Use Somebody

About this song

"Use Somebody" is the second single from Kings of Leon's fourth studio album, Only by the Night. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2008 and reached number one on the Pop Airplay chart in July 2009. It later saw a resurgence in 2025 as a TikTok meme built on Nickelodeon characters falling or being thrown around, which users adapted to their own troubles. Lead vocalist Caleb Followill wrote both the guitar parts and the lyrics while feeling low on medication and alcohol after a surgery, and the song won Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 2010 Grammys.

What it's about

The song follows an unhappy man who used to think of himself as better than others until a new romantic interest entered his life.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 12 other songs, like “Deadset 8 by Kerser”.
• Covered 28 times, including “Use Somebody by Vitamin String Quartet”.
• Written by Matthew Followill, Jared Followill, Nathan Followill and Caleb Followill.
• Produced by Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King.