Like I Can

Album: In the Lonely Hour (2014)
Charted: 9 99
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by Oleta Adams' "Get Here." Smith told 4Music: "I used that same format with the list of ways that he will never love you like I can."
  • Many of the songs on In The Lonely Hour were penned by Smith about his unrequited love for another man. He told The Sun: "I was the only one in the relationship. We never even kissed, nothing ever happened. He highlighted something about myself - that I was really lonely. I'd never been in a relationship before and that was starting to affect me."
  • The black-and-white music video, directed by Sophie Muller (Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Ellie Goulding), shows Smith with a bunch of guys at a bachelor party.
  • In mid-August 2021, the song went viral on TikTok, sending it back into the UK singles chart. The trend sees users create videos set to the lyrics:

    There may be lovers who hold out their hands but
    He'll never love you like I can, can, can


    As Smith sings the final line, the videos freeze frame in black and white.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.