In July 2014, Cantor released a music video for the song "Perfect," in which he sang the song while demonstrating 28 impossibly accurate celebrity impressions. The video went viral and racked up millions of views in one week before being revealed to have been a hoax, the voices pre-recorded by professional impressionists and lip-synced by Cantor. In October 2014, Cantor uploaded a music video for his previous viral hit "Shia LaBeouf," an extravagant extended stage performance of the song featuring an orchestra, choir, dancers, and acrobats— as well as a surprise cameo from Shia LaBeouf himself.
Lonely
Rob Cantor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climb in bed, you're out like a light
I'm here but I'm never home
And you're lonely but not alone
Today again, we're out on the ride
The longer we stay, the less we decide
The day is all your own
Soon, though
The patterns around us will fade away
Soon, all the static will break into yesterday
Or so we say
I toss, I turn, I sleep on my side
I know the need that I don't provide
But til a seed is sown
You'll be lonely but not alone
Soon, though
The patterns around us will fade away
Soon, all the static will break into yesterday
Or so we say
You miss New York, you have all along
I climb in bed, still singing your song
My words belie the tone
You're lonely but not alone
The lyrics of Rob Cantor's song Lonely deal with the feeling of being disconnected from a partner or loved one. The singer frequently calls to say goodnight, but the recipient is already asleep. The singer is physically present but emotionally distant, which leaves the other person feeling lonely. Throughout the song, the singer and the other person are busy with their own lives, but they never seem to connect. They don't make decisions, and they don't spend much time together. Until they make time for each other, they'll both continue to feel lonely but not alone.
The "patterns around us" mentioned in the chorus could be interpreted as the routines and habits that prevent the singer and the other person from forming a stronger bond. The line "all the static will break into yesterday" could indicate a desire to break free from these patterns and start anew. The line "or so we say" suggests doubt that they'll actually be able to change.
The line "you miss New York, you have all along" is an interesting one, as it is never explained in the song's lyrics. It is possible that the singer and the other person once lived in New York, or that New York is a symbol for a place or time that they both miss. The singer sings the other person's song in bed, which could mean that they have fond memories of being together, but they are not able to create new memories currently.
Line by Line Meaning
I called again to say my goodnight
I tried to connect with you before going to bed
I climb in bed, you're out like a light
When I go to bed, you're already asleep
I'm here but I'm never home
I may be physically present, but I'm not present mentally or emotionally
And you're lonely but not alone
You're physically alone, but I'm not providing you with the emotional support you need
Today again, we're out on the ride
We're going through the motions of our daily routine
The longer we stay, the less we decide
The more time that passes, the harder it becomes for us to make decisions
The day is all your own
You have the freedom to do what you want, but it can be isolating
When you're lonely but not alone
You're physically alone, but I'm not providing you with the emotional support you need
Soon, though
The patterns around us will fade away
Soon, all the static will break into yesterday
Or so we say
Things will change soon, or so we hope, and we'll be able to move beyond the same old patterns and habits
I toss, I turn, I sleep on my side
I'm restless in bed and can't sleep
I know the need that I don't provide
I'm aware that I'm not giving you what you need emotionally
But til a seed is sown
You'll be lonely but not alone
Until there is a change or a new beginning, you'll continue to feel lonely even when surrounded by others
You miss New York, you have all along
You feel homesick and long for a place you used to call home
I climb in bed, still singing your song
Even though we're physically apart, I'm still thinking of you and lamenting our situation
My words belie the tone
What I'm saying doesn't match how I feel inside
You're lonely but not alone
You're physically alone, but I'm not providing you with the emotional support you need
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.