One Way
Express Lyrics
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You're a liar and you're a cheat
And I don't know why
I let you do these things to me
My friends keep telling me
That you ain't no good
But oh, they don't know
That I'd leave you if I could
And I'm stuck like glue
Cause I ain't never
I ain't never, I ain't never, no, no (loved a man)
(The way that I, I love you)
Some time ago I thought
You had run out of fools
But I was so wrong
You got one that you'll never lose
The way you treat me is a shame
How could ya hurt me so bad
Baby, you know that I'm the best thing
That you ever had
Kiss me once again
Don't ya never, never say that we we're through
Cause I ain't never
Never, Never, no, no (loved a man)
(The way that I, I love you)
I can't sleep at night
And I can't even fight
I guess I'll never be free
Since you got, your hooks, in me
Whoa, oh, oh
Yeah! Yeah!
I ain't never loved a man
I ain't never loved a man, baby
Ain't never had a man hurt me so bad
No
Well this is what I'm gonna do about it
The lyrics to Express's song "One Way" depict a person who is in a toxic and abusive relationship, but feels unable to leave. The singer acknowledges that their partner is a heartbreaker, a liar, and a cheat, and questions why they allowed themselves to be treated this way. Despite their friends warning them about the partner's true nature, the singer is unable to break free from the hold their partner has over them.
The song expresses the singer's realization that they are stuck in this unhealthy relationship, feeling uptight and trapped like glue. They admit to never having loved a man like they love the partner, and even though they had hoped they were no longer the fool, they acknowledge their mistake. The partner's actions are a shame, hurting the singer deeply, while the singer believes they are the best thing the partner ever had.
The lyrics imply that the singer is still hopeful for the relationship to work, as they ask the partner not to say that they are through and to kiss them once again. However, unable to sleep at night and feeling powerless to fight against the partner's manipulations, they express the unlikely possibility of ever being free from the hold the partner has over them.
Overall, "One Way" by Express portrays the emotional complexity and inner conflict faced by someone trapped in an abusive relationship, grappling with their love for the partner despite their mistreatment.
Line by Line Meaning
You're a no good heart breaker
You are someone who breaks hearts and is not worth trusting
You're a liar and you're a cheat
You deceive and betray others
And I don't know why
I cannot understand the reason behind my actions
I let you do these things to me
I allow you to treat me in this way
My friends keep telling me
The people I trust advise me constantly
That you ain't no good
They believe you are unreliable
But oh, they don't know
However, they lack knowledge about
That I'd leave you if I could
If it were possible, I would end our relationship
I guess I'm uptight
I suppose I am tense and anxious
And I'm stuck like glue
I am trapped and unable to break free
Cause I ain't never
Because I have never
I ain't never, I ain't never, no, no (loved a man)
I have never, absolutely never, experienced love for a man like this before
(The way that I, I love you)
The intensity of my love for you cannot be compared to any other
Some time ago I thought
At some point in the past, I believed
You had run out of fools
You had exhausted all your options for deceiving people
But I was so wrong
Yet, I was completely mistaken
You got one that you'll never lose
You found someone whom you will always have under your control
The way you treat me is a shame
The manner in which you handle me is disgraceful
How could ya hurt me so bad
In what way could you cause me such immense pain
Baby, you know that I'm the best thing
Darling, you are aware that I am the greatest thing
That you ever had
You have never had anything better than me
Kiss me once again
Give me one more kiss
Don't ya never, never say that we we're through
Never, ever declare that our relationship is over
Cause I ain't never
Because I have never
Never, Never, no, no (loved a man)
Ever, absolutely never, felt such love for a man before
(The way that I, I love you)
The depth of my affection towards you cannot be matched
I can't sleep at night
I am unable to rest during the night
And I can't even fight
I cannot even defend myself
I guess I'll never be free
I suppose I will never be liberated
Since you got, your hooks, in me
Because you have a strong hold on me
Whoa, oh, oh
Expressing surprise or exasperation
Yeah! Yeah!
Expressing excitement or agreement
I ain't never loved a man
I have never truly loved a man before
I ain't never loved a man, baby
I have never loved a man, my darling
Ain't never had a man hurt me so bad
I have never experienced such deep emotional pain caused by a man
No
Absolutely not
Well this is what I'm gonna do about it
This is my plan of action to address the situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronnie Shannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind