Can I Be Him

"Can I Be Him" by James Arthur is a poignant and deeply emotional ballad that explores the theme of unrequited love and longing. The song's narrative is from the perspective of a man who has fallen in love with a singer from afar. He feels an intense and personal connection to her and her music, to the point where he believes her songs are written for him, like a "private show." However, he is painfully aware of his invisibility to her. The central question and recurring plea, "Can I be him?", encapsulates his desperate desire to be the object of her affection and the subject of her stories and songs. He fantasizes about being the one to love and protect her, believing her current partner is undeserving. The song beautifully captures the vulnerability, hope, and heartache of loving someone who doesn't know you exist.

The song begins with the narrator describing the profound and immediate impact someone has had on him. The moment this person entered the room, he felt his heart was stolen, transporting him back to a time before he had experienced emotional pain. From that very first instant, he knew this person was all he wanted. A metaphorical light switched on when he heard a particular song, and he yearns for them to sing it again.

The chorus delves into the narrator's intense, one-sided connection with the object of his affection, who appears to be a singer. He feels that every word of their songs is written directly for him, like a private performance. However, he is acutely aware that this person has never even noticed him. He wonders if, when the show is over and he is alone, they will be there to sing for him once more. His central plea is whether he can be the man featured in all their stories.

In the second verse, the narrator reveals his knowledge of the person's current relationship. He has heard there is someone else but believes that person is undeserving of them. He makes a heartfelt promise that if they were his, he would never allow anyone to cause them pain. His thoughts are consumed with the desire to comfort them, to dry their tears and kiss their lips. The recurring theme of a light turning on upon hearing their song emphasizes the hope and connection he feels through their music, making him wish for a repeat performance.

The bridge of the song is a simple yet powerful repetition of his ultimate question, stripped down to its core: "Can I be the one?" This repetition builds the emotional intensity, highlighting his desperation and the depth of his desire to be chosen. It's a direct and vulnerable plea for a chance.

The song's refrain continues this plea, asking for the song to be sung again, as if its performance is intrinsically linked to his hope of becoming "him." The final lines of the song see the chorus repeated with an even greater sense of raw emotion and vulnerability. The narrator reiterates his feeling that the songs were meant for him, even in his anonymity. The final, fading repetitions of "Can I be him?" leave the listener with a lingering feeling of his unresolved yearning and the poignant pain of unrequited love.

"Can I Be Him" was written by James Arthur, George Tizzard, Rick Parkhouse, and Negin Djafari. It was produced by Red Triangle. The song was recorded in 2015 and released on October 28, 2016, as part of Arthur's second studio album, "Back from the Edge". It was later released as the third single from the album on April 15, 2017. In an interview, James Arthur revealed that while much of the album was autobiographical and about redemption, his label requested a couple of love songs. "Say You Won't Let Go" and "Can I Be Him" were the two songs written to fulfill this request. Arthur explained the concept was to imagine being in love with a singer and wishing their songs were about you, touching on the universal feeling of unrequited love. The official music video was released on May 8, 2017, and features Arthur performing the song on a moving subway train in Nuremberg, Germany.

The rhyme scheme in the verses of "Can I Be Him" is roughly AABB, with rhymes like "room" and "stolen" being near rhymes to establish a conversational and sincere tone. The chorus follows a more structured pattern, with rhymes such as "me" and "see," and the repeated line "sing it again." The rhythm of the song is generally slow and follows a simple 4/4 time signature, characteristic of a ballad. The tempo remains fairly consistent, allowing the focus to be on Arthur's vocal performance and the emotional weight of the lyrics. The lyrical rhythm is fluid and closely follows natural speech patterns, which enhances the song's storytelling quality and makes the narrator's plea feel authentic and heartfelt.

"Can I Be Him" employs several stylistic techniques to convey its emotional weight.

• Vocal Delivery: James Arthur's signature emotive and raw vocal performance is central to the song's impact. His delivery ranges from a soft, vulnerable tone in the verses to a powerful, pleading belt in the chorus, effectively mirroring the song's emotional arc.
• Instrumentation: The song begins with a simple, gentle guitar strum, creating an intimate and introspective atmosphere. As the song progresses, the instrumentation builds, adding strings and subtle percussion that swell in the chorus to amplify the feeling of yearning and desperation.
• Rhetorical Question: The titular question, "Can I be him?", is a powerful rhetorical device that is repeated throughout the song. It's a plea that doesn't expect an answer, emphasizing the narrator's feeling of helplessness and longing.
• Narrative Voice: The song is written from a first-person perspective, creating a direct and personal connection between the narrator and the listener. This intimate point of view allows the audience to fully inhabit his feelings of unrequited love.

"Can I Be Him" was released as the third single from James Arthur's successful comeback album, "Back from the Edge". While not reaching the chart-topping success of the album's lead single, "Say You Won't Let Go," "Can I Be Him" became a moderate hit on several international charts, including the UK, Australia, and Sweden. The song has been certified Platinum in the UK, Canada, Denmark and Brazil. The official music video has garnered hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, indicating a significant and lasting popularity with audiences. The song is often highlighted as a fan favorite and a staple of Arthur's live performances, appreciated for its emotional depth and relatable theme of unrequited love. Numerous covers of the song can be found online, further demonstrating its impact and resonance with other artists and listeners.

The lyrics of "Can I Be Him" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its emotional depth.

• The Singer and Her Songs: The object of the narrator's affection being a singer is in itself a powerful metaphor. Her songs represent an idealized form of love and storytelling that the narrator desperately wants to be a part of. He feels the lyrics speak directly to his own experiences and emotions.
• "A Private Show": This phrase metaphorically describes the narrator's experience of listening to her music. It highlights the intimacy he feels while also underscoring the one-sided nature of their connection and his invisibility to her.
• "A Light Came On": This recurring image symbolizes a moment of epiphany or awakening for the narrator. Hearing her song illuminates his feelings and solidifies her as the object of his desire, bringing him out of a state of being "unbroken" and into this new emotional landscape.
• The Protector: The narrator's desire to "dry those tears" and "never let anyone hurt you" symbolizes a deeper longing to be a source of comfort and security for her, a role he feels her current partner fails to fulfill.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Can I Be Him" is the title question itself, "Can I be him?". This phrase acts as the central motif of the song, repeated at the end of the chorus and in the outro. Its repetition emphasizes the narrator's obsessive longing and the core of his emotional conflict. Another key recurring line is "'Cause a light came on when I heard that song and I want you to sing it again," which appears in both verses. This motif reinforces the idea that her music is the catalyst for his feelings and his hope for a connection. The plea to "sing it again" is also repeated, tying his desire for her to the music she creates. The repetition of these phrases creates a sense of a circular and unresolved emotional state for the narrator.