You Never Know (Japanese Version)

BLACKPINK's 'You Never Know (Japanese Version)' delves into the unseen struggles and emotional battles faced by the members behind their glamorous public personas. The song opens with a reflection on the facade of happiness, where the artist admits to putting on a smile despite feeling weighed down by darkness. This duality is a recurring theme, highlighting the contrast between public perception and private reality. The lyrics 'It keeps bringing me down down down' and 'I've heard enough of the things that I'm not' emphasize the emotional toll of constant scrutiny and judgment.

The chorus, 'But you'll never know unless you walk in my shoes,' serves as a powerful reminder that the audience only sees what they want to see, often overlooking the deeper, more painful experiences. This line underscores the difficulty of truly understanding someone's life without experiencing it firsthand. The song also touches on the fear of not meeting expectations and the pressure to maintain a certain image, as seen in the lines 'Wonderin' if I gotta trying pretend' and 'けど だれかにきたいしている じぶんがこわいの' (I'm scared of the self that expects something from someone).

Despite the challenges, the song carries a message of resilience and self-acceptance. The lyrics 'そう もっと I'ma shine baby' and 'You know they ain't got a shot on me' reflect a determination to rise above the negativity and shine brightly. The metaphor of light and shadow is used to illustrate this journey, with the artist acknowledging that the stronger the light, the longer the shadow. Ultimately, 'You Never Know' is a poignant exploration of the hidden struggles behind the spotlight, urging listeners to look beyond appearances and understand the complexities of human emotions.