Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.
She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.
Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.
Someone
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While we're on the phone
Giving you the answers
Where do they get
All this information
And how
Put 'em on the phone right now
They can tell me where I'm going wrong
They can tell me how to make love
Put 'em on the phone right now
I want to talk to the stealer
They can tell me how they hurt inside
Because they know how much I'm hurting
They can say that when a good love dies
I'll find some comfort in my memories
Someone made you question
The love we had
The love we had
Should have lasted a thousand years
You've been persuaded that was way too long
Put 'em on the phone right now
I want to talk to the person
Who taught you how to spread your wings
Communication breakdown
I thought you cared
I thought you cared
When did we get to this position
And how
Tell me on the phone right now
You're going to sleep on your own tonight
I can find you out in a lie
You can't disguise the passion
I'm coming round there now
I want to see this angel
Once you're caught
Then there's no turning back
Like a rat you won't escape the trap
Tell me on the phone right now
You're going to sleep on your own tonight
I can find you out in a lie
You can't disguise the passion
And you can say that now our love has died
I'll find some comfort in my memories
In Joan Armatrading’s song ‘Someone’, the singer is asking for clarity and understanding from someone in the background who is feeding their partner information. The singer is puzzled about where the person is getting their information and how they can help with relationship issues such as making love and relationship longevity. The chorus repeats the phrase “Put ‘em on the phone right now,” emphasizing the importance of communication and the need for answers to the singer’s questions. As the song progresses, the singer begins to suspect their partner of lying and cheating, and the relationship ultimately ends. Despite the end of the relationship, the last line of the song suggests that the comfort of memories can still be found.
The lyrics of ‘Someone’ explore themes of communication, trust, and fidelity in relationships. The singer’s plea for answers and direct communication with the person in the background emphasizes the importance of clarity and openness in a relationship. In contrast, the suspicion of cheating undermines trust and highlights the pain that can result from betrayal. Additionally, the mention of finding comfort in memories at the end of the song suggests the long-lasting effects of relationships, even after they end.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's in the background
There's someone else in the picture, lurking somewhere in the shadows.
While we're on the phone
While we're talking and pretending everything's fine.
Giving you the answers
Feeding you with lines that might get us both in trouble.
Where do they get
Where did this person come from?
All this information
All these details about us, our love, our problems.
And how
And how do they know so much?
Put 'em on the phone right now
Let me talk to them directly and see what they have to say.
I want to pick their brains tonight
I want to know how deep they dug into our secrets.
They can tell me where I'm going wrong
They might have some insights into why our love went south.
They can tell me how to make love
They might have some tips on how to reignite our passion.
I want to talk to the stealer
I want to confront the person who stole your heart away from me.
They can tell me how they hurt inside
They can reveal how much our break-up has affected them too.
Because they know how much I'm hurting
Because they also know how much I've been hurt by this whole ordeal.
They can say that when a good love dies
They can assure me that it's normal for love to die sometimes.
I'll find some comfort in my memories
I'll have to learn to live with the memories of our past love and find solace in them.
Someone made you question
This person has been poisoning your mind against us.
The love we had
Our once-great love that seems to have dwindled now.
Should have lasted a thousand years
Our love was supposed to be timeless and unwavering.
You've been persuaded that was way too long
This person convinced you otherwise and made you doubt our love's endurance.
Put 'em on the phone right now
Once again, I want to talk to this person who's meddling in our affairs.
I want to talk to the person
I want to know who convinced you to break my heart and leave me.
Who taught you how to spread your wings
Who showed you that you could fly without me and find happiness elsewhere?
Communication breakdown
Our once-clear communication channels have broken down and need repair.
I thought you cared
I thought you still loved me and wouldn't abandon me.
When did we get to this position
When did things between us deteriorate so much?
Tell me on the phone right now
Tell me everything you've been keeping from me, no matter how painful.
You're going to sleep on your own tonight
You're going to have to face the consequences of your actions tonight on your own.
I can find you out in a lie
I can read through your lies and see the truth at the heart of them.
You can't disguise the passion
You can't hide the fact that we once had a real, powerful love.
And you can say that now our love has died
You can try to convince me that our love is dead and buried.
I'll find some comfort in my memories
But I'll always have the memories of our great love to return to when I need them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind