2. Liam Gallagher is a folk singer-songwriter based in Philadelphia, PA., United States, who took acoustic guitar lessons from Dave Matthews. Having travelled Australia and New Zealand he started working on his début LP in 2004, helped by his brother Kevin, who produced, mixed, engineered and played multiple instruments. Written In Ink came out in 2005, followed nine years later by a second album, The Poet & The Muse (2014).
1. William John Paul Gallagher, known simply as Liam Gallagher, was born to Irish Catholic parents in Manchester, England, the youngest of their three boys. Liam's older brothers are his future Oasis bandmate Noel (born 1967) and Paul. His father Thomas was said to be abusive, though being the youngest Liam avoided much of the physical abuse. When Liam was 10 his mother Peggy took the boys away and divorced Thomas four years later. Even before he was a rock star, Liam was a known troublemaker, and was involved in petty crimes like truancy and shoplifting. Initially interested in football, Liam claims he wasn't into music much until, at age 18, he was struck in the head with a hammer during a fight with some other students. He then became fixated with the idea of being in a band, like his new idol John Lennon, though he didn't play any instruments (aside from the tambourine).
The band that would go on to become Oasis was initially called "The Rain," formed by Paul McGuigan ("Guigsy"), Paul Arthurs ("Bonehead"), Tony McCarroll, and Chris Hutton. In 1991, Liam was asked to replaced Hutton as the group's lead vocalist. Upon joining the group Liam changed their name to "Oasis," based on a venue (Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon) listed in a tour poster for the band Inspiral Carpets. In this earliest iteration the band did not practice often or play many gigs. Noel joined the band after witnessing one of their few gigs while he was a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, and quickly assumed the role of lead songwriter.
As Liam describes, Noel was the "weirdo" of the family, often withdrawn in his room playing guitar and smoking cannabis. He had been preparing songs for several years, but didn't find a proper outlet for them until seeing Oasis play. His songwriting philosophy is noted for its simplicity, and Noel has admitted he doesn't like art rock or similar genres. Under Noel's leadership the band recorded a demo tape and was discovered in 1993 by Scottish record label owner and manager Alan McGee after a gig in Glasgow. McGee is also known for his work with acts like Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. The band had a top 10 single with "Live Forever," and their record-setting debut LP Definitely Maybe was released in 1994.
With Liam and Noel as its face, Oasis quickly became one of the most popular and talked-about groups in the UK. Tabloids frequently covered the drunken antics and drug usage of Liam, who was seen as a "loutish" cross between John Lennon and Johnny Rotten. Before long, a rift opened up between the two brothers that has remained to this day. Notable incidents included the band being thrown off a ferry to Amsterdam after Liam sparked a fight with football hooligans, which the brothers can be heard arguing about in the single "Wibbling Rivalry," and Liam refusing to sing for the band's MTV Unplugged show due to a sore throat (likely exacerbated by days of drinking). Noel took over lead singing duties in his stead, while Liam smoked cigarettes and heckled the band from a balcony seat.
Noel also briefly left the band during their first American tour after Liam struck him with a tambourine during a gig in Los Angeles. Later, while recording (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Noel was so irritated that Liam brought back a group of friends from the pub while he was working that he struck his brother on the head with a cricket bat. As Liam began to shirk singing duties with more frequency, Noel began to take over lead singing roles on hit songs like "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger." Liam wasn't happy about having to come on and off stage when Noel started singing these songs himself in regular gigs as well.
Tensions between the two brothers remained, and flared again when Liam made crude comments about Noel's wife Meg Mathews while on tour in Barcelona in 2000. He allegedly questioned whether or not Noel's daughter was actually his. While Noel initially vowed to stop touring overseas with Oasis, the brothers were able to patch things up temporarily. In April 2009, almost nine years after the incident in Spain, Noel gave an interview where he harshly criticized Liam, calling him "rude, arrogant, intimidating and lazy. He's the angriest man you'll ever meet. He's like a man with a fork in a world of soup." Oasis broke up later that year due to a public dispute between Liam and Noel over a missed gig at the V Festival. Liam claimed to have laryngitis, while Noel stated it was just a hangover. Liam sued his brother, demanding an apology for tarnishing his record. Noel apologized but it was a pyrrhic victory for Liam as the band was soon dismantled. Hours after another cancelled gig near Paris, Noel confirmed on the band's website that he quit Oasis because he could not work with Liam "a day longer."
The brothers still do not get along. In a 2017 interview Liam claimed he doesn't even have Noel's number in his cellphone. This was in response to Liam calling Noel a "sad fuck" on Twitter for not attending a show in response to the 2017 terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in their home town. In a more recent interview Liam said he did invite Noel to his upcoming wedding, planned for 2021, but only at the behest of his mother. Liam also claimed that Noel turned down £100 million to play an Oasis reunion show, which Noel denied. Noel said Liam is "obsessed" with him, while Liam said the same thing about Noel. Despite their frequent battles, there is some mutual respect between the Gallaghers. Liam highlights Noel's talent as a songwriter, while Noel respects Liam's showmanship and looks.
After Noel left, Liam and the remaining members of Oasis rebranded as a new band called Beady Eye. They released two albums, Different Gear, Still Speeding in 2011 and BE in 2013. Both albums received mixed reviews and sales were tepid. It was announced in October of 2014 that Beady Eye was no more. Liam initially balked at the idea of going solo, but in 2016 he announced he had some songs already written and planned for release in 2017. Liam's debut, titled As You Were, was released on October 6, 2017. Reviews were largely positive and the album sold well, debuting at #1 in the UK, having sold more than the rest of the top 10 combined. It was certified gold in a week and has since gone platinum.
