Better Man
Producers
Find me at a quarter to three, cigarette in my hand
I'd be at every party, I wouldn't miss a chance
New friends again and again, gone when the morning comes
Demons I tried to defend, but I couldn't get enough
[Pre-Chorus: Luke & Ashton, Luke]
Fadin' away, fadin' away
Wake up to someone with nothing to say
I'd never change, thought I'd never change
Then you come and change it all
[Chorus: All]
With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
Darlin', all of my wrongs, they led me right to you
Wrapped in your arms, I swear I'd die for
Your love (Ooh), your love (Ooh), I'm a better, better man
[Post-Chorus: All]
Hmm-mmm, hmm-mmm
Hmm-mmm, hmm
[Verse 2: Luke & Michael]
Thought I'd found the highest of highs
You came and topped them all
You shine in the dead of the night
And I was the first to fall
Fadin' away, fadin' away
Wake up to someone with nothing to say
I'd never change, thought I'd never change
Then you come and change it all
[Chorus: All]
With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
Darlin', all of my wrongs, they led me right to you
Wrapped in your arms, I swear I'd die for
Your love (Ooh), your love (Ooh), I'm a better, better man
[Post-Chorus: All]
Hmm-mmm, hmm-mmm
Hmm-mmm, hmm
Hmm-mmm, hmm-mmm
Hmm-mmm, hmm
[Bridge: All, Luke]
You're the only one who could lock this wild heart up in chains
You're the only love that can make this bad man better
You're the only one who could lock this wild heart up in chains
You're the only love that can make this bad man better
[Breakdown: Luke, All]
With your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
Oh, with your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
All of my wrongs, they led me right to you
Wrapped in your arms, I swear I'd die for
Your love, your love, I'm a better, better man
With your love (Ooh), your love (Ooh), I'm a better, better man
With your love (Ooh), your love (Ooh), I'm a better, better man
Darlin', all of my wrongs, they led me right to you
Wrapped in your arms, I swear I'd die for
Your love (Your love), your love (Your love), I'm a better, better man
[Outro: All, Luke]
Hmm-mmm, hmm-mm
Hmm-mmm (Love), hmm (Your love)
Hmm-mmm (Love), hmm-mmm
(I'm a better, better man)
Hmm-mmm (Love), hmm-mmm (Your love)
Hmm-mmm (Love), hmm (Your love)
(I'm a better, better man)
About
“Better Man“ is track eight of 5 Seconds of Summer’s third studio album, Youngblood. The band sings about how dull and repetitive his life seems now that he is no longer with his lover. He has slipped into unhealthy habits such as smoking and one night stands – reference to “Moving Along.” He knows that it will take time to mend himself but he knows that she brought out the best in him and though he thinks he should be bitter, he still cares and would die for her and her love.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
From their Cocktail Chats (Episode 4):
Michael:
I remember coming into the studio, we wrote this with The Monsters and Strangerz, Andrew Watt and Ali Tamposi. Me, Luke and Ali had kind of started this idea from a piano, we were kinda still figuring a way around it and we didn’t wanna commit to an idea because Andrew Watt is crazy. It was really interesting writing a song about to be with someone else and how good it feels to be committed to someone.
Ashton:
The Young Lovell (Chap. 1.4) have written with us for a long time now so it was incredible to refuel the relationship with them. I really love the parts where the whole band got to play in them. It was our first solidification of our musical relationship with Andrew Watt. “Better Man” speaks to me in a way that sends me back to my high school days when I was in a funk band.
One thing I really enjoy on this record is the rhythms I get to play and I really love the melodic cadences, I really love the lyrics in this one.
Luke:
Like Ashton was talking about, really cool rhythms we haven’t really touched on before.
Before that, I was in a very self-destructive place: “Find me at a quarter to three, cigarette in my hand. All of my wrongs, they led me right to you, wrapped in your arms, I swear I’d die for your love.” Then it’s juxtaposed in the chorus, “With your love, I’m a better man.”
Calum:
It’s technically really well written. Props to Michael, Luke, Ali Tamposi, Monsters and Strangerz and Andrew Watt for writing this song. I think it’s a song that will resonate for our fans. We recorded it in Bon Jovi’s guitarist’s house.
- 1.Youngblood
- 3.Lie to Me
- 4.Valentine
- 5.Talk Fast
- 6.Moving Along
- 8.Better Man
- 9.More
- 11.Woke Up in Japan
- 12.Empty Wallets
- 13.Ghost of You
- 15.Meet You There
- 16.Babylon
- 18.Best Friend
- 19.Midnight
