Only
Anthrax Lyrics


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Everything is perfect
Everything is sick, that's it
You can't tell me to stop it
You can't tell me not to quit, that's it

Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable

You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand

Clashing ways to live here
Compromise for me
I'm at both ends of the spectrum
You're somewhere in the between
Ah, come clean

Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable

You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand

Crucified, terrified, sacrifice, my whole life
My whole life, my whole life, my whole life
My whole life
If only
I can't contain myself




I can't contain myself
I just can't take myself

Overall Meaning

The song "Only" by Anthrax is a hard-hitting rock anthem that ultimately speaks to the difficulty of maintaining healthy relationships in a world that values selfishness and individualism above all else. The refrain of "Only" is especially poignant: "You would see if only / You hadn't taken things out of my hands / Only / You never wanted to understand." These lyrics suggest that the song's narrator is a victim of gaslighting, manipulation or emotional abuse by a partner or authority figure who refuses to acknowledge or validate their feelings.


At its core, "Only" is about the struggle to maintain autonomy and self-worth in a world that constantly threatens to undermine those things. The singer is frustrated by their partner's inability to see things from their perspective, and laments the ways in which they have been manipulated or taken advantage of. Throughout the song, the singer oscillates between periods of calm reflection and intense emotion, reflecting the unpredictable mood swings that often accompany mental health struggles.


Ultimately, "Only" is a powerful message about the importance of communication, empathy, and validation in any healthy relationship. The song warns against falling into patterns of abuse or manipulation, and encourages listeners to speak up for themselves and hold their partners accountable.


Line by Line Meaning

Everything is perfect
Everything is great, all is well without any issues


Everything is sick, that's it
Everything is amazing, so good that it's sickingly perfect


You can't tell me to stop it
No one can make me stop doing what I am doing


You can't tell me not to quit, that's it
No one can make me stop or give up on what I am doing


Revolve around yourself
Only care about yourself and not others


It's you and no one else
No one matters or should be considered, only yourself


Hard for me to stay
Difficult for me to remain consistent


Swinging moods that change
Emotions constantly fluctuate and change


From calmness to deranged
Emotions shift from being composed to being unstable


Unpredictable, unpredictable
Behavior is hard to anticipate or comprehend


You would see if Only
If only you had the ability to understand or see the situation from my perspective


You hadn't taken things out of my hands
If you hadn't interfered with my plans or taken control away from me


You never wanted to understand
You never had the desire to empathize or comprehend my actions and motives


Clashing ways to live here
Divergent ways of living that conflict with each other


Compromise for me
For the sake of the situation, meet me halfway and make adjustments


I'm at both ends of the spectrum
I am experiencing two conflicting extremes at the same time


You're somewhere in the between
You are in a position that is neutral or not fully aligned with either side


Ah, come clean
Confess and reveal the truth


Crucified, terrified, sacrifice, my whole life
My life has been filled with suffering, fear, and difficult sacrifices


If only
If only things were different or if only things had gone a different way


I can't contain myself
I am overwhelmed and cannot control my emotions


I just can't take myself
I am having difficulty dealing with my own emotions and feelings




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, DANIEL ALAN SPITZ, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOHN ROBERT BUSH, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Samurai

Everything is perfect
Everything is sick, that's it
You can't tell me to stop it
You can't tell me not to quit, that's it
Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable
You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Clashing ways to live here
Compromise for me
I'm at both ends of the spectrum
You're somewhere in the between
Ah, come clean
Revolve around yourself
It's you and no one else
Hard for me to stay
Swinging moods that change
From calmness to deranged
Unpredictable, unpredictable
You would see if
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Only
You hadn't taken things out of my hands
Only
You never wanted to understand
Crucified, terrified, sacrifice, my whole life
My whole life, my whole life, my whole life
My whole life
If only
I can't contain myself
I can't contain myself
I just can't take myself



All comments from YouTube:

Godflesh - Jesu

Whoever gave John Bush the go ahead to join Anthrax, I salute you solidly.

David Baltazar

A long time ago he got offered the SINGER spot with METALLICA but at the time he was the SINGER for ARMORED SAINT
He said when ANTHRAX offered him the spot he said he wasn't going to let the same thing happen again

Cody Ringer

You mean going from Thrash to soft rock?

Jon Pugh

Hell yeah...I always loved Anthrax but John Bush made them a totally different animal.

Cody Ringer

@Jon Pugh John bush made the band weak. They went from thrash to trash. Metal to grunge. They literally had to slow the tempo down so John could keep up. Greater of two evils proves it. Joey Belladonna is by far the superior vocalist and lyricist. He has better range, rhythm and tone. John could not sing Medusa, Lone Justice, I am the Law, ect. Even Joey's newest two albums with anthrax were better than "the sound of white noise" and "we've come for you all." "Breath Lightning", "Blood Eagle Wings" "The Devil that You know" are far superior to "Only"

Jon Pugh

@Cody Ringer I would have to disagree, and not because I think that Bush a the greatest singer, but because he took the sound away from the rap type stuff that I was getting tired of. Not an argument but personal opinion and taste. Don't get me wrong, I almost bought a shirt today that I had in 1987 from the among the living album.
Fuck it , I think I'll just go ahead and purchase another Pantera shirt, and then I know who the band really is.!!!

13 More Replies...

hemipirate

One of the best metal songs ever made!!!!

Spec1

I agree this and Painkiller are probably my favorite metal songs of all time.

Dayna Webb

This was my Anthrax. This came out while I was in high school and it was amazing. Loved their previous albums, but this still remains my favorite.

Alex Farley's Variety Channel

One of the most recognizable intro drum beats in all of heavy metal music. Once you hear it, you know it's this song...in a very Judas Priest - "Painkiller" kind of way.

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