The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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 Lyrics as written by Ivan Nathan Followill Anthony Caleb Followill
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Here's my take.
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!
went out for some soul-seeking just to be sure of the mind and heart's complex yet funny torment, my first ever blog browsing helps me assure m not doing that bad either...cheers !...looking forward to read more by you incase my blogging infant fascination prevails
i wish more people were like you...u really took the time to analyze the song and put ur take on it. loved reading it. keep it up fra1ty!
@frai1ty THE best song of our time Id say. It can touch almost anyone's soul in the world nowadays. You nailed the analysis. I totally think thats exactly the meaning. And, even more, I love this song cause it describes my life, perfectly is a short word to describe it. Its sureal how accurate this song is in describing my feelings. Its like Im listening to my own soul and emotions man. Theres not much I can say. Only that I am not so sad anymore. Since someone somewhere has felt exactly the way I feel. And someone somewhere finally understands me :') Thanks for this!
caleb's voice literally brings tears to my eyes, not to be overdramatic or anything. but it really really does.
i dont
think you
re being overdramatic at all. I love this song and this is exactly how i feel when im lonely. I think that even if we don
t admit it, we all need someone special in our lives and that we all want someone to realize our significance as well. I KNOW THAT I WANT SOMEONE TO NOTICE ME AND UNDERSTAND ME, SOMEONE I CAN TALK TO AND SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH AND LAUGH. SOMEONE WHO IS REAL AND THINKS OF ME AS THE SAME. I WONDER IF I`LL EVER BE ABLE TO FIND THIS PERSON IN MY LIFETIME.HAHAHAHAHAHAHH not with this desperation you wont :P
yes you will, you will when u least expect it. good luck sasha
I love how the title is so incredibly selfish, yet the song itself is anything but.
WELL PUT VORDABOIS
could this be a fictional story about falling in love with a prostitute?
just trying to open your mind...
Nah, it's totally a lovesick song. 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.
I think a lot of the thought behind this song is the desire to become famous in order to essentially meet and/or impress some girl. For example:
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.
My interpretation of this song is someone who is desperately searching for the love of his life. The line "i've been roaming around, always looking down at all i see" May suggest that he views his life as negative and not really going anywhere, with the hope of his true love having the ability to change all of this. "and all you know,and how you speak"- He digs everything about this imaginary love, her knowledge, her power with words. "off in the night,while you live it up, i'm off to sleep"- He envisions this girl is out partying, enjoying her life while he is at home, sleeping, too sad to do anything else. That's my take at least.
i like ur interpreation
I very much sadly agree with your interpretation, hits home pretty hard.<br /> <br /> Feels spot on. So spot on I wonder if you might be in the same situation.<br /> <br /> All in all, a song you can't help but think a bit while listening to.
this song doesnt refer to him. it refers to a person that is in love with a girl that is extremely outgoing and goes to parties and knows sooo many people. he is shy and needs a person like that. someone who is going to open up. the painted faces refers to the people that act like people who they arent but get high in the social chain. so high that he cant reach that high because of how shy he is. he is looking down at them at the same time because they arent real and they arent there true selves. he is off to sleep because he doesnt hang out with people. he just stays home while she is out there having fun. he stays home trying to think of things to get her to notice him. either by poem or by song or by being romantic. in reality she and him know each other but are just friends and she doesnt realize how he feels about her.
your good jhan123 i was just thinking about the first couple lines as to they always give the songs i listen to meaning, and your interpretation was the best thus far. I completely agree and relate to it.
I agree with jhan123. Good job!
Wow, interesting take on interpretation. I must say it represents the song very well for me. Similar to commons4101 interpretation with the added meaning of the 'painted faces' being the artificiality used to rise socially.
As a touring musician this song hits me hard. I know exactly what he is describing in the song. Its about being on the road, and even though you have the attention of being in a band and seeing all these new places you feel really alone, because you feel like you don't have that special someone with you (whoever that may be), and you see it all around you in the places you go and play at, like you will see the love people have between one another and it makes you want the same, but you can't because music has to come first when you are in a fulltime band. It's a hard feeling to describe but I hope you can catch what I am saying! It's an amazing song, because it hits so hard due to the fact that I have super strong feelings for a girl at home, but I feel like I can't persue it due to being on tour all the time, I don't want to put her through me being away all the time.....it sucks because she is amazing, but she doesn't know how I feel, and I think about her constantly when out on the road, so this song hits super hard.
Kings of Leon is amazing! take care.
nice "iamthefortress" i think you are closer than anything else i have read here
This is a fantastic song.
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.