You've heard it. That deep, gravelly baritone rumbling through your phone speakers while a video of someone failing spectacularly at a "life hack" plays. Or maybe it’s a clip of a professional athlete tripping over their own feet. The song is "Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man, but the world knows it by that one core, inescapable truth: I'm only human after all. It’s more than just a catchy hook from 2016. It has become the definitive anthem for our collective imperfection in an era where everyone is trying to look perfect.
Honestly, it’s kind of funny how a blues-rock track from a tattooed guy from Uckfield, England, became the universal soundtrack for being a mess. Rory Graham—the man behind the Rag'n'Bone Man moniker—wrote something that tapped into a very specific nerve. We’re tired. We’re exhausted by the pressure to have the right opinion, the right career, and the perfect aesthetic.
The Rag'n'Bone Man Origin Story
Before it was a meme, "Human" was a massive breakout hit. Released in July 2016, it didn’t just climb the charts; it sat on them like a heavy weight. It hit number one in Austria, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. It eventually went multi-platinum in the UK and the US. But why?
If you look at the lyrics, Graham isn't just making excuses. He’s actually pushing back against people who expect him to be a prophet or a problem-solver. He sings about not being able to solve everyone’s problems or see through things like he’s got X-ray vision. "Don't ask my opinion, don't ask me to lie / Then beg for forgiveness for making you cry." That’s raw. It’s a rejection of the "savior complex" that celebrities often deal with, but it translated perfectly to regular people who are just trying to get through a Tuesday without losing their minds.
Rory Graham himself is an interesting dude. He started out in the hip-hop scene before moving into this soulful, gritty blues sound. He doesn't look like your typical pop star. He’s big, he’s bearded, and he’s covered in ink. That visual alone reinforced the message. He looked like a real person, not a polished product of a boy-band factory. When he rumbles out that he’s only human after all, you actually believe him.
Why the Song Exploded on TikTok and Reels
Algorithms love irony. The most interesting thing about the resurgence of this track is how it's used in short-form video content. You’ll see a video of a cat accidentally falling off a sofa, or a chef dropping a three-tier cake, and then—bam—the beat drops. "I'm only human..."
It serves as a digital shrug.
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In the early days of Instagram, everything was about the "grid." Everything had to be curated. Now, there’s a massive shift toward "low-stakes" content and "fails." We find comfort in seeing other people mess up because it validates our own daily struggles. Using I'm only human after all as a punchline is a way of saying, "Yeah, I messed up, but what did you expect? I'm not a robot."
There's also the "look-alike" trend. People who look vaguely like celebrities or historical figures often use the song to point out the resemblance, playfully acknowledging their "human" version of a famous face. It’s a versatile piece of media. It fits a tragic news story just as easily as it fits a video of a toddler painting the living room walls with spaghetti sauce.
The Psychological Hook: Why We Need This Reminder
Psychologically, the phrase "I'm only human" is a powerful defense mechanism. In clinical psychology, there's a concept called "self-compassion," popularized by researchers like Dr. Kristin Neff. It’s the idea that we should treat ourselves with the same kindness we’d show a friend.
When we say I'm only human after all, we are practicing a form of cognitive reframing. We are moving the goalposts from "perfection" to "existence."
- It lowers cortisol levels (probably).
- It stops the "shame spiral."
- It connects us to the "common humanity" element of mindfulness.
Think about the last time you made a mistake at work. Your heart sinks. You feel like an idiot. Then, maybe a colleague says, "Hey, don't worry about it, we’re only human." The tension breaks. The song captures that exact moment of release. It’s a plea for empathy in a world that is increasingly quick to judge and slow to forgive.
Misconceptions About the Lyrics
A lot of people think the song is a "get out of jail free" card for bad behavior. It’s really not. If you listen to the verses, there’s a lot of talk about "looking in the mirror" and "the prophets and the charlatans."
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Graham is actually critiquing the way we look for answers in all the wrong places. He’s saying that he’s just as flawed as the person asking him for help. It’s a song about humility, not just about making mistakes. It’s about the limits of human capability. We can’t fix the world's problems individually, and we certainly can’t do it if we’re pretending to be something we aren't.
The "After All" Part Matters
That little tag at the end—"after all"—is the kicker. It implies a previous attempt to be something else. It suggests that we tried to be the hero, the perfect parent, or the flawless employee, and we failed. The "after all" is the realization that comes after the effort. It’s the sigh at the end of a long day.
Impact on Pop Culture and Beyond
The song has been covered a thousand times. Pentatonix did a version. It’s been featured in trailers for movies and video games (like Mass Effect: Andromeda). Each time it appears, it brings that same weight.
But it’s the AI-generated covers that are truly weird. Have you heard the SpongeBob SquarePants version? Or the one where it sounds like a different famous singer? There is a deep irony in using Artificial Intelligence to sing a song about being only human after all. It’s like the machines are mocking us, or maybe they’re just trying to fit in. Either way, it proves the song's melody is so strong it works in almost any context.
How to Actually Apply This "Human" Logic
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the digital noise or the pressure to perform, there are a few ways to take the "Rag'n'Bone Man approach" to life. It’s not about being lazy; it’s about being realistic.
- Acknowledge the Burnout: If you’re pushing for 110%, remember that 100% is literally the maximum. Anything over that is a loan from your future health.
- Own the Fail: When you mess up, don't hide it. There’s a weird kind of power in being the first person to say, "Yeah, I blew that one. I'm only human." It takes the ammunition away from anyone who wants to criticize you.
- Stop Searching for Gurus: The song warns against putting people on pedestals. Your favorite influencer, your boss, that "perfect" person on LinkedIn—they’re all dealing with the same basic human hardware you are. They're just better at the lighting.
The Reality of the Music Industry
Let’s be real for a second. The music industry loves a "relatable" anthem because it sells. "Human" was a masterclass in branding. It took the soulful traditions of the past—think Bill Withers or Muddy Waters—and packaged it for a modern pop audience.
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But even if it was a commercial product, the sentiment was genuine. Rory Graham has spoken in interviews about the pressure of sudden fame and how he felt like he was being poked and prodded by the media. He wrote it because he felt like a specimen under a microscope. That’s a feeling a lot of us can relate to in the age of social media surveillance.
Moving Forward With Imperfection
We aren't going to stop being obsessed with perfection anytime soon. The filters will get better, the AI will get smarter, and the pressure to "optimize" every second of our lives will only grow. That’s exactly why songs like this stay relevant. They act as a pressure valve.
Next time you see a "perfect" life being projected at you through a screen, just hum that chorus. It’s a reminder that underneath the pixels and the prestige, there’s just a person who probably forgets to move their laundry to the dryer and gets stuck in traffic.
Practical Steps for Embracing Your "Human" Side
- Audit your feed. If you follow people who make you feel like you aren't "enough," hit unfollow. You don't need that.
- Practice "Good Enough"ing. Not every task requires your absolute best. Some things just need to be done.
- Be vocal about mistakes. Share a "fail" with a friend. It builds actual connection, unlike a "win" which often just builds envy.
- Listen to the full album. Rag'n'Bone Man's Human album actually has some other great tracks like "Skin" and "Grace" that dive deeper into these themes of vulnerability.
Stop trying to be an algorithm. You’re not a set of data points designed to maximize engagement. You’re a messy, biological accident with a weird sense of humor and a limited lifespan. Embrace it. You are, only human after all.
Actionable Insight: Start by identifying one area of your life where you are holding yourself to an impossible standard. Explicitly lower that bar this week. See if the world ends. (Spoiler: It won’t). Use that extra energy to do something that makes you feel alive rather than productive.