NF - Only Lyrics
Lyrics
Chorus: Sasha Sloan
I can't be the only one who's lonely tonight
I can't be the only
Verse 1: NF
Yeah, does anybody feel like me?
Show of hands, I don't need a lot, I just wanna find my peace
Yeah, why you throwin' rocks, oh, you wanna kill my dreams?
Okay, tell me everything I'm not
You think I didn't know those things?
Always been a little lost and I still might be
Life's hard, but it's okay (It's okay)
Watchin' the comments feels like I'm at a court date
How could I complain
With a house like this and a car like that in the driveway?
Half of what I say
Kinda feels like a dream that I'm gonna wake from someday
Wishin' that I'd pray
A little more often and put more time into my faith
Travel in my brain, woo, might find damage and no grace
Things that I hold on to, but I won't say things that I won't let go
So I chain my soul to the heartbreak
Havin' a nice day, that's not a average in my case
Don't like cameras in my face; glamour, it's all fake
Love my job, but it might seem odd that I'm here 'cause I hate fame (Oh)
Yeah, pain might get to me, throwin' threats at me
They can't tell, disconnectin' me, it's affectin' me
Hide that well, they'll write checks to me, but don't check on me
Find myself, always questioning what comes next for me
I can't be the only
Chorus: Sasha Sloan
No, I can't be the only one who's lonely tonight
No, I can't be the only
Verse 2: NF & Sasha Sloan
Yeah, if you made a list of people that you trusted would you put your name down?
Do you know who you are when you look at life and you talk about yours, do you feel proud? (Lonely)
Are you leaving a mark, or scared to make a bad impression so you just go hide in the dark? (Lonely)
Livin' and playin' a part, knowin' regret'll come back up tomorrow
That's what it does, ain't it? Don't know what we're chasin', but we all do it
Just a part of life, I guess we're all foolish
Running after what we think will make us happy 'til it falls through (Lonely)
And then we find out later it ain't what we wanted
So we give up on it, then we pile the garbage (Lonely)
And we watch it grow and find a drug to numb it
'Til we hit the point that we can barely function
Am I motivated? Is my music dated?
Would I be the same if I was medicated?
Even therapists say I need medication
I avoid it, though, because I'm scared to take it
Am I the only one that has a loaded gun
That's full of doubts and memories to overcome?
And I complain about 'em when they shoot at me
But I know truthfully I like to load 'em up and let 'em
That's so sad to see, that's so sad to see, I need help
They talk passively, then come after me by myself
Lost that half of me, God, there has to be someone else
Don't feel bad for me, I just can't believe that I'm the only
Chorus: Sasha Sloan
No, I can't be the only one who's lonely tonight
No, I can't be the only
Bridge: Sasha Sloan, with NF
There's gotta be somebody out there
There's gotta be somebody somewhere
Who needs company, and it's comforting to know, know (Know)
There's gotta be somebody out there
There's gotta be somebody somewhere
Who needs company, and it's comforting to know
Chorus: Sasha Sloan
I can't be the only one who's lonely tonight
No, I (I) can't be the only (Only)
Can't be the only one who's lonely tonight
No, I (I) can't be the only
Video
NF, Sasha Sloan - Only (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
NF's "Only," featuring Sasha Sloan, released on July 26, 2019, delves into the profound struggle of feeling utterly alone in one's internal battles, a sentiment that resonates deeply with the human condition and, surprisingly, finds echoes in biblical narratives of isolation and reliance on a higher power. The song speaks to a place of deep personal despair, where the weight of life's challenges feels insurmountable, and the protagonist questions if anyone truly understands or can truly help them through. This pervasive feeling of isolation, of being the only one who experiences such turmoil, is a familiar spiritual trial. Consider the prophet Elijah, who in his darkest hour cried out, "I have been very zealous for the Lord Almighty," and yet felt utterly abandoned, stating, "I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me" (1 Kings 19:10). His experience mirrors the song's raw expression of feeling singular in suffering. The song's narrative, while not explicitly religious, captures the essence of spiritual warfare, the internal conflict that can leave one feeling estranged even amidst others.
Analyzing the lyrical content, NF articulates a desire for external validation or a reprieve that seems impossible to find. He grapples with the feeling that his struggles are unique and misunderstood, leading to a sense of being completely on his own. This can be interpreted through the lens of Psalm 22, where David, in deep distress, laments, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?" (Psalm 22:1). While David's lament is ultimately a cry directed towards God, the initial expression of abandonment is palpable, mirroring the song's core emotion. The collaboration with Sasha Sloan adds a layer of melancholic vulnerability, her voice complementing NF's intense delivery by offering a shared space for this feeling of solitude. The song's message is not about wallowing in self-pity but about the honest acknowledgement of this deep-seated human ache for connection and understanding.
The strength of "Only" lies in its unflinching portrayal of a difficult emotional landscape. It challenges listeners to confront their own moments of isolation and perhaps to seek solace not in the belief that they are the only ones, but in the understanding that this feeling, though painful, is a shared human experience that can lead to a deeper reliance on God. In this sense, the song, by articulating such profound loneliness, paradoxically can point towards the divine comfort that addresses this very need. As Jesus himself promised, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18). The song’s raw honesty, while born from personal struggle, can serve as a powerful catalyst for individuals to reach out, to confess their own feelings of isolation, and in doing so, potentially discover they are not as alone as they believe, finding strength not in self-sufficiency, but in dependence on a love that truly understands every hidden ache.