somebody that I used to know

This my interpretation of the song... feel free to critique my opinion however you please.

[Gotye:]
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[Kimbra:]
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

[Gotye:]
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
And you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

To me, the color in this video represents being invested in a relationship. Whether or not it's "LOVE" it's an emotional investment, a desire to be connected to the other person. In the beginning, he's not painted whatsoever. He wasn't interested in her, even though he tried to talk himself into it. It wasn't until they broke up, until she cut off ties, until she stopped speaking to him-- that he realized that he cared for her and wanted her in his life. This is when his body slowly becomes painted, until he is completely covered. He becomes consumed with the relationship he wants to have.

She was fully invested when they were together. She felt so happy she could die. But he "screwed her over" because when they were together, he was hung up on something else and wasn't able to give her what she needed. She thought is was HER fault and would take everything he said personally, when really it had nothing to do with her. It was never something she could fix.

My favorite part of the video (as well as the song) is when she breaks away from the painting, she becomes her own person and realizes that she never was happy with him.. because he didn't love her for the person that she was, the person that she is. As soon as she realizes that they never actually had a relationship, she cuts him off completely, she loses the color. She is free.

I love how it ends. She is colorless and not invested and he is trapped in a relationship that will never be. I love that they are looking at each other. I don't believe he wants to date her or marry her or sleep with her or whatever a relationship entails. All he wants is to feel like he meant something in her life. That he was a real person and he's not a stranger. But he is a stranger because when they were together, he never allowed her to get to know him. He knows her well, but she has no idea who he really is.

maybe it's crazy that I am reading into this so much, but if you don't know this by now, I LOVE analyzing relationships. I think this song has a deeper meaning, one that can be applied to each of us, no matter our relationship status. It symbolizes every friendship, courtship, family relationship that turns sour. If both parties aren't fully invested at the same time and willing to see the other for who they really are, they can't connect. I believe that everyone wants to be recognized for who they are. They want to be valued. They need to matter. What would the world be like if we treated everyone like they mattered? Or better yet, if we realize they DO matter.