Somebody Told Me

## Single by the Killers

"**Somebody Told Me**" is a song by The Killers, released on March 15, 2004, as the second official single from the group's debut studio album *Hot Fuss* (2004). In an interview with *Rolling Stone*, Brandon Flowers explained, "This is the story of trying to meet someone in a club." It was nominated in the 2005 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, but lost to U2's "Vertigo." In another interview, Flowers said, "We were going out to clubs a lot at the time. I think it speaks to a young man's frustration, the difficulty of picking up girls. That's probably where it stems from. I was just able to run with it, and the band supplied a wonderful backing track."

## Lyrical interpretation

At first glance, it appears to be about unrequited love, though others have also analyzed it to be about the struggles of songwriting. Additionally, some have suggested LGBTQ+ themes with the particular lyric, "Somebody told me you had a boyfriend / Who looked like a girlfriend."

## Music video

The music video was directed by Brett Simon, filmed in February 2004 in California. It depicts the Killers performing their song in the moonlight of a desert location, with a giant LED screen displaying their logo, as well as an alternate version of the video shot during the day. The imagery in the video pays homage to New Order's "Crystal" of whom the Killers named themselves after the fictitious band performing in the New Order video.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

Breaking my back just to know your name

Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game

I'm breaking my back just to know your name

But heaven ain't close in a place like this

Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss

[Pre-Chorus]

'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this

I said, oh, heaven ain't close in a place like this

Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (Ooh-ooh)

Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight

[Chorus]

Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend

Who looked like a girlfriend

That I had in February of last year

It's not confidential, I've got potential

[Verse 2]

Ready? Let's roll onto something new

Taking its toll then I'm leaving without you

[Pre-Chorus]

'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this

I said, oh, heaven ain't close in a place like this

Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (Ooh-ooh)

Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight

[Chorus]

Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend

Who looked like a girlfriend

That I had in February of last year

It's not confidential, I've got potential

A-rushing, rushing around

[Bridge]

Pace yourself for me

I said maybe, baby, please

But I just don't know now (Maybe, baby)

When all I want to do is try

[Chorus]

Well, somebody told me you had a boyfriend

Who looked like a girlfriend

That I had in February of last year

It's not confidential, I've got potential

A-rushing, rushing around

Somebody told me you had a boyfriend

Who looked like a girlfriend

That I had in February of last year

It's not confidential, I've got potential

A-rushing, rushing around

Somebody told me you had a boyfriend

Who looked like a girlfriend

That I had in February of last year

It's not confidential, I've got potential

A-rushing, rushing around

## References

1. ↑ Garin, Pirnia (May 7, 2012). "Somebody Told Me". *Rolling Stone*.
2. ↑ Rahman, Ray (November 14, 2013). "Stories Behind the Songs: Brandon Flowers talks Killers' biggest hits". *EW*.