Everybody Needs Someone

Album: Leap (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • James Bay was Ed Sheeran's opening act for the 2019 leg of his Divide Tour across Europe. Though he was having a fun time on the surface, inside he felt lost and alone. "I was feeling lonely and I felt like I couldn't connect with anybody," Bay told The Sun. "It's a difficult thing."

    That experience inspired this song.
  • The feeling of being lost and alone came like a quiet tidal wave. "It really threw me around for a while," Bay said. "But thanks to the people closest to me in my life, I made it through that time. They know how to hold me up when I'm down."
  • James Bay wrote "Everybody Needs Someone" with British songwriter Phil Plested (Little Mix's "Touch," Lewis Capaldi's "Before You Go") and Mojam. The production duo Mojam (Mustafa Omer and James Murray) have also contributed to hits by Naughty Boy ("La La La"), Aitch ("Buss Down") and Anne-Marie (her collaborations with KSI, "Don't Play" and Little Mix, "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)").
  • James Bay recorded "Everybody Needs Someone" at RCA Studio A in Nashville with Dave Cobb in the producer's chair. Cobb is a noted producer in Music City who has worked with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile and Slash.
  • Cobb brought together a band to play on this song and other tracks for Bay's Leap album. Bay played guitar for "Everybody Needs Someone" and Cobb percussion. The other musicians are:

    Philip Towns: synth bass, piano, keyboards
    Brian Allen: bass guitar
    Nate Smith: tom-toms, drums

    Those of you familiar with the Nashville scene may recognize Nate Smith's name. He had success as a solo artist with his 2022 single, "Whiskey On You."
  • "Everybody Needs Someone" is a song about togetherness in the face of loneliness. "We can all easily find ourselves on our own these days," Bay told The Sun. "Busy in our own heads and isolated."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.