Explore the lyrical themes of Holly Humberstone’s new single “To Love Somebody.” The song’s words examine love, hurt, and emotional resilience.
The lyrics for Holly Humberstone’s “To Love Somebody” present a philosophical reflection on the inherent risks and rewards of emotional connection. For listeners engaging with the song for its words, the track frames love, hurt, and loss as interconnected proofs of being human. Humberstone structures the song around a central, repeating chorus that acts as a thesis, using simple verbs to map a cycle of vulnerability.
The verses employ specific, physical imagery to convey emotional states. Lines about crashing into a wall, cleaning broken glass, or taking a “right hook to the jaw” translate internal pain into tangible scenes. This technique is characteristic of Humberstone’s songwriting, making complex feelings accessible through concrete metaphor. The pre-chorus sections address external criticism about feeling “too much,” positioning intense emotion as a core part of the narrator’s identity rather than a flaw.
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The chorus is deliberately straightforward and repetitive, built on the infinitive phrases “To love somebody / To hurt somebody / To lose somebody.” This grammatical choice universalizes the experience, presenting it as a fundamental condition. The concluding line, “Well, at least you got to love somebody,” reframes potential pain as a privilege, offering a note of resilient optimism. This mantra-like quality makes the chorus suitable for singalongs, as its message is both personal and broadly relatable.
The song’s bridge and outro incorporate humming and nonverbal vocalizations (“I-I, I-I-I”). These sections focus on melodic mood, allowing the emotional weight of the stated lyrics to resonate without additional words. For karaoke or performance, these parts require attention to tone and feeling as much as lyrical memorization.
Produced by Rob Milton
January 23, 2026
1 song, 4 minutes
A Polydor Records Release; ℗ 2026 Holly Humberstone, under exclusive licence to Universal Music Operations Limited
Lyrics
[Intro]
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
[Verse 1]
So you crashed into the wall
You’re cleaning up the broken glass
Thinking, “What the hell was that?” Yeah
In the movie of your life
You’re the first to die
And the critics called it trash (Too bad)
[Pre-Chorus]
They tell you that you feel too much
Euphoria right down to the crush
It all breaks down, it always does
It all works out, it always does
And the shit they say in the songs you love
The greatest hits and the deepest cuts
It all breaks down, it always does
It all works out, it always does
[Chorus]
To love somebody
To hurt somebody
To lose somebody
Is to know you’re only human, honey
To love somebody
To hurt somebody
To lose somebody
Well, at least you got to love somebody
[Post-Chorus]
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
Well, at least you got to love somebody
[Verse 2]
You took a right hook to the jaw
So you go and brush your teeth
A little powder on your cheeks
And you feel a little better
And this blue and green ball
Keeps spinning to the beat
You gotta try and move your feet
Gotta be boxing clever
[Pre-Chorus]
They tell you that you feel too much
You bet it all on a summer crush
It all breaks down, it always does
It all works out, it always does
And you wear his T-shirt, you hate his guts
You read the handbook, you take the drugs
You said, “From here on out, it’s us”
It always was, it always was
[Chorus]
To love somebody
To hurt somebody
To lose somebody
Is to know you’re only human, honey
To love somebody
To hurt somebody
To lose somebody
Well, at least you got to love somebody
[Post-Chorus]
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
At least you got to love somebody
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
[Pre-Chorus]
They tell you that you feel too much (Na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na)
Euphoria right down to the crush (Na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na)
It all breaks down, it always does
It all works out, it always does
And the shit they say in the songs you love (Na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na)
The greatest hits and the deepest cuts (Na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na)
It all breaks down, it always does
It all works out, it always does
[Chorus]
To love somebody (To love you)
To hurt somebody (To hurt you)
To lose somebody (To lose you)
Is to know you’re only human, honey (It’s only human)
To love somebody (To love you)
To hurt somebody (To hurt you)
To lose somebody (To lose you)
Well, at least you got to love somebody
[Outro]
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I (To love you, to hurt you, to lose you)
Well, at least you got to love somebody (It’s only human, honey)
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I (To love you, to hurt you, to lose you)
At least you got to love somebody
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I (To love you, to hurt you, to lose you)
I-I, I-I-I, I-I, I-I-I
