About the song
“Somebody to Love,” originally titled “Someone to Love,” is a rock song written by Darby Slick, who was the guitarist for the Great Society. First recorded by this band, which notably included his sister-in-law Grace Slick on vocals, the song was initially released in February 1966. Despite its humble beginnings and limited reach outside the San Francisco club scene, it laid the groundwork for what would become a significant and enduring classic. The Great Society’s original recording, though influential, didn’t gain widespread recognition until Grace Slick brought it into the spotlight with Jefferson Airplane.
When Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane, she carried “Somebody to Love” with her, introducing it during the recording sessions for their landmark album *Surrealistic Pillow*. The Jefferson Airplane version, released in 1967, transformed the song into a powerful anthem of the rock era. This iteration of the song became the band’s first major hit, climbing to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marking a significant moment in the burgeoning San Francisco Bay Area counterculture scene. The song’s ferocious, high-energy rock-and-roll arrangement and Slick’s commanding vocals contrasted sharply with the more subdued original by the Great Society.
The song’s lyrics, which express a deep yearning for a true and loyal love, reflect a more profound and intentional view of love compared to the spontaneous “falling in love” theme prevalent in many songs of the time. Darby Slick’s composition champions the idea of love as a conscious choice and a source of solace, countering the transient nature of free love that characterized the era’s cultural ethos.
Jefferson Airplane’s version of “Somebody to Love” is marked by its raw intensity and emotional depth, setting it apart from the Great Society’s more restrained take. The song features a potent vocal performance by Grace Slick, who delivers the lines with a blend of urgency and vulnerability. The band’s arrangement, complete with a prominent psychedelic guitar solo by Jorma Kaukonen, enhances the song’s dramatic impact. Critics have praised Kaukonen’s solo as one of the greatest in rock history, noted for its wailing notes and unresolved ending that leaves a lasting impression.
The song’s success was a significant milestone for the San Francisco music scene, helping to bring the Haight-Ashbury counterculture to a broader audience. Billboard described it as a “wild dance number loaded with vocal excitement,” while Cash Box highlighted its “bright, pulsating, rhythmic” qualities. In its time, it was one of the first major hits to emanate from the West Coast, foreshadowing the wave of artists who would be drawn to the region’s vibrant music scene.
“Somebody to Love” has since been recognized as a classic, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking Jefferson Airplane’s version No. 274 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This enduring legacy underscores the song’s impact and its role in shaping the rock genre and the cultural landscape of the 1960s.
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Lyrics
When the truth is found to be lies
And all the joy within you dies
Don’t you want somebody to love
Don’t you need somebody to love
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Love, love
When the garden flowers, baby are dead, yes and
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Don’t you want somebody to love
Don’t you need somebody to love
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby
I’m afraid you don’t know where it is
Don’t you want somebody to love
Don’t you need somebody to love
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Tears are running down
They’re all running down your breast
And your friends, baby
They treat you like a guest
Don’t you want somebody to love
Don’t you need somebody to love
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love