Be Somebody

Album: Only By The Night (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lead singer Caleb Followill explained to Clash magazine the background to this song: "That was one that we had been messing around with for a bit. It sounded really dark. We had a couple of fans that were getting online that were crazy. They were talkin' so much s--t about us, but at the same time they were talkin' about how we were the love of their lives, and we live together; they had all these weird, f--ked up fantasies. So I kinda wrote these verses about life as we see it, and then in the chorus I'd switch scenes to them. It's like, (sings) 'Given a chance I'm gonna be somebody / If for one day I'm gonna be somebody / So open the door, I'm gonna make you love me / I'm facing the floor, I'm gonna be somebody.' It's about someone really taking it to the next level. I've always said, from day one, no matter how many fans we get, if one of us ever died from a fan, it would be a girl. There's no guy that would wanna kill us. There are girls that get so obsessed they would want to kill us. They wanna shoot us, they wanna do whatever. It's always scared me, but I thought if it's a fear of mine I should write a song about it, maybe I can stop it from happening."

Comments: 2

  • Angie Langdon from Texas City, Txi love love love this song!!!!
  • Matt from Houston, Tx1st comment... cool song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.