Make It To Me

"Make It To Me" is a profound and hopeful ode to the concept of a soulmate and the yearning for a destined love that has not yet materialized. The song's central message is one of unwavering faith and patience in waiting for a person one believes is specifically meant for them. Sam Smith articulates a deep-seated loneliness but frames it not as despair, but as a period of hopeful anticipation. The lyrics convey the idea that there is a “distant stranger” out in the world who is their perfect counterpart, the one “designed” to complete them. It's a narrative of calling out to this future partner, encouraging them through their own struggles to eventually find their way to the singer. The song captures the universal human desire for a profound connection and the belief that such a connection is preordained. Smith described the song as a “hopeful message” and his “grand mating call,” intended to be an uplifting conclusion to an album largely focused on unrequited love.

The song begins with the narrator’s mind drifting away, consumed by thoughts of a person they have yet to meet. This mental journey is a hopeful one, a projection of a future connection they deeply desire. Though they cannot pinpoint where these thoughts have gone, the destination is clear: they are all directed toward this fated individual. A sense of patience is established, a quiet resolve to wait, even as time feels painfully slow. The narrator’s heart has an open space, a “vacancy,” and they are sending out a message into the universe, wanting this specific person to know that the spot is reserved for them.

The chorus is a powerful declaration of this belief in destiny. The narrator is certain that this “distant stranger” is the one specifically “designed” for them, the missing piece that will make them whole. It's a profound expression of faith in predestination and soulmates. This belief fuels their encouragement to this unknown person, urging them to persevere and “keep your head up” on their own journey toward their eventual meeting. The plea for them to “make it to me” is both a gentle request and a heartfelt command, underscoring the depth of their longing.

The second verse delves into the pain of the present solitude. The narrator speaks of being “sick of this lonely air,” feeling that every breath is a waste without their counterpart to share it with. There is a build-up of unspoken thoughts and unshared feelings, a weight on their chest they are desperate to release to this person who would understand. This feeling of being emotionally overburdened amplifies the need for their destined partner's arrival.

This frustration with loneliness doesn’t diminish their resolve. The pre-chorus repeats, reinforcing the theme of patient waiting despite the slow passage of time and the persistent emptiness. The message is sent out once more: the vacancy remains, and it is meant only for this one person. The repetition solidifies the narrator’s unwavering hope and commitment to this future love. The chorus returns with the same conviction, a powerful reaffirmation of the belief that they are meant to be and that this stranger will complete them. The encouragement for this person to stay strong and find their way to them is reiterated, a beacon of hope in the vastness of their separation. The song concludes with a simple, repeated plea, “make it to me,” each repetition stripping away the layers of melody to reveal the raw, desperate, and beautiful core of the narrator’s hope.

"Make It To Me" was written by Sam Smith, Jimmy Napes (James Napier), and Howard Lawrence of the electronic duo Disclosure. The production was handled by Jimmy Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice. The song is a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Sam Smith's critically acclaimed debut studio album, "In the Lonely Hour," which was released in the UK on May 26, 2014. The album was largely inspired by Smith's personal experiences with unrequited love, describing it as an album for "lonely people." Smith stated that "Make It To Me" was intentionally placed as the final track to serve as a hopeful message, a transition from the album's themes of loneliness to the hope of finding love in the future. He described it as a song about a partner you are yet to find, expressing hope that they will eventually come into your life. The track was briefly released for free on iTunes in the UK in January 2014, ahead of the album's full release.

The song's lyrical structure utilizes a relatively simple rhyme scheme, which contributes to its direct and heartfelt message. In the verses, it follows an ABCB pattern (e.g., "you"/"see"/"to"/"be"). This simple scheme makes the lyrics feel more like a natural, sincere thought process rather than a complex poetic exercise. The pre-chorus and chorus use rhyming couplets (e.g., "slow"/"know," "me"/"be"), which provide a sense of stability and resolution to the hopeful declarations. The rhythm of the song is slow and deliberate, set at a ballad's tempo. This pacing reflects the lyrical theme of patient waiting. The melodic rhythm often has the vocals holding onto notes, stretching out phrases, which emphasizes the feeling of time moving slowly and the depth of the singer's longing. There is a gentle interplay between the steady, almost melancholic rhythm of the piano and the more fluid, emotional rhythm of Smith's vocal phrasing.

Musically, "Make It To Me" is a classic soul ballad, characterized by its minimalist production that places Sam Smith's powerful and emotive vocals at the forefront. The primary instrumentation is a gentle piano, which provides a soft, melodic foundation, later joined by subtle strings and a delicate guitar riff that enhances the song's emotional climax. Smith's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element. They move seamlessly from a soft, breathy tone in the verses to a full-bodied, soaring falsetto in the chorus, conveying a wide spectrum of emotion from gentle longing to desperate yearning. The song's structure follows a conventional verse-pre-chorus-chorus pattern, which builds anticipation and emotional weight with each section. Lyrically, the song employs direct address, speaking to a "you" who is not present, which creates an intimate and confessional tone. The repetition of the final plea, "make it to me," serves as a powerful outro, fading out with a sense of unresolved, yet hopeful, longing.

As a non-single track from the deluxe edition of "In the Lonely Hour," "Make It To Me" did not have the widespread chart success of hits like "Stay with Me" or "I'm Not the Only One." However, its cultural influence lies in its role within the context of the album, which was a monumental success, becoming the biggest-selling debut album of the decade and earning multiple Grammy Awards. The song is often cited by fans as a favorite for its raw emotion and hopeful message, providing a poignant and optimistic conclusion to an album centered on heartbreak. Its themes of yearning for a soulmate have made it resonate deeply with listeners, solidifying its place as a beloved deep cut in Smith's discography. The song encapsulates the blend of soulful balladry and emotional vulnerability that defined Smith's early career and helped establish them as a major global artist.

The song is rich with metaphors centered on destiny and connection.

• "A distant stranger, that I will complete": This line is a direct metaphor for the concept of soulmates, suggesting that two people can be like two halves of a whole, incomplete until they find each other.
• "I have one vacancy": Smith uses this metaphor to describe the empty space in their heart and life. It’s not just a feeling of loneliness, but a specific, reserved spot waiting to be filled by the right person, implying exclusivity and destiny.
• "So sick of this lonely air / It seems such a waste of breath": Air and breath, essential for life, are used here to symbolize existence itself. The metaphor suggests that living without this destined partner feels pointless and unfulfilling, as if one's very life force is being wasted.
• "Grand mating call": As described by Smith himself, the entire song functions as a metaphorical call into the wilderness of the world, an attempt to signal and draw in the one person who is meant to hear it.

The most significant recurring lyrical motif is the central plea, "make it to me." Its repetition, especially in the outro, transforms it from a simple line in the chorus into a mantra of hope and desperation. Another key recurring phrase is, "I'm waiting patiently / Though time is moving slow / I have one vacancy / And I wanted you to know that." This pre-chorus acts as a recurring affirmation of the singer's state of being—lonely yet patient and resolute. Its repetition reinforces the central theme of enduring the wait for a destined love. The phrase "You're the one, designed for me / A distant stranger, that I will complete" is the core declaration of the song's chorus and its central belief. By repeating this idea, the song builds a powerful sense of conviction and faith in the idea of a pre-ordained soulmate.