The song Had To Know by Jerry Cantrell is about a relationship that is not working out. The first verse describes how the narrator spilled themselves on the floor and admired the way their partner clawed through the door. They remember the precious look on their partner's face while they were acquiring a taste for something. The chorus emphasizes the theme of trying and questioning. The narrator acknowledges that their partner wanted more in the relationship and that they had to know why things weren't working out. The repeated line "we stand above a place to fall" suggests that the relationship is fragile and could easily fall apart. The second verse describes how the narrator left their partner with so much unsaid and how their partner brokered a deal alone in their bed. The narrator has been in this situation before and knows that their partner is not the first person to want more in a relationship. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the theme of trying and questioning. The bridge repeats the line "we stand above a place to fall" and adds the line "had to know." The song ends with the repeated chorus and the line "Cause you really had to know." Overall, the song Had To Know is about a relationship that is not working out and the frustration and questioning that come with it. The repeated theme of trying and questioning suggests that the narrator and their partner were both trying to make the relationship work, but it ultimately was not meant to be.
