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One World (Not Three) Lyrics
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
It's a subject we rarely mention
But when we do we have this little invention
By pretending they're a different world from me
I shelve my responsibility
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
The third world breathes our air tomorrow
We live on the time we borrow
In our world there's no time for sorrow
In their world there is no tomorrow
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
Lines are drawn upon the world
Before we get our flags unfurled
Whichever one we pick
It's just a self deluding trick
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
I don't want to bring a sour note
Remember this before you vote
We can all sink or we all float
'Cause we're all in the same big boat
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
It may seem a million miles away
But it gets a little closer everyday
It may seem a million miles away
But it gets a little closer everyday
It may seem a million miles away
But it gets a little closer everyday
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
But when we do we have this little invention
By pretending they're a different world from me
I shelve my responsibility
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
We live on the time we borrow
In our world there's no time for sorrow
In their world there is no tomorrow
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
Before we get our flags unfurled
Whichever one we pick
It's just a self deluding trick
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
Remember this before you vote
We can all sink or we all float
'Cause we're all in the same big boat
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
For all of us
One world is enough
For all of us
For all of us
But it gets a little closer everyday
It may seem a million miles away
But it gets a little closer everyday
It may seem a million miles away
But it gets a little closer everyday
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
One world
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While the general sentiments are timeless, some of the terms and details rest with the time the song was written in 1981.
During the Cold War. when much of the world's power was divided into either the Soviet or the American spheres of influence, the "third world" referred to the rest of the world, which consisted largely (but not entirely) of countries at an unfortunately lower level of prosperity. The song's central point is that the term itself suggests a distance between the listeners (in the USA, UK, etc.) and many of the world's less fortunate people and the song tries to correct that.
In that spirit, it further suggests that both national borders (lines on the world) and national identity (flags) create divisions that create conflict rather than compassion.
Today, there is concern regarding carbon emissions; in 1981, the line "the third world breathes our air tomorrow" was motivated by other forms of air pollution by which industry in the "developed" countries could directly harm people located around the world. Smog, acid rain, and the destruction of the ozone layer were concerns at that time which received attention to some extent or another. The details are different with carbon dioxide but the theme is similar.
This song is one of several examples of the band showing its consciousness of problems that society might aspire to address. If we look back, perhaps music played an identifiable role in helping with some of those issues. If not, at least the songwriters' hearts were in the right place.
Awesome song. The lyrics are obviously about how we speak of "third world" countries that need our help. Well they're not in a different world so we should stop dividing ourselves a help eachother.
Then you get some more reggae in 'One World (Not Three)', a deep introspective song in "Secret Journey' which is hardly great but is hardly crap, either (I always love it when some sharp pretentious song from Stingie is backed with an equally sharp rhythm support from the band - it makes the message oh so much more distinctive) … [George Starostin]
This song is not only incredible but shows just what an excellent drummer Stewart Copeland is.
has a calming influence on me.
has a calming influence on me.
In our world there's no time for sorrow In their world there is no tomorrow
Ouch! What true words!
I got to see the reunion tour. This was the song I wish they'd play. Love the Synchronicity Tour rendition. Stew rules!