The Onceler Lyrics
left in my own way
just can't let the past
go stop the get away
like I knew so much
couldn't wait to leave
now I laugh it off
just to get wrong
the onceler
and you can't break my fall
why'd I turn on me
was it not enough
or too much to take
indifference lives
sleep walks alone
next to you a phone call
you never made
once hurt
and you can't break my fall
and I'll say it again
it's blame that feeds you
and shame that kills me
I said it before
and I'll bleed it again
not forevermore
once you know the score
and you can't break my fall
and I'll bleed it again
not forevermore
once you know the score
I think that the title of this song refers to the character the Once-ler in the Dr. Suess children's book "The Lorax". In this book, the Once-ler spent all of his life doing one thing (killing trees) only to ultimately end up regretting it. Therefore, the Once-ler is a character who ends up regretting the actions of his past. I believe the narrator in this song uses this character as a description of himself, more likely than not a relationship situation. In the first verse, the narrator looks back upon his previous actions and ends with an acceptance that he was wrong. I believe that the main story behind this song involves a person in a relationship that has ended or is in bad times who realized in the end that he or she is (partially) at fault. I think this is a great song especially from a band who isn't known for having the deepest lyrics or most well-thought out songs. This song is a great effort and has been on my playlist since I first heard it 6 months ago.