Music / In the Lonely Hour

Following

Five singles were released for the album: "Lay Me Down", "Money on My Mind", "Stay with Me", "I'm Not the Only One" and "Like I Can". "Lay Me Down" was re-released in 2015.

Tracklist:

Default edition:

1. "Money on My Mind" (3:12)
2. "Good Thing" (3:21)
3. "Stay with Me" (2:52)
4. "Leave Your Lover" (3:08)
5. "I'm Not the Only One" (3:59)
6. "I've Told You Now" (3:30)
7. "Like I Can" (2:47)
8. "Life Support" (2:53)
9. "Not in That Way" (2:52)
10. "Lay Me Down" (4:13)

Deluxe edition:

1. "Restart" (3:52)
2. "Latch" (Acoustic) (3:43)
3. "La La La" (3:40)
4. "Reminds Me of You" (3:14)
5. "Make It to Me" (2:40)

Leave Your Tropes:

• Ambiguous Syntax: The final line of "Leave Your Lover" reads "Leave your lover/Leave him for me." Most would instinctively read it as "leave your lover and be with me," but The Reveal at the end of the music video (as well as the fact that Smith is gay) implies the meaning to be "leave your lover so that I can be with him."
• Boléro Effect: The album version of "Lay Me Down"—sadly, on the video version, this bit is toned down.
• Concept Album: In the Lonely Hour, as the title implies, focuses on a slow and sad-sounding sound because the songs focus on loneliness, sadness, and longing for love.
• Dramatic Choir Number: "Stay With Me" has a mellow gospel choir joining the chorus about pleading for the singer's fling to stay for the night.
• Face on the Cover: The cover shows Sam sitting with their eyes closed and their hands clasped near their face.
• Genre-Busting: While prominently pop-soul, the album also jumps around to incorporating influences of breakbeat ("Money on My Mind"), synthpop ("Life Support"), disco ("Restart"), alternative rock ("Like I Can"), folk ("Not in That Way" and "Leave Your Lover"), and soft rock ("I'm Not the Only One" and "Stay with Me").
• Longest Song Goes Last: "Lay Me Down" ends the album and is the longest at 4:13.
• Real Life Writes the Plot: The album In the Lonely Hour was inspired by when they were heartbroken after suffering from unrequited love.
• Wedding/Death Juxtaposition: The music video for "Lay Me Down" takes place at a cathedral during a funeral for Sam's husband. Midway through the video, the scene transitions to a flashback of their wedding at the same cathedral.
• A Wild Rapper Appears!: A$AP Rocky in the remix of "I'm Not the Only One".
• Wham Line: From "I'm Not the Only One":
  You say I'm crazy
  Cause you don't think I know what you've done
  But when you call me baby
  I know I'm not the only one