’t Let You Down“. The group dissolved permanently after Diamond’s death in 2015.
