In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
It's a light,
Certain kind of light
That never shines on me
And I want my life to be
(To live with you)
(To live with you)
There's a way that
Everybody says
I've got to do each and every little thing, yeah,
But what good will it bring
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
Baby
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
If I pray,
I see your face again,
And God knows I pray every night
Woman, how could you be so bad?
(And I'm sad)
(So, so sad)
I'm a man, yeah
Can't see what I am
When I'm livin' I'm breathin' you
But what good will breathin' do
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
Baby
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
Yes, I see your face again
Woman, you know I pray every night, yeah
Baby, how could you be so blind?
(And I'm sad)
(So, so sad)
I'm a full grown man, yeah
Can't you see what I am?
When I'm livin' I breathe with you, yeah,
Yeah, yeah,
But what what good will breathin' do
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
God knows, baby (baby)
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I love you
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I
Love you
To love somebody, Baby
To love somebody
The way that I
Love you, baby
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
(The way that I)
Baby, baby, I love, I, I love you
(Love you)
I love, I love, I love, I love you
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
Give it to me, baby
Don't you leave me
(The way that I)
You know I need you by my side
(Love you)
You're drivin' me crazy
Baby, don't
(To love somebody, To love somebody)
Oh, please
Baby, yeah
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I
Love
Good God
You
You don't know what it's like
It's a light,
Certain kind of light
That never shines on me
And I want my life to be
(To live with you)
(To live with you)
There's a way that
Everybody says
I've got to do each and every little thing, yeah,
But what good will it bring
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
Baby
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
If I pray,
I see your face again,
And God knows I pray every night
Woman, how could you be so bad?
(And I'm sad)
(So, so sad)
I'm a man, yeah
Can't see what I am
When I'm livin' I'm breathin' you
But what good will breathin' do
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
Baby
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
Yes, I see your face again
Woman, you know I pray every night, yeah
Baby, how could you be so blind?
(And I'm sad)
(So, so sad)
I'm a full grown man, yeah
Can't you see what I am?
When I'm livin' I breathe with you, yeah,
Yeah, yeah,
But what what good will breathin' do
(If I ain't got you?)
(If I ain't got you?)
God knows, baby (baby)
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I love you
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I
Love you
To love somebody, Baby
To love somebody
The way that I
Love you, baby
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
(The way that I)
Baby, baby, I love, I, I love you
(Love you)
I love, I love, I love, I love you
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
Give it to me, baby
Don't you leave me
(The way that I)
You know I need you by my side
(Love you)
You're drivin' me crazy
Baby, don't
(To love somebody, To love somebody)
Oh, please
Baby, yeah
You don't know what it's like
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way that I
Love
Good God
You
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
To Love Somebody Lyrics as written by Barry Alan Gibb Robin Hugh Gibb
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.