Now you finally tell me how you feel
Guess your words just came a little too late
All the drama, boy, it’s overkill
Don’t get mad at me ’cause you’ve been replaced
Know your place
But if you woulda manned up, put your hand up, stand up
Tell me how you really felt, then maybe it’d be different
If you spoke, I would’ve listened
But now, I’m with somebody else, and he loves me
Too much for me to mess this up
But it sucks to be all in your head
Wondering where this thing could go
But you will never know (Oh-oh)
What we could have been
If you would’ve shown (Oh-oh)
Your way back then
Boy, you gotta (Yup, yup)
Boy, you shoulda (Yup, yup)
‘Cause you didn’t, no, so
Now you’ll never know, you’ll never know
Now it’s probably hard for you to hear
But there’s nothing left for you to say
Had my heart all in your hands, boy, what you don’t understand
Is a girl like me don’t have no time to waste around
But if you woulda manned up, put your hand up, stand up
Tell me how you really felt, then maybe it’d be different
If you spoke, I would’ve listened
But now, I’m with somebody else, and he loves me
Too much for me to mess this up
But it sucks to be all in your head
Wondering where this thing could go
But you will never know (Oh-oh)
What we could have been
If you would’ve shown (If you would’ve shown) (Oh-oh)
Your way back then
Boy, you gotta (Yup, yup)
Boy, you shoulda (Yup, yup)
‘Cause you didn’t know, so
Now you’ll never know, you’ll never know
You’ll never know
Boy, you should’ve told me, told me
You’ll never know
Boy, you should’ve let me know
You’ll never know
Boy, you could’ve been there for me
But now you’ll never know, you’ll never know
It’s not my fault
You’re a little bit too late
You’re the only one to blame
Wipe that look off your face
You can wish a thousand times
But none of that will change my mind, boy
You had a chance you’ll never get back, get back, uh-uh
You will never know what we could have been
If you would’ve shown (If you would’ve shown, babe)
Your way back then (Way back then, baby)
Boy, you gotta (Yup, yup)
Boy, you shoulda (Yup, yup)
‘Cause you didn’t know, so
Now you’ll never know (Oh, baby)
You’ll never know
Boy, you should’ve told me, told me
You’ll never know
Boy, you should’ve let me know
You’ll never know
Boy, you could’ve been there for me
But now you’ll never know, you’ll never know
You’ll never know (You will never know, you will never know)
You’ll never know (No)
You’ll never know (You will never know)
The Pain of Missed Chances
“You’ll Never Know” by Ariana Grande explores the lingering regret of a love that could have been, if only one person had been brave enough to speak their truth. The lyrics capture the frustration of unspoken feelings and the reality that opportunities, once lost, may never return. Grande’s powerful vocals emphasize the resentment and disappointment felt when someone realizes it’s too late to make amends. The repeated phrase, “you’ll never know,” serves as a bittersweet reminder that hesitation can close the door on something truly special.
Moving On and Self-Worth
The song also highlights the importance of self-respect and moving forward. Ariana asserts her independence, making it clear that she refuses to wait around for someone unwilling to act. The narrative is empowering, encouraging listeners to value themselves and not settle for indecision in love. Ultimately, “You’ll Never Know” is an anthem for anyone who’s ever wondered what might have been, while finding the strength to walk away.
Song Credits
- Artist: Ariana Grande
- Songwriters: Ariana Grande, Harmony Samuels, Carmen Reece, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, Al Sherrod Lambert, Courtney Harrell
- Release Year: 2013
- Label: Republic Records