The Ones That Like Me

Album: The Devil Don't Sleep (2017)
Charted: 116
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Brantley Gilbert knows that his personality isn't for everyone. The divisiveness he arouses is described in this song, which he co-wrote with Bobby Pinson and Blake Chaffin.

    The ones that need me got me
    The ones that doubt me can't stop me
    Even the ones that said forget him
    You can bet they ain't forgot me


    "I think it's safe to say that I'm definitely polarizing," he explained to Billboard magazine. "People either love me or hate me. I'm completely cool with that. That's all good. If you don't have nobody hating you, you're doing something wrong."
  • Gilbert sings here of the comfort that he gets in being himself with the people who know him. "'The Ones That Like Me' is just, straight-ahead, me in a nutshell," Gilbert said. "One of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to be that 'what you see is what you get' guy; I don't have to put on a show and keep up with a story that's not true. People that know me well and that are close to me know that that song is me in a nutshell."
  • Brantley Gilbert shot an ad for Apple Music, which was directed by Anthony Mandler. The commercial was filmed outside of Leiper's Fork, Tennessee and features the country star riding his motorcycle down country roads. This song soundtracks the clip along with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" and Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle."
  • Brantley Gilbert's visual image is one of tattoos and chains. This song is about how there's a great deal more to him than his aggressive look.

    "It's dedicated to the people who know that there is more to me than tattoos and chains," he explained to Billboard magazine. "Granted, it's fair enough. I guess you kind of ask for it when every single picture of me since 2008 has me standing in the middle of a road stopping traffic with my arms crossed like I'm going to beat up the camera. But there is definitely a lot more to me – and to us as a band than tattoos and chains and the whole 'bad-ass' thing.

    That's one side I don't like to show more often, and it takes a lot more these days than it used to get that out of me," Gilbert continued. "I really enjoy being a husband and an expectant father. It's been great to not be in trouble for a minute. That's pretty cool."

Comments: 1

  • Theresa Schmid from GeorgiaWhat bridge is Brantley is Gilbert riding over in The Ones Who Like Me?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.