Demi Lovato opens up about Anyone lyrics and the meaning behind them

27 January 2020, 12:01

By Sam Prance

Demi Lovato received a standing ovation after debuting Anyone at the Grammys.

Demi Lovato has released her first song since 2018. 'Anyone' is a raw and vulnerable ballad and the lyrics are heartbreaking.

Last week (Jan 24), Demi Lovato confirmed in a Zane Lowe interview that she wrote 'Anyone' four days before her overdose in 2018. She said: "This song was written and recorded actually very shortly before everything happened." She then added: "I listen back and hear these lyrics as a cry for help. I even listen back to it and I wish I could help that version of myself."

READ MORE: Demi Lovato opens up about relapse in heartbreaking 'Sober' lyrics

Demi debuted 'Anyone' at the Grammys last night (Jan 26). At the beginning of the emotional performance, Demi teared up and had to restart it. However, she then gave the standout performance of the night and received a standing ovation.

What are Demi Lovato's 'Anyone' lyrics about?

As Demi told Zane Lowe, the lyrics to 'Anyone' are: "a cry for help". Demi opens the song singing: "I tried to talk to my piano / I tried to talk to my guitar / Talk to my imagination / Confided into alcohol". She then adds: "I feel stupid when I pray / Why the fuck am I praying anyway? / If nobody's listening" and "Anyone, please send me anyone / Lord, is there anyone?"

Vocally, the song is one of the most challenging songs Demi has ever released. But as she proved during her performance, Demi is one of the few people who can actually sing it and, given the highly personal subject matter of the song, the only person who could release it. It's hard to imagine anyone else performing it.

Demi Lovato - Anyone (Live From The 62nd GRAMMYs ® / 2020)

Discussing the song further with Zane Lowe, Demi said: "I recorded the song and I didn’t spend a lot of time perfecting it. I feel like if it was over-produced, it would take away from the emotion of the song. I wanted to keep it very raw and we did and then, as time went on and we realized how magical that capturing that vocal of that song."

The day Demi wrote 'Anyone' in 2018, she tweeted: "Never been more proud of a song in my life."

'Anyone' is the first song from Demi's as yet untitled seventh album. We can't wait to hear what else she's recorded.

Demi Lovato - 'Anyone' lyrics

INTRO
Uh, uh

VERSE 1
I tried to talk to my piano
I tried to talk to my guitar
Talk to my imagination
Confided into alcohol
I tried and tried and tried some more
Told secrets 'til my voice was sore
Tired of empty conversation
'Cause no one hears me anymore

PRE-CHORUS
A hundred million stories
And a hundred million songs
I feel stupid when I sing
Nobody's listening to me
Nobody's listening
I talk to shooting stars
But they always get it wrong
I feel stupid when I pray
So, why am I praying anyway?
If nobody's listening

CHORUS
Anyone, please send me anyone
Lord, is there anyone?
I need someone, oh
Anyone, please send me anyone
Lord, is there anyone?
I need someone

VERSE 2
I used to crave the world's attention
I think I cried too many times
I just need some more affection
Anything to get me by

PRE-CHORUS
A hundred million stories
And a hundred million songs
I feel stupid when I sing
Nobody's listening to me
Nobody's listening
I talk to shooting stars
But they always get it wrong
I feel stupid when I pray
Why the fuck am I praying anyway?
If nobody's listening

CHORUS
Anyone, please send me anyone
Lord, is there anyone?
I need someone, oh
Anyone, please send me anyone
Oh, Lord, is there anyone?
I need someone
Oh, anyone, I need anyone
Oh, anyone, I need someone

OUTRO
A hundred million stories
And a hundred million songs
I feel stupid when I sing
Nobody's listening to me
Nobody's listening