This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Of all us he had to know he'd never grow
He'd never climb, he'd never love like the love I know
When I was two and he was ten they carried me
Through holograms they twisted into cosmic seas
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
If gathering is all we need to change the wind
For anything to die it needs first to begin
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, saw your future is not burning so bright
But if we live too long you'll live less like mine
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, if humans breed hate, love and lies would be traits of mine
But I was of the future, past and present time
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
He'd never climb, he'd never love like the love I know
When I was two and he was ten they carried me
Through holograms they twisted into cosmic seas
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
If gathering is all we need to change the wind
For anything to die it needs first to begin
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, saw your future is not burning so bright
But if we live too long you'll live less like mine
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, if humans breed hate, love and lies would be traits of mine
But I was of the future, past and present time
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
Lyrics submitted by Polaroidskies, edited by Lifeofgold
Once Was One Lyrics as written by John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
At first, it sounds like it's about an older brother/relative/friend(?) that died young. The line "We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off" seems to be about the idea that everyone dies eventually, which Gourley also discusses in other songs and on other albums. Can't say anything about the gorillas or spacemen.
But then, the part "Of all us he had to know he'd never grow / He'd never climb, he'd never love like the love I know" makes it sound like it was a suicide rooted in hopelessness or low self-esteem, etc. Particularly low-self esteem because "of all us" makes it sound like the thought of never growing or changing is only seen in the mind of that person.
The lines "In time, saw your future is not burning so bright / But if we live too long you'll live less like mine" explains the logic behind a suicide. The person might have killed themselves because they couldn't cope with the idea that they would never achieve their dreams or meet their own standards. This type of thinking could easily be attributed to low self-esteem or learned helplessness.
Specifically, "But if we live too long you'll live less like mine" can be simplified to "Your dreams will only drift further away the longer you live." Once again, this is the logic attributed to the suicide, as thought by the victim.
I wouldn't say it was suicide when the person in question was 10 (and Gourley was 2), but Gourley is just pointing out the age difference when he says "When you were ten and I was two." Really, that could just be a device for the purpose of writing good lyrics, instead of simply saying "oh hey, he was eight years older than me." If it is about suicide, it probably would have happened later.
Just speculation really, but I think it makes some sense.