Tuesday Tunes: Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody”

Editor’s Note: Song lyrics denoted in bold italics.

Did you catch the Bee Gees Tribute Concert on CBS over the weekend? I’ll admit, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I mean, sure, I’ve always been a fan of the Bee Gees, but I usually lean more toward the side of the casual fan. I never lived through the Disco Era — in fact, I found myself asking my mom several times during the TV special, “how did people live through this?” I mean, leisure suits and disco balls?

WHOA.

But, I have been known to rock out to their Greatest Hits album now and again — wait, can you really rock out to disco music? I’m not sure about that. Anyway, so when I saw all of their classics being performed on stage, it hit me: There’s a reason their timeless songs are, well, timeless. The Bee Gees were swiftly able to transcend the glittery fickleness of the late ’70s to really cement their spot in music history. And one song that’s stood out above the rest for me? It’s — no surprise! — one of their most passionate love songs. Full of heart. Full of emotion. And just brimming with yearning all around…

Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody”
From Bee Gees 1st

All the cliches aside, this song truly speaks to my heart. Not because I’ve experienced it first-hand through all my epic love affairs — let’s be real about that, shall we? It’s more like I can identify with the pure passion in the lyrics. They’re conveyed with such emotion.

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?

OK, this song does open up with something I can definitely relate to — the whole part about always being in the shadow of love and never really feeling a certain type of romantic love. So you find yourself wishing for that kind of love. Maybe it happens after you meet someone who you can see yourself getting close to and taking you out of that shadow and into the light.

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

I can’t help but feel the ache of loving someone from afar with these lines, you know? Like you’re standing there seeing someone who maybe doesn’t see you in the same way and you want to plead with them — could they ever feel what it’s like to love you? Could they ever feel those same emotions? What would that feel like, for the both of 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

Oh, these words. All these words. I’ve been there far too often. I’ve wasted spent countless hours and a crazy amount of brain energy trying to figure certain people out. I thought that maybe if I thought about them hard enough, they would telepathically get my message. It’s totally unrealistic, I know, but maybe that’s where your head goes when you’re in this situation?

All I know is that the Bee Gees know where it’s at. Time and time again, they schooled us with their velvety, silky smooth voices. And in the process, they ended up making us feel real love. Even if that love is never returned by the object of our affection, perhaps that not the whole point. Now there’s something to be thankful for, don’t you think, friends? xoxo