And I hate to say I love you
When it's so hard for me
And I hate to say I want you
When you make it so clear
You don't want me
[Chorus]
I'd never ask you 'cause deep down
I'm certain I know what you'd say
You'd say "I'm sorry, believe me, I love you
But not in that way"
[Verse 2]
And I hate to say I need you
I'm so reliant, I'm so dependent, I'm such a fool
When you're not there, I find myself singing the blues
Can't bear, can't face the truth
[Bridge]
You will never know that feeling
You will never see through these eyes
[Chorus]
I'd never ask you 'cause deep down
I'm certain I know what you'd say
You'd say "I'm sorry, believe me, I love you
But not in that way"
You'd say "I'm sorry, believe me, I love you
But not in that way"
About
‘Not In That Way’ is a song about unrequited love, and the emotional stages of telling someone you love them, but they don’t love you in the same way. It can have meaning for everyone; here we can assume it is a gay man in love with a straight man, as Sam has indicated it is their personal story. But it can also apply to two women, or a heterosexual friendship where one feels more physically attracted than the other. It is, in short, a song about the trials of love and heartbreak.
‘Not in that Way’ and ‘Drowning Shadows’ both featured on In the Lonely Hour; Drowning Shadows Edition are probably the two saddest songs in Sam Smith’s repertoire. Their second album, The Thrill Of It All, also includes songs of heartbreak, notably ‘Burning’ and ‘Nothing Left For You’. Sam has the knack of expressing the pain and grief of love in a way that many listeners relate to.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning