To Love Somebody
Janis Joplin Lyrics
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Never ever, never shone on me, no, no
Honey, I want, I want my whole life
To be lived with you, babe
That's what I want oh, was to be
Living and loving you
There's a way, oh everybody say
But what good, what good
Honey, what good could it ever bring
Because I haven't got you with my love
And I can't find you babe, no I can't
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
In my brain, oh I can see your face again
I know my frame of mind, yeah
But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind
Honey, like I did, I know I was blind
Honey, I tell you that I was, I was very, very blind
Oh but I'm just a girl
Can't you just take a look at me and tell
Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you
Don't you know I do!
But what good, what good
Honey, what good could it ever bring
Because I haven't got you with my love
And I can't find you babe, no I can't
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
Oh, I know that there's a way
Because everybody came to me one time and said
"Honey, you can do anything
Every little thing, and I think I can
Oh, but what good, what good
Honey, what awfully good can it ever, ever bring
Because I can't find you with my love
And I can't find you babe, oh anywhere
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
The song "To Love Somebody" by Janis Joplin is an emotional ode to unrequited love. The first stanza talks about a certain kind of light that has never shone on the singer, despite wanting to live her whole life with the person she loves. She is frustrated with the idea that people say "you can do anything" but feels that without the person she loves, nothing else matters. The chorus emphasizes that the person she loves doesn't understand what it's like to love somebody as much as she does. The third stanza talks about how the singer can see the person's face in her brain, but that she was blind to not recognize the feeling earlier. She begs the person to take a look at her and see how she lives and breathes for them. However, the final stanza emphasizes that despite the encouragement of others, it ultimately doesn't matter if she can't find the person with her love.
The song is a powerful portrayal of unrequited love, and Joplin's raw vocals bring out the emotion behind the lyrics. The repetition of the chorus adds to the intensity of the song and emphasizes the singer's feelings. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has been in love with someone who doesn't feel the same way. The song's instrumentation adds to its emotional impact, with the bluesy guitar solo and the wailing organ.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light, certain kind of light
There's a distinct, special light that I haven't experienced before.
Never ever, never shone on me, no, no
This particular light has never been directed towards me.
Honey, I want, I want my whole life
I desire for my entire existence.
To be lived with you, babe
To be shared with you.
That's what I want oh, was to be
That's what I longed to be.
Living and loving you
Being alive and loving you is what I desire.
There's a way, oh everybody say
People often say there is a solution.
You can do anything, every thing yeah
You have the capability to achieve anything.
But what good, what good
What is the point, what is the benefit?
Honey, what good could it ever bring
What benefit could it possibly have?
Because I haven't got you with my love
Because love is not reciprocated with you.
And I can't find you babe, no I can't
I am unable to locate you, my love.
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
You lack the understanding of what it feels to experience.
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You really don't understand, my love.
To love anybody
To love someone with all my heart.
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
Let me tell you about love.
And trying to hold somebody
The act of embracing someone.
The way I love you babe
The intensity of my love for you.
And I've been loving you babe
I've been loving you intensely.
In my brain, oh I can see your face again
In my mind, I can envision your face once more.
I know my frame of mind, yeah
I am aware of my current train of thought.
But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind
No one else should be ignorant as I was.
Honey, like I did, I know I was blind
I was such a fool, I see that now.
Oh but I'm just a girl
I'm just a woman.
Can't you just take a look at me and tell
Can't you just see my love for you in my eyes.
Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you
My love for you is all-consuming, it is what gives me life.
Don't you know I do!
Why don't you understand that?
Oh, I know that there's a way
I believe that there is a solution.
Because everybody came to me one time and said
Everyone told me before that there is a way out.
"Honey, you can do anything
You can achieve anything you want, my dear."
Every little thing, and I think I can
Anything is possible, and I believe I can too.
Oh, but what good, what good
What is the use, what is the purpose?
Honey, what awfully good can it ever, ever bring
What good will it do?
