One Step at a Time
Jeff Lynne's ELO Lyrics


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Talk to me don't leave me wondering
Talk to me let's see what tomorrow brings
And then when you remember
Things will be so much better
Talk to me

Talk to me don't give me the silent treatment
Talk to me 'cause I'm not in on the agreement
And then you might discover
One's better than the other
Talk to me

One step at a time I'm trying to get to you babe
One step at a time you're gonna talk to me

One step at a time I'm trying to get to you babe
One step at a time you're gonna talk to me

Talk to me through the damage done is so sad
Talk to me with the sadness in your eyes
Everything will soon be better
You'll soon begin to realize
Come on and talk to me

One step at a time I'm trying to get to you babe
One step at a time you're gonna talk to me





One step at a time I'm trying to get to you babe
One step at a time you're gonna talk to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jeff Lynne's ELO's song One Step at a Time convey a message of communication and the importance of talking out any problems within a relationship. The song urges one's partner to speak up and not give the silent treatment, emphasizing that talking things through will ultimately lead to a better outcome. The phrase "one step at a time" represents the gradual process of rebuilding communication and trust within the relationship. The lyrics suggest that even though it may take time and effort, the reward of reconnection is worth the attempt.


The repeated request to "talk to me" implies a desire for connection and understanding. The song acknowledges the sadness and damage that may have occurred in the relationship, but encourages the couple to move forward and work on resolving their issues. The phrase "one's better than the other" suggests that silence and avoidance are not productive ways to deal with problems within a relationship, and that speaking up and being honest is the best way to find a solution.


Overall, the message of the song is clear: communication is key to a healthy and successful relationship. One must be patient, and take it one step at a time, but with the right amount of effort and understanding, resolution and rejuvenation is possible.


Line by Line Meaning

Talk to me don't leave me wondering
Don't stay quiet and leave me guessing what's on your mind


Talk to me let's see what tomorrow brings
Let's communicate and discover what our future holds


And then when you remember
After you recall what we've been through


Things will be so much better
Our situation will improve greatly


Talk to me
Communicate with me


Talk to me don't give me the silent treatment
Don't ignore me and withhold communication


Talk to me 'cause I'm not in on the agreement
Talk to me because I'm not included in the plan


And then you might discover
You could learn and understand something new


One's better than the other
One option is superior to the other


One step at a time I'm trying to get to you babe
I'm taking it slow and steady to reach you


One step at a time you're gonna talk to me
We'll gradually work towards better communication


Talk to me through the damage done is so sad
Despite the sadness caused by our current state of affairs, talk to me


Talk to me with the sadness in your eyes
Even as you show sadness, still communicate with me


Everything will soon be better
Our situation will soon improve


You'll soon begin to realize
You'll come to see and understand


Come on and talk to me
Please communicate with me




Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@crusheverything4449

Sounds like a minute hasn't passed since the glory days of the late 70s when ELO's songs dominated the airwaves. This one fits right in with classics like Telephone Line, Do Ya and Evil Woman. With the current sorry state of pop music, we need new ELO more than ever! It's great to see a real genius like Jeff Lynne back with new material and receiving the respect and recognition he so richly deserves. The guy is the Fab Four, George Martin and Geoff Emerick in one! How's that for en endorsement? Go get 'em, Jeff!!

@Zefurin

Just hear ELO's 1st album... 43 years later : same sound, same voice, same talent and NEVER the same melody.

Jeff Lynn must leave in another space-time continuum...

@zakramsey3508

Disagreed. ELO is okay at this point, but the sound is very different. In the 1970s, the ELO lived up to their name. They had cellos and violins and their sound was more beatlesque. In the 1980s, there was a lot of synth, which was alright but there was also a lack of strings and some band members pissed off elsewhere like kelly and bev. 2001, the aim was to regain the original sound which in my opinion failed, and the only original standing members were Lynne and Tandy. The melodies were good but no strings! 😓 2015 came along and the original member was Lynne. I think Lynnes mind is kind of dying slowly, but after all, he had released over 170 songs by 2015. Wooooh.

@kevinsansom2255

@Zak Ramsey Jeff Lynne IS ELO, prob the most gifted songwriter/everything else in all of recorded history. Why would you even consider criticizing or speaking ill of this man? After all he’s given to you 🤫

@conwayrails7172

His voice is a lot deeper here than on the first album imo

@ChrisBazy

If this doesn’t play at my funeral I’m not going

@ZZMJo

Talk to me...

@ingridconnor8457

Me too!!

@FutureFactor2023

​@ZZM Let's see what tomorrow brings

@ZZMJo

@Corrie Talks And then when you remember

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