Music Review: Sam Smith "I'm Not The Only One"

Sam Smith

I’m Not The Only One

Album: In The Lonely Hour

Year: 2014

          A series of affairs ends a marriage in the stirring “I’m Not The Only One.”

         An accepting piano opens the single, setting a forlorn tone.   He looks through their wedding photographs. Five years ago, his husband said to all their family and friends that he would love and cherish him. Even when times get rough, he’ll remain true to the relationship. He thought of the world of his husband, He talked him up to everyone. People would tell him he found a wonderful guy to be with. But then he wasn’t coming home late from work. He stopped saying “I love you” and they no longer had sex. Smith thought something was off but pushed it in the back of his mind. He looks at the clock: 8:00 p.m. His husband will be home soon. Right now, he wants to pack all his bags, move out and forget everything that happened. However, he still loves him and will worry about him. (“You and me, we made a vow/For better or for worse/I can't believe you let me down/But the proof is in the way it hurts/For months on end I've had my doubts/Denying every tear/I wish this would be over now/But I know that I still need you here.”)

              In the chorus, he tells his husband that he’s afraid he will leave him for someone else. His husband shakes his head and says it won’t ever happen. However, as his husband turns on the television in the family room and says “baby, come join me.” Smith wonders who else he has also called baby. (“You say I'm crazy/Cause you don't think I know what you've done/But when you call me baby/I know I'm not the only one.”)

            His husband seemed to always have an excuse and only came home to sleep. He realizes he was with one of his lovers the entire time. It had nothing to do with work. He knows now that he didn’t really know him. He kept Smith at arm’s length. But he was open to his husband, letting him in to every aspect of his life. (“You've been so unavailable/Now sadly I know why/Your heart is unobtainable/Even though Lord knows you kept mine.”)

                The chorus is sung again.

               In the bridge, he has been in love with his husband for at least 10 years. It took them several years to get his husband to notice him and when it happened, it was the most joyous feeling. However, that feeling is now tainted. Was he only settling? He would think that one day his husband would leave him for something more. (“I have loved you for many years/Maybe I am just not enough/You've made me realize my deepest fear/By lying and tearing us up.”)

           The chorus is sung again to end the single.

          Smith’s sensitive vocals cry when he is alone but maintains a cheery appearance around his husband. He can’t let him know that he knows.  Apologies and promises won’t save the relationship for him. His trust is already broken. He is just barely holding it together. 

           The   heartbreaking “I’m Not The Only One” will have people competing for who to gets to comfort Smith first.