“I just wanna love somebody.” We’ve probably all said something along these lines at least a couple times throughout our lives — and for my single people out there, maybe twice just today — after starting your 100th rewatch of that one rom-com that makes you ask yourself “Why don’t I have that?” every five minutes. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most people relate to the heartsick feeling that comes with desire for connection. But why is this? Why is it so relatable? Why do we all desperately want to love somebody?
In Morgan Wallen’s new single “Love Somebody,” the answer is clear: we don’t. We don’t just want to love someone, we want to love the one. Because as hard as it is to be alone, Wallen assures that one can feel just as “lonely” with the wrong person by your side. And there’s no point in being with someone who leaves you feeling just as “empty” as you were before you met them. Here, Wallen acknowledges that our desire to love somebody is actually a desire to mask the true problem we face: the difficulty in finding the right somebody to love. This reveals that, at its core, “Love Somebody” is a heart-wrenching lamentation of the difficulty in finding love that is truly worthwhile.
This lyrical theme is supported by the production of the song itself, with a bittersweetly constructed melody that swells and releases at just the right moments. Wallen’s sincerely persistent vocals are reminiscent of his rendition of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up,” giving the listener reason enough to turn up the volume and crawl into bed to have a good cry. Although not as narrative-driven as some of his other love-gone-wrong songs such as “Sand in My Boots,” there’s enough emotion packed into those three-and-a-half minutes to keep you under the covers all day. The song is completely captivating, from start to finish, objectively one of the most intimately personal songs in Wallen’s discography. And, all the while, it seems, as if by magic, to have been written just for you. Taking this into account, the true sorrow that comes from the song may just be that, instead of consoling you, “Love Somebody” actually makes you more heartsick than you were before you pressed play.
With catchy hooks and smooth production style, it’s no wonder “Love Somebody” has been stuck in my head since it was released. But it was its deceptively simple, yet complex title that first got me hooked, literally counting down the days until it came out. This new single is everything I wanted it to be and more, something much more than a song that gets stuck in your head. The substantiality of its message is something that seems to be unparalleled by any of Wallen’s other songs thus far. With “Love Somebody,” Wallen marks a distinct shift between where he’s gone and where he will be going; I just can’t wait to see what’s next.”
