somebody to love
Grace Slick The Great Society Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the truth is found to be lies
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)

Overall Meaning

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
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions