According to Bob Dylan's autobiographical Chronicles, Woody Guthrie gave his unpublished songs to Dylan but Bob was unable to get them from Guthrie's family (he tells a story about a reluctant babysitter).
Nora Guthrie's liner notes in Mermaid Avenue indicate that it was her intention that the songs be given to a new generation of musicians who would be able to make the songs relevant to a younger generation. She therefore contacted singer-songwriter Billy Bragg in spring 1995 about recording some unreleased songs by her father, folk singer Woody Guthrie. Most of the songs were written late in Guthrie's life when he was unable to record due to the motor impairments of Huntington's disease. By the 1990s, Woody Guthrie had become a "relic" to the MTV generation, and Nora sought to establish a different legacy for the musician. To Nora, Bragg was "the only singer I knew taking on the same issues as Woody." Bragg was concerned, however, that his fans would not realize that the songs were written by Guthrie when he performed them on tour, so he decided to record the album with another band.
Bragg contacted Tweedy and Bennett about co-recording the album while Wilco was on the European segment of their Being There tour. Bragg was particularly fond of Being There because their influences extended farther back than the 1950s. Although Tweedy was indifferent to the offer, Bennett was enthused about recording songs of one of his idols—Bennett's previous band Titanic Love Affair was named after a Billy Bragg lyric. A recording contract between Bragg and Wilco was signed after a show at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Bragg mostly recorded the politically-charged lyrics, while Tweedy preferred to record lyrics that showcased Guthrie as a "freak weirdo." The recording of Mermaid Avenue began on December 12, 1997, and was the topic of BBC's Man in the Sand documentary film.
Tempers flared between Bragg and Wilco after the album was completed. Bennett believed that Bragg was overproducing his songs, a sharp contrast to Wilco's sparser contributions. Bennett called Bragg about the possibility of remixing Bragg's songs, to which Bragg responded with "you make your record, and I'll make mine, fucker." Eventually Bragg sent copies of his recordings to Chicago for Bennett to remix, but Bragg refused to use the new mixes on the album. The two parties were unable to establish a promotional tour and quarreled over royalties and guest musician fees.
Despite these conflicts, the album was released on June 23, 1998, and sold over 277,000 copies. The album received rave reviews from Robert Christgau and Rolling Stone, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It also placed fourth on the Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1998 (right behind Bob Dylan's Live 1966).
I Was Born
Billy Bragg & Wilco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born at half past one, almost two in the morning
Now my birthday comes again and I don't know how old I am
Half past one or two or three, almost four in the morning
I was born at half past four, almost five in the morning
I was born at half past six, almost seven in the morning
How old am I, you ask of me? One year younger than I used to be
I was born at half past nine, almost ten in the morning
I was born at half past ten, almost 'leven in the morning
Today my age is tweedle and twee, I'm prettier than I used to be
Half past 'leven, half past 'leven, almost twelve in the morning
The verses of Billy Bragg & Wilco's "One by One" seem to describe the confusion and uncertainty that the singer feels regarding their own age as they approach their birthday. The repetition of the phrases "almost one/two/three/four/five/etc. in the morning" reflects the singer's feeling of not being able to pinpoint their exact age. The final verse, where the singer declares that their age is "tweedle and twee" (which means "slightly older than twenty") and that they are "prettier than I used to be" reflects the uncertainty and insecurity that many people might feel as they approach another birthday.
The song can also be read as a reflection on the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of youth. The constant refrain of the passing hours and the birth times suggests that time is constantly slipping away, like sand through one's fingers. The fact that the singer can't seem to figure out their age emphasizes the idea that age is a fluid concept and that our perception of it changes as we grow older.
Overall, "One by One" is a reflective and introspective song that touches on universal themes of time, aging, and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born at half past twelve, almost one in the morning
I was born in the wee hours of the morning, when the night is at its darkest and the world is still asleep
I was born at half past one, almost two in the morning
I came into this world when the night was starting to fade away and the first rays of dawn were just appearing
Now my birthday comes again and I don't know how old I am
As another year goes by, I am reminded that time waits for no one and that age is but a number
Half past one or two or three, almost four in the morning
I cannot keep track of time anymore, as the hours and minutes blur together and become meaningless
I was born at half past four, almost five in the morning
My birth occurred just as the day was starting to break, when the world was still sleepy and the air was cool and fresh
I was born at half past six, almost seven in the morning
I came into existence as the sun was starting to spread its warm rays across the land, signaling the start of a new day
How old am I, you ask of me? One year younger than I used to be
As the years pile up, I am grateful for each day that I am given and I celebrate the fact that I am still alive and kicking
Half past seven, half past eight, half past nine in the morning
The hours of the day flow by like a river, each one blending into the next until they become indistinguishable
I was born at half past nine, almost ten in the morning
My arrival was heralded by the sun being high in the sky and casting its golden light all around
I was born at half past ten, almost 'leven in the morning
As the day marches on, I am reminded that life is fleeting and that I must make the most of every moment
Today my age is tweedle and twee, I'm prettier than I used to be
As I grow older, I am determined to age gracefully and not let the passage of time dim my radiance and inner beauty
Half past 'leven, half past 'leven, almost twelve in the morning
The day is almost over, but there is still time to make a difference and leave a mark on the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY BRAGG, WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind