"If I Know You" by Gilbert O'Sullivan is a song about a toxic and destructive relationship. The narrator reflects on their past with their partner, realizing that their partner is controlling and manipulative. The lyrics indicate that the narrator should have known from the beginning that this relationship would lead to unhappiness. The partner becomes jealous and possessive, even getting angry when other women show the slightest interest in the narrator. The narrator acknowledges that their departure may not affect the partner, but deep down, they know the partner will go to great lengths to harm and sabotage them. It shows that the partner has a vengeful nature. The second verse involves the narrator reflecting on their time together, realizing that their partner never truly loved them wholeheartedly. They may have provided material things and opportunities, but it was not enough. The narrator admits to accepting everything their partner offered because they were young and eager to start a life together. The partner claims to understand the narrator's feelings now that they have broken up, but the narrator knows that the partner will still try to destroy them. The lyrics then shift to a more philosophical questioning about the nature of relationships. The narrator questions why people abandon fairytales and lose faith in love. They wonder if becoming older and being parents has made them fail in some ways. This shows a longing for a simpler and more innocent view of love and relationships. The final verse reveals that the narrator never stopped wanting their partner during the relationship. However, they refuse to spend their life with someone who believes love is just a transaction. The partner claims not to be bitter about the breakup, but the narrator knows their true nature and expects them to continue trying to tear them down. The song emphasizes the destructive tendencies that exist in some relationships and questions the motivations behind hurting one another. It explores themes of love, possessiveness, control, and the disillusionment that can come with relationships.
