Not all heartbreaks come with an actual breakup. sombr's "we never dated" speaks to those who never received the title but still feel the pain.
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Stream: “we never dated” – sombr
In the chorus of sombr’s latest single, there's a line that resembles a late-night message you're too afraid to send: “How come we never even dated, but I still find myself thinking of you daily?” It’s not overly dramatic; it’s simply truthful, and its impact is greater because it doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
Sombr isn't seeking closure; he is embracing the confusion. Released on June 20th through Warner Records, “we never dated” is a lo-fi indie piece that feels like it was recorded amidst an indecisive thought. The guitar loops evoke a sense of restlessness, and the vocals stay just above a whisper. The repeated line “I can’t make you love me” isn’t a plea; it merely exists, resembling a truth you've finally accepted.
we never dated – sombr
You were insightful, timed your words well
And made it appear you were not so bright
You were better in every way, it was by design
You were too good for a man’s boundaries
How come we never even dated
But I still find myself thinking of you daily?
Why do you always leave me aching
When you were never mine to claim?
I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
Babe, I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
Babe, I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
This song represents a significant point in sombr’s repertoire. Following the success of previous singles “Back to Friends” and “Undressed,” which navigated the fine line between friendship and romance, “We Never Dated” sheds the bravado and delves into the pain. It’s not a breakup anthem; it’s a mourning for what never existed officially. This emotional complexity has become sombr’s hallmark.
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The 19-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer, who goes by Shane Boose offstage, has earned a reputation for transforming emotional uncertainty into lyrical clarity. His earlier tracks featured clever lyrics and layered production, but here, he opts for simplicity. Created mainly by sombr himself with some contributions from Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Andrew Bird), the song leans into raw guitar sounds and minimal percussion. This sonic choice allows the lyrics to breathe and impact listeners deeply.
There’s no antagonist here. Just someone who was “nice to romanticize / but you don’t make yourself easy to like.” It’s a line that resonates after realizing you fell for a concept rather than the actual person. And this realization? It doesn’t come with fanfare but rather with silence.
You are a captivating one, easy to romanticize
But you don’t make yourself easy to like
You enjoy having fun, you dance around the boundaries
Of right and wrong
What makes the song resonate is how little effort it puts into impressing. There are no big drops, no dramatic bridges. Just repetition. Just acceptance. Just the quiet heartbreak that creeps in when you’re scrolling through old messages wondering if any of it meant what you believed.
How come we never even dated
But I still find myself thinking of you daily?
Why do you always leave me aching
When you were never mine to claim?
I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
Babe, I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
Babe, I can’t make you love me
No, I can’t make you love me
“we never dated” doesn’t seek sympathy. It doesn’t even ask for attention.
It simply exists for those who have grieved a missed opportunity. For those who were on the verge of something. For those who continue to think of someone who was never truly theirs.
And that kind of sorrow? It’s genuine. It’s messy. And sombr articulates it with a subtle brilliance that doesn’t need to be loud to be acknowledged.
I wish nothing but the best for you
But I hope whoever comes next appreciates all of you
How come we never even dated
But I still find myself thinking of you daily?
(Still find myself thinking of you)
Why do you always leave me aching
When you were never mine to claim?
(When
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Not all heartbreaks involve a breakup. sombr’s "We Never Dated" is for those who lacked the official title but still feel the pain.