This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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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.
I always believed this chorus was a comparison between two people's emotional equality and how it changed with time. Initially, the person comparing the two believes they shared similar light & love, but over time they drifted apart because one of them loses said light & love. The 10 & 2 part might refer to the almost opposite hand placement on a clock or moreso, a steering wheel. Basically, it's about two people involved in some sort of relationship who ultimately branch off from each other because of emotional changes in one or even both of them.