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The Only One Lyrics
I am the only one that thinks I'm going crazy
I don't know what to do
I am the only son of a pastor I know
who does the things I do
but if it was you I don't think that it would matter
oh and if it was true then I just wouldn't matter
I was amazed at the colour and shapes you drew
a paper cut for two
I am the only son of a bastard I know
that knows the bastard too
because it was you I called it a different story
but if I was you I'd make this a simpler story
I bet you did what you did when you did it
to do it again by the time you were done with it
I bet you did what you did when you did
just to tell every friend that you have that the Lord did it
I finally knew that I simply couldn't matter
you finally knew that you simply couldn't matter
I guess that it's true you never know
the passive power of the truth so cut me loose
if I could write another phrase
we might be better off this way
but there's no use
no there's no use
I don't know what to do
I am the only son of a pastor I know
who does the things I do
but if it was you I don't think that it would matter
oh and if it was true then I just wouldn't matter
a paper cut for two
I am the only son of a bastard I know
that knows the bastard too
because it was you I called it a different story
but if I was you I'd make this a simpler story
to do it again by the time you were done with it
I bet you did what you did when you did
just to tell every friend that you have that the Lord did it
you finally knew that you simply couldn't matter
I guess that it's true you never know
the passive power of the truth so cut me loose
if I could write another phrase
we might be better off this way
but there's no use
no there's no use
Song Info
Submitted by
cartoon Violence On Mar 11, 2009
More Manchester Orchestra
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i guess no one actually knows what existentialism is. it's kinda weird that everyone is throwing out that word cause its not the belief that nothing matters. it's the belief that it is up to you to define meaning for your own life. soren kirkegaard, the father of that movement, is quoted saying, "the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, an idea for which i can live and die."
Oh my. Hull's voice in this is just so ridiculously good....especially at the start. This album is going to be 100% incredible.
what are people's interpretations to this song?
this album is supposed to be andy talking about his feelings for real not obscuring them through fictional characters.
so if that's true, why does he say, "the only son of a bastard i know / that knows the bastard too" when he has sleeper 1972 which is a song about his dad if he were to die, and also in the live version of "100 dollars" on spin.com he talks about how both his parents gave him 100 dollars at their house and whatnot, which means theyd have to have some type of good relationship.
i don't know. i'm just confused as to what this song and i've got friends are all about.
Just because you have a bastard for a father doesn't mean you can't love him. I think that's what the "That knows the bastard too" line might mean. And the 100 dollars sounded to me like a housewarming gift. I think you would expect something a little more personal from your parents than a $100 bill. So I think the line means he's not very close to his dad because they have big differences and don't get along but he still cares about him. And the fact that that seems so odd is why he says he the only one...
Just because you have a bastard for a father doesn't mean you can't love him. I think that's what the "That knows the bastard too" line might mean. And the 100 dollars sounded to me like a housewarming gift. I think you would expect something a little more personal from your parents than a $100 bill. So I think the line means he's not very close to his dad because they have big differences and don't get along but he still cares about him. And the fact that that seems so odd is why he says he the only one he knows who does that.
there is also the literal meaning of bastard to think about.
there is also the literal meaning of bastard to think about.
if he's the son of a bastard, wouldn't that mean his dad is the bastard, therefore meaning his father is the one without a father, not him? ie: his grandpa wasnt around for his dad. which would make some sense lyrically, because a lot of bastard sons have bastard kids because their fathers werent there for them, so they arent there for their kids because they dont know what its like? basically he's saying it's rare for someone without a father to be a real father. that's what i gathered at least.
if he's the son of a bastard, wouldn't that mean his dad is the bastard, therefore meaning his father is the one without a father, not him? ie: his grandpa wasnt around for his dad. which would make some sense lyrically, because a lot of bastard sons have bastard kids because their fathers werent there for them, so they arent there for their kids because they dont know what its like? basically he's saying it's rare for someone without a father to be a real father. that's what i gathered at least.
@zacharygarren -- his Dad has been around though, so I think that's false.
@zacharygarren -- his Dad has been around though, so I think that's false.
Whilst I doubt Andy is gonna be obscure about his feelings, that doesn't mean he can't be obscure in how he portrays them.
