Human

"Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man is a powerful anthem about embracing human imperfection and rejecting the burden of unrealistic expectations. The song's central message is a declaration of fallibility; the narrator insists he is just a mortal man, not a divine being or a savior with all the answers. He confronts the tendency of people to project their problems onto others and seek simple solutions from them, encapsulated in the repeated plea, "Don't put your blame on me." The lyrics stem from a conversation between the songwriters about people who complain about insignificant issues while ignoring the major problems in the world, like lack of food or water. Rag'n'Bone Man (Rory Graham) explains that the song encourages a shift in perspective, urging listeners to be less self-obsessed and recognize that their own problems might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The line "I'm no prophet or messiah" is a direct rejection of being elevated to a status he cannot fulfill, a humble admission of his own limitations. Ultimately, the song is a call for accountability, empathy, and the acceptance that making mistakes is a fundamental part of the human condition.

The song begins with an admission of potential self-deception, a contemplation of whether the singer is foolish or blind for believing he can understand the true nature of things without any concrete proof. This introspective doubt immediately establishes a core theme: the limitations of human perception and knowledge. This vulnerability is anchored by the central, recurring declaration, "I'm only human after all," which serves as both an excuse and a profound statement of fact. The singer immediately pushes back against external judgment, repeatedly pleading, "Don't put your blame on me."

He challenges the listener to self-reflect, to look in the mirror and question their own perceptions. The lyrics ask whether they see things clearly or are also deceived by their own beliefs, reinforcing the idea that this fallibility is a shared condition. The song then broadens its scope from personal introspection to a wider social commentary. It contrasts the trivial complaints of some with the severe hardships faced by others—those who have "the real problems" or are simply "out of luck."

This observation is coupled with the singer's frustration at being seen as a savior or a person with all the answers. He explicitly rejects this role, stating, "I'm no prophet or messiah," and suggests that people should look to a higher power for solutions. This line is a powerful disclaimer, a refusal to carry the weight of others' expectations. The singer feels burdened by people who believe he can solve their issues, a pressure he finds overwhelming. He expresses a desire to not be put in a position where he has to give opinions or lie, only to then be asked for forgiveness when the outcome is painful. This cycle of being looked to for guidance and then blamed for the consequences is a source of deep frustration.

The core message is relentlessly hammered home through repetition: he is just a man, he makes mistakes, and that's all it should take for others to understand his limitations and not place their blame on him. The song concludes by stripping everything back to this essential truth, a raw and honest admission of mortality and imperfection. It’s a powerful pushback against the impossible standards we often place on ourselves and on others, a call for empathy, perspective, and an acceptance of our shared, flawed humanity.

"Human" was co-written by Rory Graham (Rag'n'Bone Man) and Jamie Hartman, a songwriter and frontman for the band Ben's Brother. The song was produced by Two Inch Punch. The inspiration for the song came from a direct conversation between Graham and Hartman. Graham expressed his frustration with people complaining about "problems that aren't really problems," especially when contrasted with severe global issues. He recounts sitting with Hartman and discussing this feeling of being annoyed by trivial complaints, which formed the lyrical foundation. Hartman had already developed a melody, which he played for Graham. Graham instantly connected with it, and they proceeded to write the lyrics together. Initially, Hartman had written parts of the song for a potential project with CeeLo Green, but it eventually found its perfect voice with Graham. The song was released as a digital download on July 21, 2016, and became the lead single for Graham's debut studio album of the same name, which was released in February 2017.

The song's rhythmic and rhyming structure is deliberate and contributes significantly to its powerful, grounded feel.

• Rhythm: "Human" has a slow, plodding tempo of approximately 75 beats per minute (BPM). The rhythm is characterized by a heavy, almost stomping beat, punctuated by prominent handclaps and a deep bass line. This creates a somber, chant-like, and authoritative feel that underscores the gravity of the lyrics. The rhythmic complexity increases in the chorus with the addition of more percussive elements and layered backing vocals, adding to the song's emotional weight.
• Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is relatively simple and direct, which keeps the focus on the lyrical message. The verses often follow an AABB or ABCB pattern. For example, in the first verse, "blind" rhymes with "behind," and the subsequent lines end with "prove it" and "blind." The chorus, however, relies on the repetition of the key phrase "Don't put your blame on me" rather than a strict rhyme scheme. The directness of the rhymes complements the song's honest and forthright lyrical style.

