Critics have compared the song’s stripped down aesthetic and auto-tuned vocals to those on 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye’s fourth studio album. In a press release, Kanye said that he couldn’t remember singing the song when the lines were played back to him, and he concluded that Donda was sending him a message. During an interview with The Breakfast Club, Kanye also mentioned some of the lyrics seemed to be channeled from his grandmother.
The song debuted at number 35 on the Hot 100, making it Paul McCartney’s first top 40 hit in the U.S. in over 25 years (“My Brave Face” reached number 25 on the charts in 1989).
“Only One” was slated to be on West’s So Help Me God in 2014, but after not releasing that album, West dropped the song to iTunes on New Year’s Eve 2014. It was dropped from the album sometime between 2014 and the release of the first SWISH tracklist in January 2016.
Like “Only One,” Paul McCartney wrote “Let It Be” about his departed mother:
"When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom: let it be"
Rolling Stone compared “Only One” to “a bittersweet bonus track from Kanye’s 808s and Heartbreak.” Billboard called it “an intimate conversation between both Wests”. In a lengthy piece, Noisey described it as “classic Kanye… confident (some would say arrogant) but earnest, honest and vulnerable, aware of itself but unconcerned with impressions.”
Some were less kind. Bloomberg called it “unfinished” and “meandering”, while the Los Angeles Times called it West’s worst-ever track, and drew comparisons to McCartney’s ill-fated collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.
Only One
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear her speak to me
Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin'
I know you're happy, 'cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside ya head to believe it
I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
'Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you
So I can say
Hello my only one, just like the mornin' sun
You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name
Hello my only one, remember who you are
No, you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day
Remember how I'd say
Hey, hey, one day you'll be the man you always knew you could be
And if you knew how proud I was
You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no, you wouldn't do that
And though I didn't pick the day to turn the page
I know it's not the end every time I see her face, and I hear you say
Hello, my only one, remember who you are
You got the world 'cause you got love in your hands
And you're still my chosen one
So can you understand? One day you'll understand
So hear me out, hear me out
I won't go, I won't go
No goodbyes, no goodbyes
Just hello, just hello
And when you cry, I will cry
And when you smile, I will smile
And next time when I look in your eyes
We'll have wings and we'll fly
'Llo my only one, just like the mornin' sun
You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name
And you're still my chosen one, remember who you are
No, you're not perfect, but you're not your mistakes
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori ab-
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me
The song "Only One" by Kanye West is a collaboration with Paul McCartney, and it was written for Kanye's daughter North West (Nori) from the perspective of his mother, Donda West, who passed away in 2007. The song opens with Kanye singing about hearing his mother's voice in his sleep reassuring him that the storm has passed and she is proud of him. He then sings about how God sent her as an angel and gave him more than he asked for. He encourages his daughter to remember who she is, to not believe the negative voices in her head and to stay true to herself. Kanye then switches to his own voice and sings about how his mother's words give him strength to keep going and to be the man she always knew he could be.
The song is a touching tribute to Kanye's mother, and it is also a reflection on the importance of family and the power of a mother's love. Kanye uses the song to encourage his daughter to have confidence in herself and to pursue her dreams, even though she may not be perfect. He also recognizes that his own success is due in large part to the support and guidance of his mother. The message of the song is one of hope and encouragement, and it is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the love of family can help us to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
As I lay me down to sleep
I hear her speak to me
Kanye is in a calm state and feels his deceased mother's presence, who speaks to him in his mind
Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin'
Kanye's mother greets him and reassures him that the tough times are over, and things are looking up
I know you're happy, 'cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside ya head to believe it
Kanye's mother knows he's finally at peace, and urges him to keep believing in himself
I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel
And look at all that he gave you
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
'Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you
Kanye's mother tells him that she spoke to God about him, and he gave him two angels (probably Kanye's wife and daughter). She reminds Kanye that she never left him, and heaven is within him
Hello my only one, just like the mornin' sun
You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name
Hello my only one, remember who you are
No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes
Kanye's mother addresses him with love and reassurance, telling him that he's special and will continue to shine until his name is known by everyone. She reminds Kanye to stay true to himself, despite his flaws and past mistakes
Oh the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day
Remember how I'd say
Hey hey one day you'll be the man you always knew you could be
And if you knew how proud I was
You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no you wouldn't do that