Whilst I doubt Andy is gonna be obscure about his feelings, that doesn't mean he can't be obscure in how he portrays them.
A lot of this album also seems to be about his barren relationship with God, so it might be religious imagery in here. However, I agree somewhat with krikitarmy.
A lot of this album also seems to be about his barren relationship with God, so it might be religious imagery in here. However, I agree somewhat with krikitarmy.
I am just going to comment of the "son of a pastor I know who does the things I do." Pastor's kids, or PKs in the Christian community have a reputation of rebelling from God. Andy has obviously not gone away from God, and most of his lyrics are inspired by God in some way. I think he might be making a point that is opposite of what it seems to most readers. I think he's saying that most pastor's kids are away from God, and he is not. Just an idea.
That's actually really helpful. I kinda thought this, but yeah, that's a very good way of putting it - which I think is more true than montyg12345's view; since most songs are indeed religious in some aspect.
That's actually really helpful. I kinda thought this, but yeah, that's a very good way of putting it - which I think is more true than montyg12345's view; since most songs are indeed religious in some aspect.
@curbsquerl One thing though, is that so many of his songs are about his difficulty with his faith. Just off the top of my head, the lyric "Jesus don't come round unless we pray each day for 500 days" sung in an angry staccato, speaks of someone that isn't as close to god as you imply.
@curbsquerl One thing though, is that so many of his songs are about his difficulty with his faith. Just off the top of my head, the lyric "Jesus don't come round unless we pray each day for 500 days" sung in an angry staccato, speaks of someone that isn't as close to god as you imply.
completely agree with mattwood24. andy hull as well as the rest of manchester are incredible musicians. easily one of my favorite bands ever. lookin so forward to the album.
oh and instead of "I was amazed that I called her in shades for you" i hear "I was amazed at the color and shapes you do"
that makes more sense, thanks.
that makes more sense, thanks.
I am the son of a pastor and I can bet I do the things he does :) and more.
I hear ya, I'm not the "only" son of a pastor, but I bet I have done quite a few things that he has. ha.
I hear ya, I'm not the "only" son of a pastor, but I bet I have done quite a few things that he has. ha.
This is a very complicated song. And I can't say that I really understand it. But I am going to pretend like I do and throw an idea out there. At least that might get some discussion about this song going.
The overall theme of this song is obviously confusion. Maybe that's why the lyrics take the course that they do, but it is talking about how confused he is about who is as a person. "I am the only one that thinks I am crazy." This is centered around the fact that he was brought up one way and became a completely different person than what was expected. "I am the only son of a pastor I know who does the things I do."
The second verse is the confusing part though. Anybody who knows anything about Andy Hull knows that his dad is his best friend so for him to say he is a bastard son is very confusing. But he throws in that "he knows the bastard too." He then follows with "because it was you I called it a different story, but if I was you I'd make this a simpler story." I think maybe what he is saying here is that he misplaces the blame for the things that he has done. He starts by saying "it was you." Maybe saying it was your fault. And then says "but if I was you I'd make this a simpler story." Maybe that is saying that the story isn't really that complicated. Everything is really my fault I have just been blaming others. In this case, I think that would mean he is calling himself the bastard. He created the mistake ridden person that he is but ignored himself (making himself an abandoned creater or a bastard).
....That might be a stretch and by all means....correct me.
I agree with most of what you have said, it is obviously a song about confusion and the rest is left in my opinion to take your own view of.
I agree with most of what you have said, it is obviously a song about confusion and the rest is left in my opinion to take your own view of.
He says he is the son of a bastard, meaning his dad is the bastard, and he knows his dad. Maybe he's saying it's good / ironic that his dad didn't turn out like his grandpa and abandon the family?
He says he is the son of a bastard, meaning his dad is the bastard, and he knows his dad. Maybe he's saying it's good / ironic that his dad didn't turn out like his grandpa and abandon the family?
I get a sort of existential vibe from the last verse, as if nothing really matters. I know that may be a bit of a literal interpretation, but it's how I envision it.
As if nothing really matters in the end* is what a meant to say. We all live, we all die, blah blah, that sorta thing.