Smith's debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, was released in May 2014 on Capitol Records UK. The album's lead single, "Lay Me Down", was released prior to "La La La". The album's second single, "Money on My Mind", became Smith's second number one single in the UK. The third single, "Stay with Me", was an international success, reaching number one in the UK and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, while their singles "I'm Not the Only One" and "Like I Can" reached the top ten in the UK. The album won four awards, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
For Smith's and Jimmy Napes's song "Writing's on the Wall", the theme for the James Bond film Spectre (2015), Smith won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All, was released in November 2017 and debuted atop the UK and US album charts. The lead single, "Too Good at Goodbyes", reached number one in the UK and Australia and number four in the US. They released the single "Promises" with Calvin Harris, which peaked at number one in the UK. Smith released "Dancing with a Stranger" with Normani in 2019, which reached the top ten in the UK and the US and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards, and followed it by releasing a string of commercially successful singles "How Do You Sleep?", "To Die For" and "I'm Ready" with Demi Lovato; all of which feature on Smith's third album, Love Goes.
Smith has won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, and an American Music Award, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award through their career. Smith has been publicly gay since 2014, genderqueer since 2017, and has used they/them pronouns since 2019.
Who We Love
Sam Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kiss in a crowded place
Stand in the summer rain
Tangled in awkward shapes
A new, but familiar taste
You're feeling it all again
It's not wrong
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So, let go
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
And we love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
Footprints along the sand
Whispers of sweet romance
Sound of a wedding band (mmm)
Holding hands in the street
No need to be discreet
Finally feeling free
It's not wrong
To want the world for someone
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So let go
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
And we love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
The universe has pulled us closer
I trust whatever's brought me here to you
You can never lose
If love is what you feel then
It's not wrong
To want the world for someone
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So let go (so let go)
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
We love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
The song "Who We Love" by Sam Smith dives into the concept of love and how it can often be unpredictable and uncontrollable. The lyrics reflect the idea that despite societal norms or expectations, you cannot choose who you love, and that love has a mysterious way of bringing people together. The song encourages listeners to trust their hearts and to let go of any judgement or criticism from others, as love is something that cannot be forced or explained.
The first verse describes the physical and emotional aspects of being with someone you love. The imagery of "color[ing] the empty space," "kiss[ing] in a crowded place," and "stand[ing] in the summer rain" all allude to the idea that love can fill even the most mundane moments with excitement and meaning. The verse also mentions the feeling of experiencing something new yet strangely familiar, encapsulating the feeling of falling in love with someone who feels like they have been in your life forever.
The chorus delivers the message that it is not wrong to love someone, no matter who they are and what others may think. The line "you don't know better than your heart knows" emphasizes the idea that listening to your intuition and following your heart is the key to happiness in love. The chorus is repeated multiple times with vocal harmonies and a catchy melody, making it the centerpiece of the song.
Overall, "Who We Love" is a heartfelt and uplifting song that encourages listeners to embrace the unpredictability of love and to trust their hearts, even in the face of societal pressure or judgement.
Line by Line Meaning
Color the empty space
Express passion and love in everyday moments.
Kiss in a crowded place
Don't hide your love from the world.
Stand in the summer rain
Experience love in all the beauty of nature.
Tangled in awkward shapes
Love comes in many forms, embrace them all.
A new, but familiar taste
Love can feel unexpected but familiar at the same time.
You're feeling it all again
Love can bring back old feelings and emotions.
It's not wrong
It's okay to prioritize the happiness of the one you love.
To want the world for someone
You want the best for the one you love.
It's not a feeling you can run from
Love is a powerful feeling that can't be ignored or avoided.
'Cause we love who we love
Love is unconditional and uncontrollable.
So let go
Stop trying to rationalize love and just feel it.
You don't know better than your heart knows
Trust your feelings and intuition when it comes to love.
Whether they're here or long gone
Love endures regardless of physical distance or time apart.
And we love who we love
Love is inclusive and knows no bounds.
Footprints along the sand
Memories and moments shared together.
Whispers of sweet romance
The little things that make love special.
Sound of a wedding band (mmm)
The ultimate symbol of love and commitment.
Holding hands in the street
Public displays of affection are okay when it comes to love.
No need to be discreet
No shame in expressing your love openly.
Finally feeling free
Love can bring a sense of liberation and happiness.
The universe has pulled us closer
Fate and destiny played a role in bringing you together.
I trust whatever's brought me here to you
Believing in the power of love and the journey it takes.
You can never lose
Love is never a waste, even if it doesn't work out in the end.
If love is what you feel then
Love is valid and should be embraced.
We love who we love
The heart wants what it wants, and that's okay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Christopher Sheeran, Fred Gibson, James John Napier, Johnny McDaid, Samuel Frederick Smith, Steve Mac
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neerajbolla2958
Colour the empty space
Kiss in a crowded place
Stand in the summer rain
Tangled in awkward shapes
A new, but familiar taste
You're feeling it all again
It's not wrong
To want the world for someone
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So let go
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
And we love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
Footprints along the sand
Whispers of sweet romance
Sound of a wedding band
Holding hands in the street
No need to be discreet
Finally feeling free
It's not wrong
To want the world for someone
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So let go
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
Yeah, we love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
The universe has pulled us closer
I trust whatever's brought me here to you
You can never lose
If love is what you feel then
It's not wrong
To want the world for someone
It's not a feeling you can run from
'Cause we love who we love
So let go (so let go, my love)
You don't know better than your heart knows
Whether they're here or long gone
We love who we love
Yeah, we love who we love
@creationclouds
Damn, who knew I needed these two to sing together
@korisnyder572
I love that Sam and Ed are coming together. Two wonderful souls, with amazing voices, to make beautiful noise.
@RSpark
I knew
@gaudencianghiitwikwa1669
I did
@agt2659
I knew but tbh I expect more
@tagalilly
Exactly!!!
@anjanupreti2889
Both of them went back to the style they had around 2014 with this duet. Best track in the album by a long shot. The voices blend so well and the production is really well done!
@saranneperman7530
That’s exactly what my husband said. 2014 Sam smith at his peak.
@thejectorproject
Yessss that’s why it’s sooo damn good
@rayrachelle2145
I was a little scared at first before playing it, that it might be a fast track. I'm so glad they went back to this style for this....