To Love Somebody
Eric Burdon and the Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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)
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
"Don't know what it's like" could be interpreted as the singer trying to convey the intense emotional and personal impact of loving someone deeply. The first two lines reiterate this point, with the singer suggesting that the listener can't understand the experience of loving someone to this degree, as if to imply that it's something difficult to put into words. The following lines introduce the metaphor of "a light," which the singer describes as a "certain kind of light" that "never shines" on him. This light seems to represent something like happiness or fulfillment, which is elusive and always just out of his grasp. He suggests that the person he's addressing - the object of his love - could bring this light into his life, rendering it complete and fulfilling. The chorus is a statement of this desire, with the singer expressing how much he wants the person he loves to reciprocate his feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know what it's like
The depth of my love for you is incomprehensible to you
You don't know what it's like
I feel a profound sense of love and longing for you
It's a light,
There is a kind of illumination or enlightenment that is missing in my life
Certain kind of light
It's a specific kind of brightness or radiance
That never shines on me
I have not yet experienced this light
And I want my life to be
I desire a life that is infused with that light
(To live with you)
I want to share that life with you
(To live with you)
You are the one I want to spend my life with
There's a way that
There is an approach or pattern that people say I need to follow
Everybody says
Many people offer advice to me
I've got to do each and every little thing, yeah,
I feel pressure to complete every task or responsibility I have
But what good will it bring
I question the value of these things
(If I ain't got you?)
Without you in my life, everything else seems meaningless
(If I ain't got you?)
You are the core and essence of what I need in life
Baby
A term of endearment used to express my love and admiration for you
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
To love somebody
The experience of deep connection and affection for someone
The way I love you
The intensity and strength of my love for you
If I pray,
When I engage in prayer
I see your face again,
Your image comes to mind repeatedly in moments of devotion
And God knows I pray every night
I regularly pray for you and our relationship to flourish
Woman, how could you be so bad?
I am perplexed by your actions or behavior
(And I'm sad)
Your actions cause me emotional distress
(So, so sad)
I am deeply upset by what has transpired
I'm a man, yeah
I am a mature adult
Can't see what I am
I am unaware of how I present myself
When I'm livin' I'm breathin' you
You are always on my mind and at the center of my being
But what good will breathin' do
Without you, my existence would have little meaning
(If I ain't got you?)
You are essential to my sense of self and purpose
(If I ain't got you?)
Without you, my life seems devoid of meaning and joy
Baby
A term of endearment used to express my love and admiration for you
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
To love somebody
The experience of deep connection and affection for someone
The way I love you
The intensity and strength of my love for you
Yes, I see your face again
Your image comes to mind at unexpected moments
Woman, you know I pray every night, yeah
You are always on my mind and in my prayers
Baby, how could you be so blind?
I am frustrated by your inability to see what I see
(And I'm sad)
Your actions cause me emotional distress
(So, so sad)
I am deeply upset by what has transpired
I'm a full grown man, yeah
I am a mature adult
Can't you see what I am?
I wish you could understand my true self and my love for you
When I'm livin' I breathe with you, yeah,
Your presence infuses every aspect of my life
But what what good will breathin' do
Without you, my life would have little meaning or purpose
(If I ain't got you?)
You are the foundation of my life
(If I ain't got you?)
Without you, my world would crumble and fall apart
God knows, baby (baby)
God is aware of the depth of my love for you
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
To love somebody
The experience of deep connection and affection for someone
The way I love you
The intensity and strength of my love for you
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
To love somebody
The experience of deep connection and affection for someone
The way that I
The manner in which I love you
Love you
The depth of my affection and devotion for you
To love somebody, Baby
To feel the kind of love that moves mountains
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
The way that I
The unique manner in which I express my love to you
Love you, baby
You are the center of my world and I am devoted to you
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
The experience of loving someone deeply and fully
Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me
I want more of the love and connection that we share
(The way that I)
The manner in which I give my love to you is my greatest gift
Baby, baby, I love, I, I love you
I am deeply in love with you
(Love you)
Your love is what keeps me going each day
I love, I love, I love, I love you
I cannot express enough how much I love you
(To love somebody, to love somebody)
The feeling of loving someone deeply and fully
Give it to me, baby
I want to feel the full force of your love and passion
Don't you leave me
I cannot imagine life without you
(The way that I)
The unique and special love that I have for you is irreplaceable
You know I need you by my side
Your presence is vital to my happiness and well-being
(Love you)
Your love is what gives me strength each day
You're drivin' me crazy
The intensity of my love for you is overwhelming at times
Baby, don't
Please don't let go of our love
(To love somebody, To love somebody)
The experience of loving someone deeply and fully
Oh, please
I hope that we can always be together
Baby, yeah
My love for you will never fade or diminish
You don't know what it's like
The depth and intensity of my love is beyond what you can understand
You don't know what it's like
I feel an indescribable sense of love and devotion for you
To love somebody
The feeling of being in love with a person
To love somebody
The experience of deep connection and affection for someone
The way that I
The unique and special way in which I love you
Love
The depth and strength of my love for you
Good God
An expression of amazement or awe at the power of love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinfolan4864
Eric Burdon has such an amazing voice. Beautiful, bluesy, raw and soulful. Animals so so underrated
@Grendelmonster8u
I don’t think they were underrated, they had several big hits back then and were very popular and they were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. I’m wondering why you think that. Thing is, radio stations suck and classic rock stations don’t play their stuff-you have to listen to oldies stations. I’m pleased that I have over a million views on this and the comments are mostly positive. A lot of foreigners from South America have commented. As with this song post The Animals, perhaps Burdon doesn’t get enough attention for the later music. Thanks for watching.
@ingridthurner3651
Exactly!!!!
@PalomaBo
55 years surprising me with the talent of this iconic band interpreting this great song.
🔥❤
@barbarablonsky7521
I LOVE THIS SONG! I HAVE LOVED THIS VERSION SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OLD!
@barbarablonsky7521
I lip synch this like a DRAG QUEEN!
@steveabdelkoui5663
These are greats and we will never see them again. True music for the heart and soul. Eric Burdon and The Animals are legends.
@joeyank2451
Indeed
@gustavocarranzalopez6160
Saludos desde la ciudad de México, recordando mi infancia al escuchar a está super banda de rock, y la extraordinaria de voz de Eric B, gracias por existir.
@agg.3966
Orale ése Gustavo. Saludos desde California. Yo escuchaba esta ésta canción en algunas estaciones de Irapuato, Celaya, Leon, Gto. Allá por el 72_73. Tiempos bellos de la hermosa juventud. EB y Los Animales super memorias🎉