One of a Kind

My InterpretationI think the song is about finding one's way in life socially. Many songs on "Meds" are about mental disorders or illness and I think this songs blend in on the part of social interaction, being special, or just being different.
He's from "top of the world" - he's good, or special or superior to others in some way - but he "gets nothing done", at least can't reach his targets.
"back of the class is where I was" - keeping a low profile, "keeping quiet, playing dumb" - trying not to attract attention. although the image of school is suggesting itself, it could also be a metaphor for life in general and him hiding.
"I'm on a race, it's killing time" - referring to the race of life, he has no goals. there's no goal, no finish, just the race he got to race without the prospect of some sort of fulfillment.
"I don't need yours, I keep it with mine" - he doesn't want pity. He came to accept his existence and life as it is, an he doesn't want any compassion.
"Two of a kind and no one home" - this could either point to a needlessness of relationships or to a bipolar disorder, as implied in "Meds".
"I'm in a crowd and I'm all alone" - whether there are people around or not, there's still no one able to understand him, to give him the feeling of being understood, bcs he's one of a kind.
"into the void" - life doesn't really make much sense to him. and all the things that normally make life worth living just make him "annoyed".
"I am one" - He is ONE. he doesn't fit into a collective. he doesn't blend in with others. there's nobody comparable to him. He is one of a kind, unique, special.
but he is. It's no coincident that the chorus repeats the words "I am" that often. He is. He exists. It may not be the best of all existing. It may not be the best life possible. But it is. He is. And this is to acknowledge. Whether it's good or bad, he's on that "race and doing fine"

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General CommentSeveral songs from Meds were probably inspired by Fight Club (you know this book don't you?) This one in particular matches perfectly, in the book there was the character's alter ego that represented everything the character wanted to be, "You possess every trait that I lack" kinda thing until of course it came out of control but before that it was just ahead of the character and he couldn't keep up with it. For those who're interested. other songs are Space Monkey(the idea of making the "keeping the population up and producing people without any purpose" stuff the main goal in life), One of a Kind (the idea that no one's unique and special those who know will figure out) and then there's Pierrot the Clown (however, one can argue with that one but I'm not sure either I can just see some similarities) and now that I think about it Follow the Cops Back Home can also be interpreted in conformity with Fight Club. Oh wow

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My InterpretationI think the song is about the problem: How to deal with having come so far on your own but still having people around you who want to tell you what to do.

The protagonist has reached the top of where he always wanted to be, but 'these skies are breaking' are referring to how far he can fall.

He was once in a place where he felt more comfortable, but now he's up there on top of the world where there's only the 'void' around him.

And he has reached some level of success, but the people around him are only thinking about profit (cold) and if he does not comply or flies too high, either the people around him will burn him or he will burn out.

I'm thinking of the Ikarus story, but in this song, the protagonist has reached a better level of understanding before getting burned. So he's able to act as a mentor figure to others telling them what he has achieved.

And he will keep doing what he does best, even if that means being alone.

He won't trade goals 'I don't need yours I'll keep it with mine,' because he knows he has to stay true to himself. 'I wanna try but I get annoyed' means he wants to go on but there are many people around who wanna tell him what is best for him that it gets really hard to continue doing their own thing. Because they are one of a kind and only they can achieve their goal.

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General CommentWOAH first one comment
I can't believe no one has commented on this truly awesome song!
If anyone could tell me the meaning that would be great

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General Commentreally! I didn't think Brian had a son! if he has i'm shocked! REALLY SHOCKED!

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General CommentYeah, a boy called Cody born last Oct to his partner Helena Berg. Heard the rumors but he confirmed it in a few interviews during the Meds release publicity.

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General CommentThis songs could refer to a person that is living in his/her own terms for life and is more realistic than people that looks forward to socialize to feel approved and sheltered for people acceptance.
"On top of the world and you get nothing done" is a sentence defining how there are people that looks more for a group belonging for not being labeled even when they could feel empty inside than be faithful to their own desires. The kind of person that is surrendered by social schemes but deep inside still values and idolatre the ones who break up the rules and follow their own thoughts.Stereotypes in resume word.

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General Commenti am like one of kind, everyone is diferant from me... so this song really gets through to me, how tough life can get sometimes even when you don't realise it so much

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General Comment"I don't need yours i'll keep it with mine"

"I'll Keep It With Mine" is a song by bob dylan:

bobdylan.com/songs/…

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General CommentI wish I didn't relate so much to every single word of this lyric.

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