Slick is considered to be one of the most important musicians in bringing the 1960s psychedelic rock to mainstream appeal. She is known for her witty, influential, thought provoking lyrics. Former lover and bandmate Paul Kantner once half-jokingly compared Slick to Oscar Wilde in her impact on music and modern culture.
Slick's longevity in the music business helped her earn a rather unusual distinction: the oldest female vocalist on a Billboard Hot 100 chart topping single. "We Built This City" reached #1 on November 16, 1985, shortly after her 46th birthday. The previous record was age 44 for Tina Turner, with 1984's #1 smash, "What's Love Got To Do With It". Turner (who is, coincidentally, within a month of Slick's age) turned 45 two months after the song topped the charts. Slick broke her own record in April 1987 at age 47 when "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" topped the U.S. charts. Her record stood for 12 years but was ultimately broken by Cher, who was 53 in 1999 when "Believe" hit #1.
Slick did vocals for a piece known as Jazzy Spies, a series of animated shorts about the numbers 2 through 10 (a #1 short was never made), which aired on Sesame Street. The segment for the number two appeared in the first episode of the first season of Sesame Street, November 10, 1969.
She was nominated for a Grammy award in 1980 as Best Rock Female Vocalist for her solo album Dreams.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 (as a member of Jefferson Airplane).
She was ranked #20 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.
Aside from singing, she also sometimes played piano, keyboards, oboe, and recorder for the bands.
somebody to love
Grace Slick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the joy within you dies
(Chorus)
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
When the garden's flowers, baby, are dead
Yes, and your mind, your mind is so full of red
(Chorus)
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah but in your head, baby
I'm afraid you don't know where it is
(Chorus)
Tears are running, they're all running down your breast
And your friends, baby, they treat you like a guest
(Chorus)
Grace Slick's Somebody to Love plays on the idea that everyone, no matter how strong or independent, needs someone to love. The song appears to be written in two parts, the first verse, and the chorus, then the second verse that repeats the chorus. The verse suggests and highlights the theme of the loss of innocence and disillusionment with life or with another person.
The opening two lines display the starkest kind of disillusionment, loss of innocence, and disappointment, "When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies." This could suggest that the singer thought they knew something was true, and later discovered they were wrong. Consequently, they may feel that something they valued or held dear has been taken away. That could explain the melancholic mood behind the lyrics. The chorus repeats the phrase, "Don't you want somebody to love." This repetition creates a rhetorical question that becomes the theme of the song. It continues, "Don't you need somebody to love. Wouldn't you love somebody to love? You better find somebody to love." The singer uses the phrase to remind the listener that there is an urge inside everyone to have somebody to love, and that is the only way to move on from their sadness and disappointment.
In conclusion, somebody to love seems like an essential nutrient that everyone should have in their lives. The lyrics could be seen as an exhortation by Grace Slick to her listeners, especially those who are experiencing despair or disillusionment to seek and find solace in the love and companionship of others.
Line by Line Meaning
When the truth is found to be lies
When you realize that what you thought was true was actually a lie.
And all the joy within you dies
And as a result, you feel sad, empty and disillusioned by the sadness of reality.
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you crave affection and companionship?
Don't you need somebody to love
Don't you need someone to care for and someone who will care for you in return?
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
Wouldn't you be delighted to find someone who loves you just as much as you love them?
You better find somebody to love
You'd better start looking for somebody to love before it's too late.
When the garden's flowers, baby, are dead
When the things that were once beautiful and alive in your life are gone.
Yes, and your mind, your mind is so full of red
And now you're overwhelmed with negative emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety.
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Even if you look like you're happy on the outside, you may be just as lost as he is.
Yeah but in your head, baby
But in your mind, you're struggling with feelings of confusion and pain.
I'm afraid you don't know where it is
I doubt that you know how to deal with these feelings or where to turn for help.
Tears are running, they're all running down your breast
You're crying uncontrollably, and it feels like you'll never be able to stop.
And your friends, baby, they treat you like a guest
And even your so-called friends don't seem to care about your pain or struggles.
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you crave affection and companionship?
Don't you need somebody to love
Don't you need someone to care for and someone who will care for you in return?
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
Wouldn't you be thrilled to find someone who loves you as much as you love them?
You better find somebody to love
You'd better start looking for somebody to love before it's too late.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jay Clifford
on Darkly Smiling
i'd like to know what this song means