2 of Liam Payne’s Favorite One Direction Songs That He Co-Wrote With Louis Tomlinson

By the time One Direction was working on their third album Midnight Memories from 2013, the group had more creative control over their music and were writing more of the songs. Harry Styles had co-written “Right Now” with Ryan Tedder, along with “Happily,” “Something Great” and their hit ballad “Story of My Life,” which included contributions from each member. Niall Horan also co-wrote “Don’t Forget Where You Belong,” and Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson teamed up, penning seven more tracks.

Before Midnight Memories, Payne also co-wrote three songs on the group’s 2011 debut Up All Night—”Taken,” “Everything About You,” and “Same Mistakes,” with Styles, Horan, Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. Payne and bandmates also co-penned “Last First Kiss,” “Back for You,” and “Summer Love” from their follow-up Take Me Home in 2012.

Payne and Tomlinson also co-wrote a majority of the band’s fourth album Four in 2014 with songwriters Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Jamie Scott.

Throughout his time with One Direction, Payne’s contributions spanned the group’s beginning through the end, but there were two songs he was most proud of. Here’s a look behind two of Payne’s favorite One Direction songs, which he co-wrote with Tomlinson.

[RELATED: The Meaning Behind “Story of My Life,” a Turning Point for One Direction]

“Better Than Words,” From Midnight Memories (2013)

Written by Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Jamie Scott

One Direction’s 2013 album, Midnight Memories, closes on the electric “Better Than Words.” Co-written with Tomlinson, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, and Jamie Scott, who was there for the group’s first songwriting session and co-wrote “Stole My Heart and “More Than This” from their 2011 debut Up All Night, “She’s Not Afraid” and “C’mon C’mon” off 2012 follow-up Take Me Home and a majority of Midnight Memories.

The track, according to Payne, was nearly forgotten at first. “That whole song was written about song titles,” said Payne. “When I write with the boys, we never write anything down, and we have to try to remember it. There was a point in the middle of the night where we totally forgot the whole song [‘Better Than Words’], and we were like, ‘Ugh, what did we start with?’ And we were on a bus at like three in the morning in Manchester or somewhere and me, John, and Julian couldn’t remember the whole song we’d just written, which was quite good.”

Better than words, more than a feeling
Crazy in love, dancing on the ceiling
Every time we touch, I’m all shook up
You make me wanna-, how deep is your love?
God only knows

Ooh, I don’t know how else to sum it up
‘Cause words ain’t good enough
Ooh, there’s no way I can explain your love, no
Ah-ooh, I don’t know how else to sum it up
‘Cause words ain’t good enough
Ooh, I can’t explain your love, no
It’s better than words

Better than words, you drive me crazy
Someone like you, always be my baby
Best I ever had, hips don’t lie
You make me wanna-, one more night
Irreplaceable
Crazy, we’re crazy

“What a Feeling” From Made in the A.M. (2015)

Written by Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Daniel Bryer, Mike Needle, and Jamie Scott

For One Direction’s fifth and final album Made in the A.M., Payne co-wrote four more tracks with Tomlinson, including “End of the Day,” “Long Way Down,” the closing “History,” and his favorite “What a Feeling,” about a love that’s just out of his grasp. “That was a big one that me and Louis sat and wrote together,” said Payne. “It just kinda came together. It was inspired by a Fleetwood Mac sound. It’s just a nice driving jam—imagine driving down the coast.”

In the song, Payne and Tomlinson switch off singing lyrics. Payne sings in the first and second verses with Tomlinson in the first pre-chorus. The entire group sings chorus with other members taking on other lines through the remainder of the song.

Through the wire, through the wire, through the wire
I’m watching her dance, her dress is catching the light
In her eyes, there’s no lies, no lies
There’s no question, she’s not in a disguise

With no way out and a long way down
Everybody needs someone around
But I can’t hold you too close now
Through the wire, through the wire

What a feeling to be right here beside you now
Holding you in my arms
When the air ran out and we both started running wild
The sky fell down
But you’ve got stars, they’re in your eyes
And I’ve got something missing tonight
What a feeling to be a king beside you, somehow
I wish I could be there now

Photo: Louis Tomlinson (l) and Liam Payne on ‘Daybreak’ TV show, London, September 13, 2011 (Steve Meddle/Shutterstock)