Bobby is a confirmed batchelor, whose married friends continually try and find him a girlfriend. Throughout the show he muses on who and why and what a partner should mean, and debates whether he wants one. His final frustrated tirade, and subsequent acceptance/revelation is emotive, and in both words and music.
It speaks to me about what we all want - or get - from any relationship.
ROBERT: What do you get? (with a relationship)
Someone to hold you too close,
Someone to hurt you too deep,
Someone to sit in your chair,
To ruin your sleep.
Someone to need you too much,
Someone to know you too well,
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell.
Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.
Someone to crowd you with love,
Someone to force you to care,
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you
Of being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive.
He realises what he really wants.
Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.
Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.
Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive!
If you get the chance, listen to the full vocal version.
I love this song. It reminds me that there is a very fine line between right and wrong in relationship terms. Sometimes it just takes one word to change the meaning.
Life can be very subtle.