"Human" achieves its powerful impact through a combination of distinctive musical and literary techniques.

• Vocal Delivery: Rory Graham's deep, baritone voice is the song's most prominent feature. His delivery is raw, gravelly, and full of bluesy grit, conveying a sense of authenticity and raw emotion. The singing style has been described as having an "aggressive attack," which suits the defiant and soul-baring nature of the lyrics.
• Minimalist Instrumentation and Dynamic Build: The song begins sparsely, with a heavy, deliberate beat, handclaps, and bass, leaving ample space for the vocals to dominate. As it progresses, especially into the chorus, the instrumentation swells to include strings, drums, and powerful backing vocals, creating a dynamic shift that enhances the emotional intensity.
• Blues and Gospel Influences: The track is deeply rooted in blues and soul traditions. It is written in a minor key, which is characteristic of the blues and effective at conveying raw emotion. The bridge, with the line "I'm no prophet or messiah," briefly shifts to a major key, creating a euphoric, gospel-like feeling before returning to the minor key's grittier tone.
• Repetition (Amplification): The song uses amplification, a rhetorical device where a statement is built upon with successive additions. Each verse presents a different scenario or frustration, but all lead back to the central, repeated refrain "I'm only human after all," powerfully reinforcing the main argument.
• Rhetorical Questions: The line "Take a look in the mirror and what do you see? / Do you see it clearer or are you deceived?" is a direct rhetorical question posed to the listener, forcing introspection and engagement with the song's theme of self-awareness and shared fallibility.

"Human" achieved massive international success, catapulting Rag'n'Bone Man to global fame and becoming his signature song. It topped the official singles charts in over 15 countries, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland. In the UK, it reached number two on the singles chart and was the Christmas number two of 2016. The song's parent album, also titled Human, became the fastest-selling debut album by a male artist in the UK for that decade. In 2018, "Human" won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year. Its impact was significantly amplified by its widespread use in other media. It was featured as the theme music for the Amazon Prime series Oasis and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, and appeared in trailers for the film Thank You for Your Service and the video game Mass Effect: Andromeda. It has also been used in numerous TV shows, including Inhumans, Into the Badlands, and Suits. Critics often compared its instant impact and authenticity to Hozier's "Take Me to Church," praising it as a return to "real" music.

The song's primary power lies in its direct, declarative statements rather than intricate metaphors, but it uses key symbolic phrases to convey its message.

• "I'm only human after all": This recurring line is the song's central thesis. It functions as a powerful refrain that is both an admission of vulnerability and a defiant statement against impossible standards. It symbolizes the universal experience of fallibility and the inherent limitations of being human.
• The act of Blame: The repeated line "Don't put your blame on me" symbolizes the heavy weight of expectation and judgment placed upon the narrator. Blame here is a metaphor for the responsibility that others try to offload, treating him as a scapegoat for their own failings or unhappiness.
• "Prophet or Messiah": By explicitly denying he is a prophet or messiah, Graham uses these figures as symbols of divine wisdom and infallibility. This contrast highlights his own mortality and ordinariness, rejecting any pedestal he might be placed on by others who are seeking a savior for their problems.
• The Mirror: The lyric "Take a look in the mirror and what do you see?" uses the mirror as a classic symbol for self-reflection and truth. It's a direct challenge to the listener to engage in introspection before casting judgment or blame on others, suggesting they might find the same imperfections in themselves.

The song is built around several powerful recurring phrases and motifs that anchor its message.

• "I'm only human after all": This is the central lyrical motif and the song's most memorable hook. Repeated after almost every verse, it acts as the undeniable conclusion to each scenario presented. Its recurrence drills the core theme of human fallibility into the listener's mind, making it both a confession and a defiant declaration.
• "Don't put your blame on me": This phrase is the song's primary plea and another major recurring motif. It directly follows the admission of being "only human" and serves as the practical application of that idea. Its repetition emphasizes the narrator's feeling of being unfairly burdened and his desperation to be freed from the weight of others' expectations.
• "Some people got the real problems": This phrase appears as a recurring observation that puts personal complaints into a global perspective. It serves as a grounding motif, reminding the listener to consider the scale of suffering and hardship in the world before focusing on minor issues. Its repetition reinforces the song's call for empathy and perspective.