In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band 'The Diamond Boys', which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to popular music.In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group The Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969. He is probably best known for his early 70s hits "It Never Rains In Southern California" and 'Free Electric Band' - but he went on to write countless hits for other artists such as Madonna and Leo Sayer. In 1987, Hammond's composition with Diane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded by Jefferson Starship) was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy. In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis. In 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is immortalised in song by Half Man Half Biscuit in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg".
His son, Albert Hammond, Jr., is a guitarist in The Strokes.
More info: www.alberthammond.net
Somebody's Happiness
Albert Hammond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody's happiness
Is someone else's loneliness
And pain this moment
Somebody's holding you
Somebody's holding you
The way my empty arms
This was my love affair
This was my truest love
That ever lived
And true love never dies
And then you flew away
To someone else one day
I saw my happiness, my happiness
Turn into loneliness before my eyes
You were my everything
You were my music and my laughter
And my moon and my starry skies
And then you flew away
To someone else one day
Somebody's, my happiness
Turn into loneliness before my eyes
And then you flew away
To someone else one day
Somebody's, my happiness
Turn into loneliness before my eyes
The song "Somebody's Happiness" by Albert Hammond depicts the emotional turmoil brought about by the end of a relationship. The lyrics convey the idea that happiness and love are not universal, but rather they are subjective and dependent upon an individual's perspective. The chorus repeats the phrase "Somebody's happiness is someone else's loneliness and pain this moment", driving home the idea that the end of a relationship might bring happiness to one party, but hurt and sadness to the other.
The verses describe the singer's longing for his former lover, who is now being held by someone else. He laments that he cannot be there instead of the other person, as he still longs to hold her. The singer reflects on the love they shared, stating that even though the relationship has ended, the love they had was true and will never truly die.
The chorus is then repeated, reemphasizing the dichotomy between happiness and loneliness, portraying them as two sides of the same coin. The song ends with the singer repeating the fact that his happiness has turned into loneliness before his eyes.
Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the complex emotions involved in the end of a romantic relationship. It highlights the idea that even though it may lead to happiness for one party, it can also lead to immense pain and suffering for the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody's happiness
The happiness of one person can have a direct and opposite effect on another person's emotional state.
Is someone else's loneliness
When one person is happy, it can cause another person to feel lonely and alone.
And pain this moment
This emotional pain is currently being experienced and felt by someone.
Somebody's holding you
Some other person is currently holding and embracing the one I love.
The way my empty arms
My arms are empty and I long to hold and embrace the one I love in the same way.
Still long to do this moment
I still have a desire and longing to hold and embrace the one I love at this very moment.
This was my love affair
This relationship was a deep and true love that was experienced by me.
This was my truest love
Out of all the loves I have experienced, this one was the most genuine and authentic.
That ever lived
This love that I experienced will forever live on in my heart and memory.
And true love never dies
Genuine and authentic love never fades or disappears completely.
And then you flew away
The person I loved left me and went to someone else.
To someone else one day
The person I loved left me on a specific day to be with someone else.
I saw my happiness, my happiness
I witnessed the happiness that I once had in this relationship disappear before my eyes.
Turn into loneliness before my eyes
The happiness I had was replaced with a deep sense of loneliness and sadness that I could see happening right in front of me.
You were my everything
The person I loved was everything to me and was the center of my world.
You were my music and my laughter
This person brought joy and happiness into my life, like music and laughter do.
And my moon and my starry skies
The person I loved was a source of comfort and beauty in my life, like the moon and stars are in the night sky.
Somebody's, my happiness
Happiness that was once mine is now being experienced by someone else.
Turn into loneliness before my eyes
I can see my once-happy moments being replaced by loneliness and pain as I witness the happiness of others.
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.