Because I can't find you with my love
My love is not enough to reach you.
And I can't find you babe, oh anywhere
I cannot find you at all, my love.
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
You truly don't understand what it feels like.
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You really don't comprehend, my love.
To love anybody
To love someone with my whole heart and soul.
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
Let me speak about love.
And trying to hold somebody
Trying to embrace someone.
The way I love you babe
The intensity with which I love you.
And I've been loving you babe
I've been loving you with all my heart and soul.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Robin Hugh Gibb, Barry Alan Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anna Moon
There's a light, certain kind of light
Never ever, never shone on me, no, no
Honey, I want, I want my whole life
To be lived with you, babe
That's what I want oh, was to be
Living and loving you
There's a way, oh everybody say
You can do anything, every thing yeah
But what good, what good
Honey, what good could it ever bring
Because I haven't got you with my love
And I can't find you babe, no I can't
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
In my brain, oh I can see your face again
I know my frame of mind, yeah
But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind
Honey, like I did, I know I was blind
Honey, I tell you that I was, I was very, very blind
Oh but I'm just a girl
Can't you just take a look at me and tell
Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you
Don't you know I do!
But what good, what good
Honey, what good could it ever bring
Because I haven't got you with my love
And I can't find you babe, no I can't
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
Oh, I know that there's a way
Because everybody came to me one time and said
"Honey, you can do anything
Every little thing, and I think I can
Oh, but what good, what good
Honey, what awfully good can it ever, ever bring
Because I can't find you with my love
And I can't find you babe, oh anywhere
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
You don't know, you don't know what it's like
No you don't, honey no you don't know
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody
Oh honey, I want to talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe
And I've been loving you babe
Mallory Bosarge
There's none greater than Janis. The soul, the passion, the rawness. Every song brings chills.
Pardee Paula
L í
Jefferson
I hope that's all be ok after all theses years... ❤🇧🇷
Tati CC
A melhor. The best!!
Peter Rèny
I second that bro...
Peter Rèny
You are so right. I don't care about this new generation with their rap and pants dropped showing their underwear and these songs about sex, killing and calling themselves the "N" word. I rather stick with the old fasion way and music. "Janis Joplin,The Doors, Led Zepplin, Scorpions, Rolling Stones just to mention a few. I only ask of you and with all respect I personally don't know you but I believe you understand what I'm saying. Let's keep these lejends alive!
Lourdes Mary
Of all the interpretations for this song, this performance by Janis is visceral. It's wonderful! She sings with her heart and soul (she begs for the love she needs to be happy, she begs but that love doesn't come.. we can feel it in her voice, in her lament)! If we listen to all the interpreters, including the Bee Gees (owners of this masterpiece), we couldn't identify "the same pain, the same feeling, despite dealing with the same music". Isn't that incredible? Nina Simone, Michael Bolton, Michael Bublé and many others singers.. and, even so, "we don't find that same pain and supplication, in search of a great love".. wow, it's an impressive performance! How not to love this blues goddess, with her torn and powerful voice moving us with this beautiful blues? Impossible to hear "To Love Somebody" in Janis's voice and not repeat it, over and over again! It's so beautiful! Thank you sweet Janis! You are timeless in all your songs and more the ones you recorded as a performer! I love you forever!🌹😘💜👏👏👏
Tom P.
This version is good but I am addicted to the time Janis sang this on the Dick Cavett show, check it out on YouTube, such power and emotion that came from that tortured soul. It's funny that Dick Cavett, the antithesis of Janis, simply adored his little songbird.
Lourdes Mary
@Tom P. But this version, "is the authentic version of her performance on The Dick Cavett Show". And yes, they were very good friends. Dick Cavett adored her. I have a "compiled dvd" of her last three performances on that show. Her Instagram profile posted this version. It's very moving to watch her singing this song live! It's visceral, it's too beautiful!! ❣️🥰
Winterys
@Lourdes Marywhat about the original version from The Bee Gees