Liam's next album was released on 20 September 2019 and was titled Why Me? Why Not., inspired by two drawings made by John Lennon. One that says "Why me?" was purchased by Liam at an auction, while the accompanying "Why not" piece was given to him by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono. The album was proceeded by the lead single "Shockwave," which reached #1 in Scotland, making it Liam's first self-penned solo #1 song. Like its predecessor, Why Me? Why Not. was a critical and commercial success, debuting again at #1 in the UK and becoming the fast-selling vinyl of 2019. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Liam performed a concert on a barge heading through the River Thames in London, where he mixed his solo hits with some classic Oasis tracks.
His third solo album, titled C'mon You Know, was released on 27 May 2022. On 1 March 2024, he released his fourth studio album Liam Gallagher & John Squire, a collaborative album with guitarist John Squire. Like his other studio albums, both albums went to #1 in the UK.
Gallagher is known for his powerful voice and deliberate twisting of words like "shine." When singing he typically projects upward into the downward facing mic while keeping his hands behind his back. According to Liam, this allows his voice to come out stronger. Due to lack of traditional vocal training, and years of drinking and smoking, Liam's voice showed notable signs of deterioration in the mid-2000s, but has since recovered to some degree. The return of Liam's singing voice, as well as the success of his debut solo LP, were viewed as a comeback for Liam in the mainstream media. Liam usually wears a parka when performing, which along with his unique stance, has become his iconic look.
Liam has been married twice and has four children, including his son Lennon, a model and musician. Like Noel, he is an avid supporter of Manchester City FC.
I Get By
Liam Gallagher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm all messed up but I'm over you
I see your face can lead your mind
I contemplate, scrutinize
Well, I get by
It's only love, only love can break my heart
Only love, this thing will tear us all apart
Only love, this thing can tear us all apart
It's in my life, it's in your hands
There's no love lost, sycophant
Well beam me up, beam me down
I'll show you love, I'll show you round
Well, I get by
'Cause only love, only love can break my heart
Only love, this thing will tear us all apart
Only love, only love can break my heart
Only love, this thing can tear us all apart
Never look back, I'm going where you're going to
I waited a lifetime for you
So cut me some slack, I wanna see all of you
I never hold back from the truth
Never look back, I'm going where you're going to
I waited a lifetime for you
So cut me some slack, I wanna see all of you
I never hold back from the truth
Never look back, I'm going where you're going to
I waited a lifetime for you
So cut me some slack, I wanna see all of you
I never hold back from the truth
Unlike you
Unlike you
Unlike you
Unlike you
In "I Get By," Liam Gallagher explores the complexities of love and the emotional turmoil that comes with it. The first verse reflects a sense of longing for a former lover, acknowledging that although the singer is still affected by the breakup, they are slowly moving on. The line "No one loves like you do, I'm all messed up but I'm over you" suggests that although the love was intense and left the singer feeling broken, they have found ways to heal and cope.
The chorus emphasizes the power of love and its ability to both mend and shatter hearts. The repetition of "Only love, only love can break my heart" highlights the notion that love is the ultimate catalyst for emotional vulnerability and pain. It also hints at the idea that love has the potential to cause widespread destruction, tearing apart not only individual hearts but also relationships and even society as a whole.
In the second verse, Gallagher explores the contradictory nature of love. The line "It's in my life, it's in your hands" suggests that love is integral to one's existence, while "There's no love lost, sycophant" implies that love can sometimes be insincere or manipulative. The line "Well beam me up, beam me down, I'll show you love, I'll show you round" can be interpreted as a desire to transcend the complexities of love and demonstrate genuine affection.
The recurring refrain "Never look back, I'm going where you're going to, I waited a lifetime for you" expresses unwavering dedication and a willingness to follow the object of affection, even if it means enduring a long wait. The line "So cut me some slack, I wanna see all of you, I never hold back from the truth" indicates a plea for understanding and acceptance, emphasizing the singer's commitment to being authentically themselves and speaking honestly.
The final repetition of "Unlike you" encapsulates the core theme of the song, highlighting the uniqueness and incomparability of the singer's love and experience. It may also suggest a sense of pride or defiance, asserting that the singer's love is distinct and cannot be replicated.
Overall, "I Get By" delves into the complexities of love, acknowledging its ability to both heal and break hearts. It explores the longing for a lost love, the contradictions within love itself, and the unwavering dedication that love can inspire.
Line by Line Meaning
No one loves like you do
Your love is unmatched and unique
I'm all messed up but I'm over you
Despite feeling emotionally unstable, I have moved on from you
I see your face can lead your mind
Seeing your face triggers deep thoughts and contemplation
I contemplate, scrutinize
I carefully think over and examine everything
Well, I get by
Even though it's challenging, I manage to cope
It's only love, only love can break my heart
Love is the only thing that has the power to shatter my heart
Only love, this thing will tear us all apart
Love can cause division and destruction in relationships
It's in my life, it's in your hands
Love is present in both of our lives, under your control
There's no love lost, sycophant
We have no affection left, you're just a flatterer
Well beam me up, beam me down
Transport me to different emotional states
I'll show you love, I'll show you round
I will demonstrate what genuine love looks like
Cause only love, only love can break my heart
Love is the sole force with the power to shatter my heart
Only love, this thing will tear us all apart
Love has the ability to cause division and destruction in relationships
Never look back, I'm going where you're going to
I am following the same path as you, never turning back
I waited a lifetime for you
I have patiently waited my whole life for your presence
So cut me some slack, I wanna see all of you
Give me some leeway, I desire to experience every aspect of you
I never hold back from the truth
I always speak honestly, never concealing the truth
Unlike you
I am different from you
Unlike you
I don't resemble you in any way
Unlike you
I am unique, unlike anyone else
Unlike you
We have no similarities or commonalities
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Liam Gallagher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind