When You Know Someone

Valley's song "When You Know Someone" delves into the complexities and emotional turmoil of a relationship that has gone awry. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the pain and disillusionment that comes when someone you thought you knew intimately reveals a hidden side, leading to heartbreak. The opening lines set the tone, highlighting the disparity between the depth of connection and the pain of betrayal. The phrase "It's never equal parts" suggests that the emotional investment and the resulting hurt are never balanced, emphasizing the uneven nature of relationships and breakups.

The metaphor of jumping ship in mid-ocean is particularly striking, symbolizing abandonment and the sudden, jarring end of a relationship. The imagery of a "sinking hand" further underscores the sense of loss and the feeling of being left to fend for oneself. The mention of a "secret life" that cuts the narrator open speaks to the discovery of hidden truths and the deep wounds they inflict. This revelation is compounded by the narrator's admission of pride, which prevents them from fully expressing their pain and vulnerability.

The song also touches on the cyclical nature of relationships, moving from strangers to friends and back to strangers. This progression highlights the transient and often unpredictable nature of human connections. The final verse lists a series of personal and intimate items and moments, such as "toothpaste, mistakes, headphones," and "three words, I love you," which serve to humanize the relationship and make the sense of loss more palpable. These details create a poignant contrast between the mundane and the profound, illustrating how deeply intertwined lives can become and how painful it is to untangle them.