Anyone Else

Album: Bringing Back the Sunshine (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ever since Blake let Miranda Lambert have "The House That Built Me" for her 2009 Revolution album, the couple have had to hash out between them who records particular songs. Shelton's other half originally had this Luke Laird, Barry Dean, and Natalie Hemby penned tune on hold for her Platinum album and he had to wrest it away from her.

    "There were, like, three songs I tried to get: 'Smokin' and Drinkin'', 'Anyone Else,' then there might have been one more," Blake told USA Today. "She was like, 'You're not getting Smokin' and Drinkin',' and I was like, 'I'm just saying I gave you 'The House That Built Me,' and that did pretty well for you.' So I guilted her into 'Anyone Else.'"
  • Such lyrics as, "a jealous sky won't share the sun," appear to be directed at another artist or possibly a statement to a hater in the music business, however Shelton remains tight-lipped if he has anyone in mind. "Nobody will ever know who I'm singing about whenever I'm singing that song," he said.
  • Shelton considers this one of the most important songs that he has ever laid down. "I've been the guy that's been jealous and hard on somebody, and not even know why, and I've also been the victim of that," he said. "The song is so relatable, and it's so sad. Every time I sing it, there's a different person that comes to mind that I'm singing it about, but it always includes me. But it hurts when people are hard on you, jealous or insecure, and won't allow you to just be."

    "I've experienced more of that in the last few years of my life than I have the other 38 years all put together," Shelton added. "And when I can find a song that I can dump all those thoughts and emotions into, it's a real big deal to me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.