About the song
Janis Joplin’s powerful rendition of “To Love Somebody” wasn’t originally her song. It was written and first recorded by the Bee Gees in 1967, showcasing a more pop and soulful sound.
Joplin’s version, released in 1969 on her album “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!”, completely transforms the song. Here’s a breakdown:
- Genre Shift: Joplin injects her signature bluesy rock style, stripping away the pop elements and infusing it with raw emotion.
- Vocal Powerhouse: Her powerful vocals take center stage, conveying a deep yearning and vulnerability that contrasts with the Bee Gees’ smoother delivery.
- Lyrical Interpretation: While the core message of love and commitment remains, Joplin’s bluesy arrangement adds a layer of longing and frustration, perhaps reflecting her own struggles with relationships.
Themes:
- Unconditional Love: The song expresses a desire for a love that’s all-encompassing and accepting, despite any flaws.
- Longing and Frustration: Joplin’s delivery adds a layer of desperation to the lyrics, hinting at the difficulty of finding such a love.
- Vulnerability: Joplin lays bare her emotions, showcasing the emotional vulnerability that comes with loving someone deeply.
Joplin’s “To Love Somebody” stands as a testament to her ability to take a song and make it her own. It’s a powerful example of how an artist can interpret a song through their unique lens, creating a completely new experience for the listener.
Video
Lyrics
There’s a light, certain kinda light,Never ever, never shone on me, no, no.Honey, I want, I want my whole lifeTo be lived with you, babe,That’s what I want oh, was to beLiving and loving you.
There’s a way, oh everybody sayYou can do anything, every thing yeah.But what good, what good,Honey, what good could it ever bring‘Cause I ain’t got you with my loveAnd I can’t find you babe, no I can’t.
You don’t know, you don’t know what it’s like,No you don’t, honey no you don’t know,You don’t know what it’s likeTo love anybody.Oh honey, I wanna talk about loveAnd trying to hold somebodyThe way I love you babe,And I’ve been loving you babe.
In my brain, oh I can see your face again,I know my frame of mind, yeah.But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind,Honey, like I did, I know I was blind,Honey, I tell you that I was, I was very, very blind.
Oh but I’m just a girl,Can’t you just take a look at me and tell,Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you,Don’t you know I do!
But what good, what good,Honey, what good could ever do‘Cause I ain’t got you, that’s all I’ve ever wanted,And I ain’t got you, babe, oh but I’ve been looking ’round.But you don’t know, you don’t know what it’s like,No you don’t, no, no, no, you don’t know,Honey, you don’t know what it’s likeOh to love anybody.Oh honey I wanna talk aboutTrying to hold somebody when you’re lonelyThe way I loved you, baby,And I just want you to know I tried.
Oh I know that there’s a way‘Cause everybody came to me one time and said,“Honey, you can do anything,Every little thing, ” and I think I can.Oh, but what good, what good,Honey, what awfully good can it ever, ever bring,‘Cause I can’t find you with my love,And I can’t find you babe, oh anywhere.
Oh, but you don’t know,You don’t know what it’s like,No you don’t and you never ever, ever did.You don’t know, honey,You don’t know what it’s likeOh, to love anybody.Oh, honey I wanna talk about trying to hold you.
Oh baby, baby, baby, yeah,But you don’t know,You don’t know what it’s like,And you never ever, ever did,I said I tried to throw my love around youAnd I tried to help you darling.But you never ever, no you never ever,No you never ever, no you never ever,I know that you know thatNo you never ever, ever, ever,Oh let me throw my love,Throw my love all around you, yeah.