So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
There's a light
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There's a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain't got you, ain't got?
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain't got to be so blind
And I'm blind, so, so, so blind
I'm a man
Can't you see what I am?
I live and I breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain't got you, ain't got? Baby
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you, oh no, no
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There's a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain't got you, ain't got?
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain't got to be so blind
And I'm blind, so, so, so blind
I'm a man
Can't you see what I am?
I live and I breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain't got you, ain't got? Baby
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you, oh no, no
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
Lyrics submitted by AbFab, edited by deborah305
To Love Somebody Lyrics as written by Barry Alan Gibb Robin Hugh Gibb
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
when rules change
Life in Your Way
Life in Your Way
High life
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I had no idea Janis Joplin did a version! I'll have to check it out. The bee gee's is definatley my favorite version (I am not a Michael Bolton fan and never will be). This song always made me think of a man pining for a woman that either he can't have or she doesn't notice him. Always made me kind of wish that a guy I really liked was really pining for me, and I didn't know it and somewhow it would turn out that I'd find out and we'd live happily ever after. LOL!
o man i really love this song...he sings with such emotion and feeling Great Song
I agree to pholosop30... It's just a personal song recorded by the best singers in the music story! No one should sing but Bee Gees!!
This song was originally meant to be sung by Otis Redding. Imagine how that song would have been!
Check out the version by James Carr - very soulful
Grossly overused cheap colloquiums!
"You don't know what it's like, baby, to love somebody the way I love you…"
So is he insulting his "baby" by telling (her) that she doesn't know what it's like to love somebody?
Very idiotic.
But good melody. It takes a dumb ear to enjoy it.
You did not understand... He's saying that her don't love him!
@veryken Wow arrogant and condescending much?
@veryken Wow arrogant and condescending much?
You should check out the Flying Burrito Brothers version Gram Parsons singing will break you heart
Saw Barry sing on Later with Jools Holland.
I think he’s saying he loves her so much that no matter how much she loves him back, he loves her more. Great expression of love.
I grew up hating the Bee Gees during their disco period, and later discovered their older music. They may have sucked later in the 70s, but man! could they write some great pop songs before that time.
Grossly overused cheap colloquialisms!
"You don't know what it's like, baby, to love somebody the way I love you…"
So is he insulting his "baby" by telling (her) that she doesn't know what it's like to love somebody?
Very idiotic.
But good melody. It takes a dumb ear to enjoy it.
This song is so good. My favorite version is the Ray Lamontagne and Damien Rice live duet.