To Die For

Album: Love Goes (2020)
Charted: 18 46
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over soaring strings and mellow piano, Sam Smith yearns for love.

    I just want somebody to die for

    The singer is feeling desperately lonely. The thought of being on his own for the rest of his days constantly eats away at him.
  • Sam Smith wrote the heartfelt ballad with his go-to collaborator Jimmy Napes and the Norwegian production duo Stargate. The four previously teamed up for Smith's 2017 single "Too Good At Goodbyes." The singer said that they wrote the song in Los Angeles "during a time of self-discovery and heartbreak."
  • Pink lemonade sippin' on a Sunday
    Couples holding hands on a runway
    They're all posing in a picture frame
    Whilst my world's crashing down


    Abbot Kinney is a mile-long beach-adjacent boulevard in Los Angeles' Venice neighborhood. The avenue is filled with flagship stores, boutiques, art galleries and is also a popular spot for nightlife.

    Smith told Apple Music how a stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard served as inspiration for the emotional song. "I was walking down there on a Sunday and everyone was happy because everyone's happy on that road," he recalled. "Just partners everywhere, kissing, and families. And it's basically about that - about feeling alone and feeling like you're on the outside watching everyone else together."
  • The song opens with a sample from the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko. The dialogue is taken from a scene where psychologist Dr. Thurman is sitting with troubled teenager Donnie.
  • Sam Smith intended this to be the title track of his third album, but when the coronavirus pandemic started spreading worldwide, the singer felt it was insensitive to use the word "die" in the title.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?