Someone said they left together
I ran out the door to get her
She was holding hands with Trevor
Not the greatest feeling ever
Said, "Pull yourself together
You should try your luck with Heather"
Then I heard they slept together
Oh, the less I know the better
The less I know the better
[Chorus]
Oh, my love, can't you see yourself by my side?
No surprise, leanin' on his shoulder like every night
Oh, my love, can't you see that you're on my mind?
Don't suppose you could convince your lover to change his mind
So goodbye
[Verse 2]
She said, "It's not now or never
Wait ten years, we'll be together"
I said, "Better late than never
Just don't make me wait forever"
Don't make me wait forever
Don't make me wait forever
Oh, my love, can't you see yourself by my side?
I don't suppose you could convince your lover to change his mind
[Verse 3]
I was doing fine without ya
'Til I saw your face, now I can't erase
Givin' in to all his bullshit
Is this what you want? Is this who you are?
I was doing fine without ya
'Til I saw your eyes turn away from mine
All sweet talkin', where he wants ya
[Outro]
So, come on, Superman, say your stupid line
So, come on, Superman, say your stupid line
So, come on, Superman, say your stupid line
About
“The Less I Know the Better” describes the pain of a man feeling left out in a love triangle, illustrated with a complex arrangement of groovy bass hooks, sensual Rhodes piano chords, and moody synth textures.
Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker has said that the song doesn’t belong on the album “because it has this dorky, white disco funk.” However, it is by far the most popular track on Currents, thanks in no small part to its breakout music video fusing psychedelia, sex appeal, high school angst, and a man in a gorilla costume.
This track follows the synth vignette “Gossip,” suggesting that the narrator, voiced by Parker, is hearing news about the woman he wants – that she is hooking up with someone named Trevor. The song’s title comes from his insecurity – if people give him the details of his crush’s sexual activity, the more it will dominate his thoughts and leave her seemingly defiled in his mind (“is this who you are?”).
As illustrated by the music video’s gorilla, Trevor vs. Kevin appears to be the classic “alpha-beta” struggle for women’s affections. Trevor has her attention for now because of his sexual prowess (he is her “lover… like every night”), but she knows that Parker would be the better long-term partner (“Wait ten years, we’ll be together”). However, Kevin warns her that his patience will not last “forever.”
Following its success on the record, “The Less I Know The Better” was released as a radio single on November 29th, 2015. The song was voted number 1 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of the decade.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
I just remember sitting alone in my home studio, a little studio, because I was between houses, and making the demo of the song in about half an hour. Like I had the chords and the melody and I was just thinking, “It needs a gnarly bass riff.”
The way that I know I’ve done a new riff that is cool, is if my hands don’t want to do it. If you let your hands do the thinking, it will just be the same old shit. But yeah, that bass riff – it’s actually a guitar with an octave pedal – but that very take is the one that’s used in the whole song.
– Kevin Parker, Noisey
I recorded most of the first half of the song, up until the first chorus, in just one hour ‘cause I had the idea. I had the idea for the vocal melody and the chords, but the bass line I kinda just did. I had that demo for months and months, listening it and trying to think about a second section for the song.
– Kevin Parker, Konbini
Yes. “The Less I Know The Better” was certified 4x platinum on February 11, 2022.
- 2.Nangs
- 3.The Moment
- 5.Eventually
- 6.Gossip
- 7.The Less I Know the Better
- 8.Past Life
- 9.Disciples
- 10.’Cause I’m a Man
- 12.Love/Paranoia