Just South of Knowing Why
Unreleased | 2004
Table of Contents
Background and Recording
«'Just South of Knowing Why' was a rare song to write at her house 'cause we usually wrote at mine. And that was the first time she showed me the swimming pool that was under the living room. In her parents house, apparently whoever put this addition of a great room on built it directly over a swimming pool that was there. So there was a trapdoor that she opened up. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. And you look down and there's a full-blown swimming pool under the floor, sunk into the ground. And it's empty and it's just sitting there. And I was like, 'Oh my God, that's freaky!'»
Lyrical Theme and Production
«I liked that title. Like, juuust south of knowing why. I think that we are in that position all the time when we do something; Why did I do that? But obviously it makes sense that people can hear 'Drive All Night' because that's the big hook. The way she sang that, it just takes off and it sounds so good. That's another song that I'd love for her to bring back.»
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
She didn’t have a reason to go
Oh, no
She didn’t have a reason to stay
Either way
She didn’t tell anyone about her first ray of sun
She looked at her keys and found a reason to run
[Pre-Chorus 1]
And time stands still when you’re nowhere bound
But I understand it somehow
[Chorus]
If I could drive all night
Would I find my peace of mind?
Would it be a million miles of cold white lies
And unfamiliar exit signs?
I just drive on by
Just south of knowing why
[Verse 2]
I didn’t really know her that well
But I could tell that her smile was only something to hide behind
She felt so out of touch
Because she just felt too much
If you don’t know what you want
Nothing’s ever enough
[Pre-Chorus 2]
And time stands still when you’re nowhere bound
That’s where I’m headed right now
[Chorus]
If I could drive all night
Would I find my peace of mind?
Would it be a million miles of cold white lies
And unfamiliar exit signs?
I just drive on by
Just south of knowing why
[Bridge]
I don’t have a plan
I don’t have a map
I don’t even know if I’m ever going back
I don’t have a when
And I don’t have a where
I don’t even know if I’ll know when I’m there
[Final Chorus]
But If I could drive all night
Would I find my peace of mind?
Would it be a million miles of cold white lies
And unfamiliar exit signs?
I just drive on by
I just drive on by
[Outro]
Drive on
Drive on
Drive all night
If I drive on
Drive on
Drive on
Drive all night
Just south of knowing why
| Status | Unreleased |
|---|---|
| Leaked | 2004 |
| Written | 2004-2005 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 3:27 |
| Songwriters | Taylor Swift Robert Ellis Orrall |