It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)
Producers
Danny ran into some complications
He falls asleep during conversations
He's gotta search the street when he's on vacation
The worst thing is that I'm in the same situation
[Chorus]
And all I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living if it's not with you
[Verse 2]
And Danny says we're living in a simulation
But he works in a petrol station (Selling petrol)
He says it all began with his operation
And I know you think you're sly, but you need some imagination
[Chorus]
And all I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living if it's not with you
All I do is sit and drink without you
If I choose, then I lose
Distract my brain from the terrible news
It's not living if it's not with you
I can't stop sweating or control my feet
Got a twenty-stone monkey that I just can't beat
I can stage a situation, but I just can't eat
And there's a feeling, you're replacing embrace
[Chorus]
It's true that all I do is sit and think about you
If I knew what you'd do
Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes
It's not living if it's not with you
All I do is sit and drink without you
If I choose, then I lose
Distract my brain from the terrible news
It's not living if it's not with you
[Outro]
Oh, and Johnny got a job in a bank, I think
And he spent the time trying to pack in the drinks for me
I feel sick and I know that I'll lose, but
It's not living if it's not with you
(It's not, it's not)
It's not living if it's not with you
(It's not, it's not)
(It's not, it's not)
It's not living if it's not with you
(It's not living if it's not with you)
(It's not, it's not)
(It's not, it's not)
(It's not, it's not)
(It's not living if it's not with you)
About
“It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)” is an upbeat song that depicts Matty Healy’s struggle with heroin addiction. It is similar to how “UGH!” from The 1975’s second album discussed Healy’s cocaine addiction. The juxtaposition of the upbeat, pop melody with the deeper, sadder undertone of the lyrics is a primary ethos of The 1975 and is seen throughout their discography.
Healy told Billboard that “It’s Not Living” was the “big heroin one”:
I don’t have things that I want to write about that aren’t exactly what I feel day by day. The problem I have now is that this is my truth, and I feel like I can’t negotiate properly with the world if I can’t tell the truth.
Healy spent a seven-week stay at a Barbados rehab centre in late 2017, and has been clean since.
On 21st June, 2018, Matty teased lyrics via Twitter.
The band also teased the single with a poster, as they have done for other singles from their third album.
“It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” premiered on 18 October 2018 on BBC Radio 1 as Hottest Record in the World.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Healy talked about the song with Annie Mac prior to its debut on BBC Radio 1:
- 10.Inside Your Mind
- 11.It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)
- 13.Mine
- 16.102
