Not In That Way by Sam Smith

Album: In the Lonely Hour (2014)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song is an emotional affair about unrequited love. Smith explained to The Sun: "The person I loved, loved me, but not in a way I wanted them to. It is a very sad song – my mum gets sad when she listens to it."
The song features production and co-songwriting from Fraser T Smith (Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart").
Many of the songs on In the Lonely Hour were inspired by Smith's unrequited love for one person. This one details his realization that as much as he loves the guy, he will never reciprocate Smith's feelings. "I remember when we wrote this song I was nearly in tears, because it explained exactly what I can't explain to that person, but in a song," he recalled to Digital Spy. "I knew that person was going to be listening to that song, so in a way I was saying it to them. It was an amazing moment for me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

CruiseFlorida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" spent 24 weeks on top of the Country chart - the most ever until Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" was #1 for 34 weeks. The record was previously held by Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (1947-48), Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" (1950-51) and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" (1955), which each led for 21 weeks.

Jessie's GirlRick Springfield

"Jessie's Girl" tells the true story of a girl Rick Springfield was crushing on, but her boyfriend's name was really Gary and he was more of an acquaintance than a friend.

Doo Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill

"Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill was the only US #1 hit of the '90s entirely written, produced and performed by a female singer.

The Wind Cries MaryJimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix wrote "The Wind Cries Mary" not about marijuana, but about his girlfriend at the time, Kathy Mary Etchingham.

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas

Will.I.am, literally dreamt up "I Gotta Feelin'." Said the Black Eyed Pea: "Have you ever had a dream where there's a melody in your dream? I'll wake up out of my sleep and record that! 'I Gotta Feelin' was one of those songs."

The BestTina Turner

"The Best" by Tina Turner was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler; Turner's hit version added a bridge and a saxophone solo by Edgar Winter.