They changed their name to Finger Eleven for their breakthrough Tip, released on Mercury Records in Canada in 1997, and re-released by Wind-Up Records in the United States in 1998. The name Finger Eleven comes from an earlier version of the song Thin Spirits from the album Tip. Lead singer, Scott Anderson explains: "when everything is pushing you in one direction and your instinct drives you in another--that’s finger eleven."
A year later, drummer Rob Gommerman left the band and was replaced by Rich Beddoe. In 2000 they released The Greyest of Blue Skies. 2003's self-titled album Finger Eleven was a commercial success, spawning the single One Thing which reached #16 in the US. The band also recorded the song Slow Chemical for WWE superstar Kane and Daaam! (feat. Tha Alkaholiks) on the compilation album Loud Rocks.
Them vs. You vs. Me, was released on March 6, 2007 and contains the singles Paralyzer, Falling On, I'll Keep Your Memory Vague, and Talking To The Walls.
Their most recent album, Life Turns Electric was released on Oct 5, 2010. It featured singles Living in a Dream, Whatever Doesn't Kill Me, Stone Soul and finally Pieces Fit.
Band Line-up
* Scott Anderson (vocals)
* Rick Jackett (guitar)
* James Black (guitar)
* Sean Anderson (bass)
* Rich Beddoe (drums)
One Thing
Finger Eleven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I wasted the light
Between both these times
I drew a really thin line
It's nothing I planned
And not that I can
But you should be mine
Across that line
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
I promise I might
Not walk on by
Maybe next time
But not this time
Even though I know
I don't wanna know
Yeah I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
Even though I know
I don't wanna know
Yeah I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
Even though I know
I don't wanna know
Yeah I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
The lyrics of "One Thing" by Finger Eleven express a desire to know and understand that one important thing in life, and being willing to give up everything else for it. The song begins by setting the scene of the artist being restless and feeling as though they have wasted time, a feeling which is further emphasized by the line, "I drew a really thin line." However, there is one thing that the artist wants, and though they may not be able to plan for it, they believe that this thing should be theirs. The following lines, "If I traded it all, if I gave it all away for one thing, just for one thing," emphasize that the artist is willing to give up everything for this one important thing, and it is clear that this is a significant moment for them.
The song also touches on the fear of knowing too much, or knowing something that may be difficult to hear. While the artist admits, "I don't wanna know," it is clear that they believe that having the knowledge would still be worth the pain. In the end, the artist concludes that, "if I sorted it out, if I knew all about this one thing, wouldn't that be something," emphasizing the importance of this one thing in their life.
Overall, "One Thing" is a song about what it means to truly want something, and the lengths that one might go to get it. The song expresses a universal desire to understand the important things in life and a willingness to sacrifice everything else for that understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Restless tonight
Feeling agitated and unable to relax this evening
'Cause I wasted the light
Feeling restless because I wasted precious time earlier
Between both these times
The time between these two moments in my life
I drew a really thin line
I made a delicate and tenuous decision
It's nothing I planned
I did not intend for it to happen
And not that I can
I am unable to change it now
But you should be mine
I desire to be with you
Across that line
Taking a step beyond what is comfortable or expected
If I traded it all
If I gave up everything
If I gave it all away for one thing
If I sacrificed everything for one desire
Just for one thing
For the sake of fulfilling one desire
If I sorted it out
If I figured out everything about this one thing
If I knew all about this one thing
If I had complete understanding of this one desire
Wouldn't that be something
It would be quite remarkable
I promise I might
I cannot make a solid commitment, but I may consider it
Not walk on by
Not to ignore or miss the opportunity
Maybe next time
Perhaps in the future
But not this time
But not right now
Even though I know
Even though I am aware
I don't wanna know
I do not want to acknowledge it
Yeah I guess I know
But I suppose I am aware
I just hate how it sounds
I dislike the implications of it
If I traded it all
If I gave up everything
If I gave it all away for one thing
If I sacrificed everything for one desire
Just for one thing
For the sake of fulfilling one desire
If I sorted it out
If I figured out everything about this one thing
If I knew all about this one thing
If I had complete understanding of this one desire
Wouldn't that be something
It would be quite remarkable
If I traded it all
If I gave up everything
If I gave it all away for one thing
If I sacrificed everything for one desire
Just for one thing
For the sake of fulfilling one desire
If I sorted it out
If I figured out everything about this one thing
If I knew all about this one thing
If I had complete understanding of this one desire
Wouldn't that be something
It would be quite remarkable
Even though I know
Even though I am aware
I don't wanna know
I do not want to acknowledge it
Yeah I guess I know
But I suppose I am aware
I just hate how it sounds
I dislike the implications of it
If I traded it all
If I gave up everything
If I gave it all away for one thing
If I sacrificed everything for one desire
Just for one thing
For the sake of fulfilling one desire
If I sorted it out
If I figured out everything about this one thing
If I knew all about this one thing
If I had complete understanding of this one desire
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Written by: James Black, Scott Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LifeofaFatMan
LYRICS:
Restless tonight
'Cause I wasted the light
Between both these times
I drew a really thin line
It's nothing I planned
And not that I can
But you should be mine
Across that line
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
I promise I might
Not walk on by
Maybe next time
But not this time
Even though I know
I don't want to know
Yeah, I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
Even though I know
I don't want to know
Yeah, I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
Even though I know
I don't want to know
Yeah, I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
If I traded it all, if I gave it all away
For one thing, just for one thing
If I sorted it out, if I knew all about
This one thing wouldn't that be something
@theultimateduo9271
Thumbs up if you are searching for old songs you never heard in a long time and listening to this one.
@gevilzombozo
Right here miss music like this.
@vincentmusanti5000
There is something so raw about this song. The way he sings I think and the guitar bends. I haven't heard this in over 5 years and then heard it tonight at wawa so I asked the clerk what the song was. Now I'm here....
@asadfarookart
+TheUltimate Duo yes!
@sarahwigston1123
this song randomly popped into my head just now and got really excited and just had to listen to it, brings back sooo many memories :)
@vincentmusanti5000
+corey84douglass I swear this is on the official wawa soundtrack that they loop
@GamerzPro1231
A funny story about this song, about 5 or 6 years ago the chords and melody were stuck in my head for the longest time and I searched EVERYWHERE to find it. I couldn't find shit. I searched through 90s playlists, early 2000s rock, researched band discographies, listened to various rock stations, asked reddit and other sites, just because I wanted to know it so bad. I gave up after a couple of months of off and on searching but it still 'haunted' me, I always wanted to hear it.
Half a year later after giving up on that search, some big changes happened in my life and I spiraled into anxiety and depression. I got into a particularly intense argument with my family and was so mad I drove off intending to move out right then and there. I'm not really religious but for some reason while driving I thought to myself, 'God, if you could send me a sign or something that tells me I have a place in life, please do it now.' No joke, I turn on the radio, and after about 3 seconds of silence the intro to this song starts IMMEDIATELY. I've never heard it played on that radio station ever again, and never heard it before, either. Coincidence, maybe. But god damn that is hell of a coincidence, I still think about it to this day.
@elainecrockett8478
Thanks for sharing that story! ❤
@DistortedIlusion
Sending you love 💜💛💙🌅
@dabvinci4843
Papa bless 🙏