Don't Know Why

The speaker describes failing to meet someone and being unable to explain why. At first, the repeated confession sounds puzzled and regretful: the speaker waited, but did not come. The feeling deepens into sadness and loneliness, with tears, thoughts of escape, and the sense of traveling alone. Even while imagining distance from the other person, the speaker says they will remain on their mind.

Several images express emotional pain rather than literal events. Wishing to “fly away” suggests wanting to escape a difficult feeling or situation. Catching tears in a hand makes grief feel physical and immediate. A heart “drenched in wine” may suggest being overwhelmed, perhaps dulled or confused by emotion, though the lyric does not explain the image exactly. Feeling “as empty as a drum” conveys hollowness: the speaker feels vacant, even though a drum is usually associated with sound.

The song leaves the reason for the missed meeting unclear. The repeated question may show genuine confusion, but it could also suggest that the speaker is avoiding a painful answer or cannot put it into words. The images of flight and a journey across the sea might be fantasies of escape, not plans the speaker will actually carry out. What remains clear is the tension between wanting distance and continuing to think about the person.