Brian Molko was on vacation with his brother in Barbados after the release of the band's second album when "I woke up to my brother shoving a telephone receiver in my face, telling me that David Bowie was on the other line", The singer recalls "saying he loved the track and had written his own harmony part". The band re-recorded "Without You I'm Nothing" with Bowie in New York City and released it as a special single in 1999, the City being utilised as the album's artwork. The single reached number 79 on the French Singles Chart, and number 52 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.
The song was a staple of the band's live set list from the "Without You I'm Nothing" tour through to the "Sleeping with Ghosts" tour. It was also performed during the later legs of the Meds tour. The re-recorded single with David Bowie also finds it's way on compilation albums "Once More With Feelings: Singles 1996 - 2004" and 20 year anniversary album "A Place For Us To Dream" of 2016.
Without You I'm Nothing
Placebo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll take it by your side
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide
I'll take it by your side
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies
I'll take it by your side
Over saturation curls the skin and tans the hide
I'll take it by your side
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tock
Tick, tick
Tick, tick
Tick, tock
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen
I seem to lose the power of speech
You're slipping slowly from my reach
You grow me like an evergreen
You've never seen the lonely me at all
I
Take the plan, spin it sideways
I
Fall
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Take the plan, spin it sideways
Without you, I'm nothing at all
The lyrics to "Without You I'm Nothing" tell the story of two individuals who are drawn to each other despite their own shortcomings, and the power struggle between them. The singer acknowledges their "strange infatuation" and their own flaws, stating "I'm unclean, a libertine." Despite this, they seem to rely on the other person to balance them out and make them feel complete. The repeated phrase "tick, tock" adds a sense of urgency and the passing of time, possibly highlighting the fear of losing this connection.
The second verse reveals a vulnerability in the singer, as they struggle to communicate with the other person when they are angry or upset. They also seem to fear losing the other person, singing "You're slipping slowly from my reach." The chorus, "Without you, I'm nothing," emphasizes the dependency on the relationship, and the fear of losing it.
Overall, the lyrics convey a deep sense of longing, insecurity, and dependency within a complicated relationship dynamic.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide
The singer has a peculiar feeling that adds a sense of enchantment to the night
I'll take it by your side
The singer wants to experience this feeling with the person they are addressing
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide
Using their imagination helps the singer to better understand and cope with this feeling
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies
Making quick connections based on this feeling can lead to misconceptions and deceptions
Over saturation curls the skin and tans the hide
Too much exposure to this feeling can be harmful and leave a lasting impact
Tick, tock
The sound of a clock ticking, representing the passage of time
I'm unclean, a libertine
The singer is feeling impure and reckless
And every time you vent your spleen
The artist becomes speechless every time they are confronted or criticized by the person they address
I seem to lose the power of speech
The artist becomes unable to articulate their thoughts or emotions
You're slipping slowly from my reach
The person the artist addresses is slowly becoming distanced from them
You grow me like an evergreen
Despite everything, the person the singer addresses helps them to keep growing and thriving like an evergreen tree
You've never seen the lonely me at all
The person the artist addresses has never seen them in their moments of loneliness and vulnerability
I take the plan, spin it sideways
The singer wants to change their circumstances and approach things from a different angle
Fall
The singer accepts the consequences of their actions and falls from their previous position
Without you, I'm nothing
The singer realizes that without the person they address, they are incomplete and unfulfilled
Take the plan, spin it sideways
The artist repeats the previous line, emphasizing their desire for a new direction
Without you, I'm nothing at all
The artist reaffirms that without the person they address, they are absolutely nothing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, Steven Hewitt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thisgirlisdone
Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide.
I'll take it by your side.
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide.
I'll take it by your side.
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies.
I'll take it by your side.
Oversaturation curls the skin and tans the hide.
I'll take it by your side.
tick - tock [x3]
tick - tick - tick - tick - tick - tock
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen,
I seem to lose the power of speech,
Your slipping slowly from my reach.
You grow me like an evergreen,
You never see the lonely me at all
I...
Take the plan, spin it sideways.
I...
Fall.
Without you, I'm Nothing.
Without you, I'm nothing.
Without you, I'm nothing.
Take the plan, spin it sideways.
Without you, I'm nothing at all.
@henriqueramos3197
WITHOUT YOU I'M NOTHING
[Verse 1]
Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide
I'll take it by your side
Such imagination seems to help the feeling slide
I'll take it by your side
Instant correlation sucks and breeds a pack of lies
I'll take it by your side
Oversaturation curls the skin and tans the hide
I'll take it by your side
[Bridge]
Tick - tock
Tick - tock
Tick - tock
Tick - tick
- Tick
- Tick
Tick - tock
[Verse 2]
I'm unclean, a libertine
And every time you vent your spleen
I seem to lose the power of speech
You're slipping slowly from my reach
You grow me like an evergreen
You've never seen the lonely me at all
[Pre-Chorus]
I
Take the plan, spin it sideways
I
Fall
[Chorus]
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
Without you, I'm nothing
(Take the plan, spin it sideways)
Without you, I'm nothing at all
Produced by Steve Osborne
Written by Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal & Steve Hewitt
@jorgeawish
Easily one of the best songs ever made in my opinion. The voice, the tone, the lyrics, THE GUITAR, the sentiment it gives. Thank you Placebo for this masterpiece.
@yannsolosolo3179
My new song :) your opinion please, Thank you for listening, and subscribe to my channel please https://youtu.be/sGLCeAvd1zw
@edgarbillimg
man don't forget the BASS, such a masterpiece!!!
@shisheermuhammad7698
I agree.
@user-kx8dj6ez3b
One of the best songs in the world
@nimusworks5475
Indeed
@rotyler2177
You can stay.
@leticiapereira682
THE BEST.
@tiagoteixeira3911
David Bowe cantar com o BRIAN está musica imagina se o twitter existisse na época,nossas cabeças explodindo de felicidade por causa deste ft,como sou feliz de ter conhecido vcs Placebo!
@martinfrasier5167
Hits the spot