I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
(Oh, oh)
Someone like me
(Oh, oh)
Someone like me (oh), somebody (oh)
(Oh, oh)
I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now
(Oh, oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces, fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you, and all you know, and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh, oh)
Off in the night, while you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice
Someone like me
(Oh, oh)
Someone like me
(Oh, oh)
Someone like me (oh), somebody (oh)
(Oh, oh)
I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now
(Oh, oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
Someone like you (oh), somebody (oh)
I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Lyrics submitted by secondary spine, edited by kingofworld
"Use Somebody" as written by Ivan Nathan Followill Anthony Caleb Followill
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the song is about him being jaded ("Looking down on all I see") artist somewhat stuck in a rut of being jaded and miserable. He wants to break free of his seriousness artistic shell so he can let go ("Waging war to shake the poet and the beat") and have fun with the "painted faces" that are out of reach. He sees or meets this girl who has the knowledge and the ability to speak her mind in a very liberating way, but also has the capacity to let go of the serious things and self-actualize her dreams and desires ("Countless lovers undercover of the street"). He figures that he could use somebody like this to liberate himself, but his self-esteem is so low and he so stuck in his shell of what he is, he doesn't think she would use him. So, he uses this as impetus to change himself and become more than just a poet and musician in hopes that she'll take notice and be able to use him to. At the end, he learns he cannot change who he is as a jaded artist, because that is just who he is and it is also probably a key factor in him making great art. He is still looking down at all he sees. Too bad he doesn't realize that this woman could probably use him just the way he is. He is just to jaded to think it a possibility. Truly a story of a tortured soul. At least, he realizes the fact that he could use somebody like this, many jaded, broken people don't even get that far. They are too desperate for anything.
I personally think this is one of the greatest rock songs of our time. It is filled with the beautiful sadness mixed with the feeling a longing for the apparently out of reach that has made many rock songs great (The chorus with the background vocals is just amazing intense). Another reason it is perfect for our time is because many highly intelligent people in our society are in the same torturous boat as him. Trying to break free and live their dreams, while desperately looking for somebody, anybody to help them out of their hole usually with disastrous results. Just one step away from learning that with a little self-esteem and confidence they can remain true to who they are, pull themselves out of their rut and liberate their life from the tyranny of their mind.
Enjoy the day!
- painted faced i can't reach
- countless lovers under cover of the street
- while you live it up, i'm off to sleep
just trying to open your mind...
Waging war to shake/(shape?) the poet and the beat /
I hope it's going to make you notice someone like me
The line "someone like me" means that he's not really thinking highly of himself, by become a famous singer though, he is essentially demonstrating his value. Might sound a little odd at first, but it's really part of our nature... the same way male animals often try to demonstrate their value to a mate (a peacock showing its feathers for example). Not the first song to express this; the Counting Crows' "Mr. Jones" was basically written about the same thing- "hey man we'd meet tons of girls if we were like rock stars lol".
That said, I like the song, and I can kind of relate. A little bit of my drive towards success is simply that when I meet someone I'm interested in, to use the words of the writer, I hope it'll make them notice someone like me.
Feels spot on. So spot on I wonder if you might be in the same situation.
All in all, a song you can't help but think a bit while listening to.
Kings of Leon is amazing!
take care.
I think it's sorta obvious what it's about..
He's on tour and he sees the crowds and he gets lonely.
I think the whole "lonely while everyone sees you" scenario is definitely plausible.
He's wants someone, but they're too different. And everything he sees makes him want her more.
He's at the top, and he's lovely as fck.
He just wants them to notice, but he doesn't know how to do it.