Video hit Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin - To love somebody

This video was recorded on July 18, 1969, by Janis Joplin in The Dick Cavett Show.

To Love Somebody is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their international debut album, Bee Gees 1st.

It was written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb, Produced by Robert Stigwood.

At the request of Robert Stigwood, the band's manager, Barry and Robin Gibb wrote "To Love Somebody", a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals, for Otis Redding.

The Bee Gees recorded "To Love Somebody" at IBC Studios, London in March 1967 and released it as a single in mid-July 1967 in the U.S. Redding died in an aeroplane crash later that year, before having a chance to record the song. The song was recorded around April 1967 with "Gilbert Green" and "End of My Song" at the IBC Studios in London, England.

Robin said, "Everyone told us what a great record they thought it was, Other groups all raved about it but for some reason people in Britain just did not seem to like it". Barry said "I think the reason it didn't do well here was because it's a soul number, Americans loved it, but it just wasn't right for this country".

Barry Gibb explained in a June 2001 interview with Mojo magazine:

It was for Robert. I say that unabashedly. He asked me to write a song for him, personally. It was written in New York and played to Otis but, personally, it was for Robert. He meant a great deal to me. I don't think it was a homosexual affection but a tremendous admiration for this man's abilities and gifts.

The simple title refrain of the chorus, You don't know what it's like, Baby, you don't know what it's like, To love somebody...the way I love you has the effect of being at once heartbreaking and triumphant, a self-pitying put-down to an unrequited love. There's... a certain kind of light that never shone on me... You ain't got to be so blind, I'm a man, can't you see what I am?, I live and breathe for you, But what good does that do, If I ain't got you?.

The lyrics:

There's a light, certain kinda light,

Never ever, never shone on me, no, no.

Honey, I want, I want my whole life

To be lived with you, babe,

That's what I want oh, was to be

Living and loving you.

There's a way, oh everybody say

You can do anything, every thing yeah.

But what good, what good,

Honey, what good could it ever bring

'Cause I ain't got you with my love

And I can't find you babe, no I can't.

You don't know, you don't know what it's like,

No you don't, honey no you don't know,

You don't know what it's like

To love anybody.

Oh honey, I wanna talk about love

And trying to hold somebody

The way I love you babe,

And I've been loving you babe.

In my brain, oh I can see your face again,

I know my frame of mind, yeah.

But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind,

Honey, like I did, I know I was blind,

Honey, I tell you that I was, I was very, very blind.

Oh but I'm just a girl,

Can't you just take a look at me and tell,

Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you,

Don't you know I do!

But what good, what good,

Honey, what good could ever do

'Cause I ain't got you, that's all I've ever wanted,

And I ain't got you, babe, oh but I've been looking 'round.

But you don't know, you don't know what it's like,

No you don't, no, no, no, you don't know,

Honey, you don't know what it's like

Oh to love anybody.

Oh honey I wanna talk about

Trying to hold somebody when you're lonely

The way I loved you, baby,

And I just want you to know I tried.

Oh I know that there's a way

'Cause everybody came to me one time and said,

"Honey, you can do anything,

Every little thing, and I think I can.

Oh, but what good, what good,

Honey, what awfully good can it ever, ever bring,

'Cause I can't find you with my love,

And I can't find you babe, oh anywhere.

Oh, but you don't know,

You don't know what it's like,

No you don't and you never ever, ever did.

You don't know, honey,

You don't know what it's like

Oh to love anybody.

Oh honey I wanna talk about trying to hold you.

Oh baby, baby, baby, yeah,

But you don't know,

You don't know what it's like,

And you never ever, ever did,

I said I tried to throw my love around you

And I tried to help you darling.

But you never ever, no you never ever,

No you never ever, no you never ever,

I know that you know that

No you never ever, ever, ever,

Oh let me throw my love,

Throw my love all around you, yeah.