One Headlight
The Wallflowers Lyrics
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That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well, they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
Of long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
I wondered why she hung around this place
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said, "It's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade"
But there's got to be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all is good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well, this place is old
It feels just like a beat up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well, it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes, I think I'd like to watch it burn
But I sit alone and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think of death, it must be killin' me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
The lyrics to The Wallflowers' song "One Headlight" are a melancholic reflection on loss and the hope for something better. The opening lines suggest a vague memory of a past event, likely the death of the singer's friend, as he reflects on the circumstances surrounding her passing. The singer seems to question why she stayed in a place that ultimately led to her demise. The verse takes on a dreamlike quality as the singer sets the scene at a funeral, watching the sunrise accompanied by the image of a long-broken arm of human law. The verse ends with the singer wondering why his friend died, implying a sense of injustice.
The chorus takes on a repetitive quality, with the repeated phrase "Come on try a little / Nothing is forever / There's got to be something better than in the middle / But me and Cinderella / We put it all together / We can drive it home with one headlight." This is the hopeful refrain that carries the theme of the song, suggesting that there is always a way forward, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be.
In the second verse, the singer seems to channel the voice of his lost friend, expressing a desire for something better and feeling trapped in a parade that she cannot break away from. The bridge of the song offers a moment of solace, as the singer envisions running away with someone until they are out of breath. The song ends on a dark note, with the final verse describing a place that smells of cheap wine and cigarettes, a place that the singer sometimes imagines burning.
Overall, the lyrics of "One Headlight" offer a poignant reflection on loss, hope, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
So long ago, I don't remember when
The singer recalls a time in the distant past
That's when they say I lost my only friend
The singer lost a dear friend
Well, they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
The friend supposedly died from heartbreak
As I listened through the cemetery trees
The singer reflects on his friend's funeral
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The singer witnessed the sunrise during the funeral
Of long broken arm of human law
The justice system seems flawed
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
The singer feels his friend's death was a tragic loss
I wondered why she hung around this place
The singer questions why his friend stayed in their town
Hey, come on try a little
The singer encourages someone to take a chance
Nothing is forever
The singer believes that everything changes
There's got to be something better than
The singer thinks that there must be another way
In the middle
The singer feels stuck in a rut
But me and Cinderella
The singer and his loved one are a team
We put it all together
The couple works together to overcome their problems
We can drive it home
The couple believes they can succeed
With one headlight
The couple faces setbacks but they persevere
She said, "It's cold
The female character speaks about a cold situation
It feels like Independence Day
The situation triggered feelings of hope and freedom
And I can't break away from this parade"
The female character feels unable to escape a negative pattern
But there's got to be an opening
The female character hopes for a solution
Somewhere here in front of me
The solution could be present in the current situation
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
The situation is challenging and unappealing
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
The female character sees hope in the horizon
Sayin' all is good and nothingness is dead
The hope symbolized by the sun brings positive assurance
We'll run until she's out of breath
The characters will keep going until they can't anymore
She ran until there's nothin' left
The female character is willing to give everything she has
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
The female character reaches a boundary and has to stop
Well, this place is old
The singer describes his town as worn-out
It feels just like a beat up truck
The town is rundown and in need of repair
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
The singer is unable to move on
Well, it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
The town has an unpleasant odor
This place is always such a mess
The town is messy and disorganized
Sometimes, I think I'd like to watch it burn
The singer entertains the idea of destruction
But I sit alone and I feel just like somebody else
The singer feels alienated and alone
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
The singer acknowledges his personal evolution
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
The singer feels stuck between a hopeless past and uncertain future
I think of death, it must be killin' me
The singer ponders the meaning of his life and mortality
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The singer interjects to grab attention
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jakob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariousgrauer7148
Lyrics:
So long ago I don't remember when
That's when they said I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broke heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
With the long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste
She always had a pretty face
I wondered why she hung around this place
Hey-ey-ey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
Got to be something better than in the middle
Me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said it's cold
It feels like independence day
And I can't break away from this parade
But there's got be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I've seen the sign up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all is good and nothingness is dead
We run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothing left
She hit the end, just her window ledge
Hey-ey-ey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than in the middle
But me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well this place is old
It feels just like a beat up truck
I turn the engine but the engine doesn't turn
Well it smells of cheap wine and cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn
I'm so alone
Feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dying dreams
I think her death, it must be killing me
Hey, hey, hey-ey-ey
Come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than in the middle
Me and Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
@2Mushy
97... I'm in the car, windows down, no AC, flying my hand in the wind while my mom's voice was singing along. Such beautiful times
@kvanniekerk3792
1997 was the year I turned 21. I also met my wife that year. a life time has passed and now I'm a father to a beautiful 4 year old daughter - she decided to make a grand , albeit late, appearance to life. Better late than never. Those years were carefree and simple compared to today.
seeing your name, my daughter's favourite response to most instructions is "I don't want to" - that made me smile.
@dmerced257
Got my first real job that year and blissfully unaware of how happy i was. 90's were the last good decade
@eddieperez615
I wish to make this exact memory in my children’s heads. I always sing along, and I’m still stuck in the 90s
@ashleywatkins1380
1997, I was 10. This was a good year for music!
@jakefaulk3812
hell ya man, I feel that all the way.
@martystankowski342
My wife passed away Nov 13 2019. This was our favorite road trip song. I miss you Marilyn, love you forever.
@franzantu7816
Marty Stankowski I am sorry about your wife. She will be in heaven's pearly gates, smiling and waiting for your arrival.
@rrsj3924
Bless you Marty. I'll think of y'all when I listen to this song.
@ryantighe4619
God bless you Marty. Hope you find happiness when you hear this. You will see her again!!!