To Love Somebody

Eric Burton and The Animals' rendition of 'To Love Somebody' is a poignant exploration of unrequited love and longing. The song opens with the imagery of a 'certain kind of light' that has never shone on the narrator, symbolizing a sense of unfulfilled potential and happiness. This light represents the love and connection he yearns for but has never experienced. The repeated desire 'to live with you' underscores his deep longing for a shared life with the object of his affection, highlighting the emptiness he feels in their absence.

The lyrics delve into the universal struggle of trying to conform to societal expectations ('There's a way most everybody say to do each and every little thing'), only to find that these efforts are meaningless without the presence of the beloved. This sentiment is encapsulated in the lines, 'What good does it bring if I ain't got you?' The song's chorus, 'You don't know what it's like to love somebody the way I love you,' is a powerful declaration of the narrator's unique and profound emotional experience, which he feels is not reciprocated or understood by the other person.

The song also touches on themes of spiritual longing and despair. The narrator's nightly prayers and the vision of the beloved's face suggest a deep, almost religious devotion. Yet, this devotion is met with sadness and a sense of blindness in love, as he questions, 'How can love be so blind?' The repetition of the chorus and the final verses emphasize the intensity and persistence of his feelings, making 'To Love Somebody' a timeless anthem of unrequited love and the human desire for connection and understanding.