Verified Lyrics R&B / Techno

I Was Never There

The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein

Album: The Highlights

Lyrics

What makes a grown man wanna cry?

(Cry, cry, cry, cry)

What makes him wanna take his life? (Ah, ah)

(Yeah)

His happiness is never real

(Real, real, real, real)

And mindless sex is how he feels, ooh, he heals

Chorus

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter (It don't matter), it won't matter (Matter)

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (Time, it's time, babe)

It won't matter (It won't matter, babe), it won't matter (Ya)

It was like he was never there

(It was like he was never there)

It was like he was gone in thin air, oh

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time (Oh, baby)

It won't matter (It won't matter, baby), it won't matter

Bridge

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter, it won't matter

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter, it won't matter

It was like he was never there

It was like he was gone in thin air

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter, it won't matter

Break

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter, it won't matter

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter, it won't matter

Verse 2

Ooh, now I know what love is

And I know it ain't you for sure

You'd rather something toxic

So, I poison myself again, again

'Til I feel nothing

In my soul (In my soul)

I'm on the edge of something breaking

I feel my mind is slowly fadin'

If I keep going, I won't make it

If I keep going, I won't make it

Outro

And it's all because of you

It's all because of you

It's all because of you

It's all because of you

Woah, woah

Don't you, baby, hey

It won't matter, baby

Don't you know?

Don't you know?

Oh, ooh, oh

Hey

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Meaning & Context

"I Was Never There" is a haunting collaboration between The Weeknd and French techno artist Gesaffelstein. It stands as a pivotal moment in The Weeknd's discography, exploring the deepest depths of heartbreak and existential nihilism.

The Sound of Despair

The production features a piercing, siren-like synth that mimics a psychological alarm, signaling the narrator's deteriorating mental state. The lyrics "mindless sex is how he feels" illustrate an attempt to numb emotional pain through physical sensation, while the refrain "It was like he was never there" suggests a desire to completely erase his existence from the memory of a toxic lover.

A Toxic Cycle

In the second verse, the narrator acknowledges the toxicity of the relationship ("You'd rather something toxic / So, I poison myself again"). This self-destructive behavior highlights the struggle between knowing a relationship is harmful and being unable to break free, eventually leading to a state where he feels "nothing in my soul."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of I Was Never There?

The song explores the numbness following a toxic breakup. The narrator contemplates suicide and erasing his existence to stop the pain, admitting he uses "mindless sex" to feel something other than emptiness.

What album is I Was Never There on?

It was originally released on the EP My Dear Melancholy, (2018) and is also featured on the compilation album The Highlights.

Who produced I Was Never There?

The track was produced by Gesaffelstein and Frank Dukes. Gesaffelstein's signature dark, industrial techno style is evident in the siren-like synths.

Is there a sample in the song?

The song utilizes a distinct, high-pitched alarm sound created by Gesaffelstein, which has become iconic on social media platforms like TikTok for melancholic trends.

What genre is I Was Never There?

It is a blend of Alternative R&B, Techno, and Electronic music, characterized by its dark atmosphere and emotional vocals.

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