What do you think Don't Know Why means?

Norah Jones: Don't Know Why Meaning

Tagged: Regret [suggest]
Album cover for Don't Know Why album cover

Song Released: 2002


Don't Know Why Lyrics

"Don't Know Why"

I waited 'til I saw the sun
I don't know why I didn't come
I left you by the house of fun
I don't know why I didn't come
I don't know why I didn't come

When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of...

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  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    EricMC
    click a star to vote
     Jan 28th 2012 !⃝

    Some have attributed this song to Eric Clapton. It was, in fact, written by Jesse Harris - who gave it to Norah Jones.

    Clearly, he has arranged to meet his love or crush later in the evening (perhaps at a party) and has been unable to bring himself to go.

    Instead he has remained by the sea alone and will now drive off feeling rotten and lonely ("a bag of bones"). Nobody, it seems, knows why he didn't come - least of all his intended date.

    Most of us know this feeling, however - of wanting to be with someone but not daring to join them.

    For me the "house of fun" line hints that they would perhaps have been in company, expected to have a great time, and that he would somehow have spoiled the evening - perhaps would feel in the way (maybe he suspects she fancies someone else? Or just isn't cool enough).

    He has spent all night meaning to show up, and in the end is crying by himself alone on the beach. Maybe he finished off a bottle ("my heart is drenched in wine"): initially dutch courage to get him in the mood for the rendezvous; finally, perhaps, just another reason not to arrive and be an embarrassment.

    In the morning light, he has made up his mind that he and his lover will never be together - and believes it will always haunt him.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Apr 29th 2021 !⃝

    Deals with a night of powerfully frustrated sex with a loving attractive partner.. “couldn’t come” meaning couldn’t orgasm. And by morning...nothing.
    Left you by the “house of fun” meaning considerable pleasure but sadly no climax. Tried until the sun came up, but felt shame and embarrassment when the realization of “not coming” set in and what this meant about one’s sexuality and inability to please the other or the self.
    Began questioning one’s sexuality since this never happened before. Depression and self loathing overtake the person. Just can’t get over it. Maybe somewhere beyond the sexual parameters established by society there can be sensual and sexual fulfillment...but perhaps not.
    Perhaps the future holds a lonely sexually disappointed, unhappy life.

    Male or female, gay, bi, or straight.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Jun 27th 2020 !⃝

    My interpretation...
    Male Version:

    I waited until I saw the Sun; He finally found courage,

    I dkw I didn't come;
    too late now he regretting.

    Left you by the house of fun; Left you with my competitions

    I dnw I didn't come;
    He chickened out

    When I saw the break of day; He knew he lost his chance

    Wish he could fly away;
    Hoping to leave his feelings behind.

    Instead of kneeling in the sand, catching tear drops;
    Feeling stupid and lonely for not taking the chance on himself.

    My heart is drenched in wine you'll be on my mind;
    He was drinking all night thinking about her or them

    Out across the endless sea, I would die in ecstacy;
    I will encounter many lovers in the world, in his life.

    But I'll be a bag of bones driving down the road alone;
    When its all said and done, I'll be old and alone.

    Something has to make you run, I dkw I didn't come;
    I don't understand her and I dont know why I chickened out

    I feel as empty as a drum;
    I feel hollow inside my beating heart

    I dkw I didn't come;
    I chickened out x 3

    Female version...
    Well lets just say they end up alone sort of the same way. Even though but her adventures with men were better than the Man's version, unfortunately they left deep jagged holes in her soul than can never be fixed.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Sep 1st 2018 !⃝

    The interpretation by ERICMC is spot on - I've read a lot of crazy interpretations by people obsessed by the sexual ambiguity of the chorus line. The ambiguity is surely intentional but the story is something else.

    A lot of people assume that it's a woman's voice since Norah Jones is better known for this song than the male author, Jesse Harris, and they seem to project their own sexual desire for Norah onto the lyrics. They should look a bit harder at the true origins of a work of art before analysing it.

    Well done Eric.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Apr 7th 2017 !⃝

    I waited 'til I saw the sun
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I left you by the house of fun
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I don't know why I didn't come
    (They had sex until the morning sun, she couldn't cum-orgasm, and left the party)

    When I saw the break of day
    I wished that I could fly away
    Instead of kneeling in the sand
    Catching teardrops in my hand
    (When the sun came up she was embarrassed wishing she was never there)

    My heart is drenched in wine
    But you'll be on my mind
    Forever
    (She drunk)

    Out across the endless sea
    I would die in ecstasy
    But I'll be a bag of bones
    Driving down the road alone
    (She also on ecstasy, going home alone probably because she couldn't sleep if drugs)

    My heart is drenched in wine
    But you'll be on my mind
    Forever
    (She drunk)

    Something has to make you run
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I feel as empty as a drum
    I don't know why I didn't come
    I don't know why I didn't come
    (She sling a question, what can make you wet again because she is literally dry in her female part, hybcsmt she cum, probably because of exstacy I've done ex and that's exactly how I felt)

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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