Kanye's mother reminds him that the good always surpasses the bad, even on his worst days. She reminds him of her past encouragement that he will be the man he wants to be. She tells him she is proud of who he is, and encourages him to never cry or fear
And though I didn't pick the day to turn the page
I know it's not the end every time I see her face, and I hear you say
Kanye's mother acknowledges that she didn't choose to leave this world, but every time he thinks of her or hears her voice in his mind, it's not the end of their connection
You got the world 'cause you got love in your hands
And you're still my chosen one
So can you understand? One day you'll understand
Kanye's mother reminds him that he has the world in his hands because of the love he gives/receives. She assures him that he's still the chosen one and asks him to trust that he'll understand one day
So hear me out, hear me out
I won't go, I won't go
No goodbyes, no goodbyes
Just hello, just hello
Kanye's mother begs him to listen to her, and reassures him that she's not gone and there's no need for goodbyes, just a simple hello
And when you cry, I will cry
And when you smile, I will smile
And next time when I look in your eyes
We'll have wings and we'll fly
Kanye's mother assures him that she's always with him, and will cry and smile with him. She dreams of the next time they see each other, where they'll have wings and fly together
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori ab-
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Kanye asks his mother to tell their daughter, North (Nori), about her and their conversations, and asks his listeners to do him a favor by spreading the message
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noah D. Goldstein, Michael Dean, Kirby Lauren Dockery, Paul James Mccartney, Kanye West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yejimkim5048
SteelersRule1011 Kanye West shouldn't be a musician? He redefined the rap genre (watch any rap critic or credible rapper's interview and hear what they have to say about him) multiple times within the span of his own career. Not only that he's made the careers of many artists: he reinvigorated jay-z's career with "izzo" and the watch the throne album, he gave john legend a career (signed under ye), he reinvigorated common's career, he signed and produced for big sean, kid cudi, etc. I can't even list how many things this guy has done and people still knock him because they don't know shit. You can't possibly imagine how hard it is to be a crossover star, making a genre of music that the mainstream doesn't appreciate but still making it big. Although it has yet to be seen if he will reach the heights of these artists, his career is comparable to those of michael jackson, louis armstrong, hank williams, etc. making an otherwise subculture genre into a fullblown mainstream one.
The people who hate him are unfamiliar with his work, work ethic and frame of mind. You call him racist, but you don't provide anything to back it up. He's interrupted/called out black artists at awards shows WAY before he did it to Beck and even Taylor Swift, but no one cares, because they were black. I don't understand why people are offended by the incident even when BECK HIMSELF said that he thought Beyonce she should've gotten the award (and no he is not being modest).
Also, Kanye never said Beyonce was more artistic than beck. He said beck should "respect artistry" which could mean a many deal of things. What I think he meant is that Beyonce's album was better than Beck's and that doesn't mean SHE is a better musician than beck, just that the collaboration effort of all of the producer's (who are artists in their own right) and her made a better product. I get the fact that Beck plays a lot of instruments, but is it that meaningful to be able to play all those instruments when you're only playing one at a time? It's only useful for the recording process but he can't perform them all at a time. And who do you think writes Kanye West's melodic arrangements, and who does the drums? He composes most of his music and although he doesn't actually play all the instruments in his music, he writes the partition so it is artistic in its own right.
Finally, the fact that you can say that Beyonce's voice who has a much larger pitch range and dynamic range is inferior to beck's shows how biased you are, which is okay. However, you should have phrased it as "I prefer beck's voice", because objectively you cannot say that Beck's voice is better than Beyonce's.
Sorry this was a very long winded response, but you addressed a lot of points and I didn't want to leave any behind. Hopefully, you read this.
@rich2525
Pushpop LoC I've been so lonely girl, I've been so sad and down
Couldn't understand why haters joked around
I wanted to be free with other creatures like me
And now I got my wish, cause i know that I'm a gay fish (gay fish)
Chorus
(Gay fish Yo) mother fuckin' gay fish
(I'm a fish yo) goin' on a gay fish
(It's alright girl) makin' love to other gay fish
Verse 2
All those lonely nights at the grocery store
In the frozen fish aisle feelin' like a whore
Cause I wasn't being true
Even though everyone said that I had to make a switch
(Gay fish) now I know that I'm a gay fish (gay fish)
Chorus
(Gay fish Yo) mother fuckin' gay fish
(I'm a fish yo) Goin' on a gay fish
(Now I'm where i belong girl) makin' love to other gay fish
Verse 3 Rap
I used to be scared, denying who I was
Acting straight but then going out to the gay fish clubs
Dancing with the Marlins making out with the all the Snappers
I'd take a Salmon home and work that Coddle Fin for hours
But now I'm out and I'm free to love what I want
Be it Yellow Fin or Bass or them trout in Vermont
I slapped that Holland ass, make that Grouper butt shake
I'll come to your house and have an orgy in your motherfuckin' fish tank (fish tank, fish tank)
Chorus
Mother fuckin' gay fish
(I'm a fish yo) Goin' on a gay fish
(Yeah now I'm where i belong girl) makin' love to other gay fish
Verse 4
I really get around I'm the slut of the sea
When i say I've got crabs I mean it literally
I was eating dinner and just had to go down on that Mackerel on the dish
Cause I'm the gayest of the gay fish (gay fish)
Chorus
Mother fuckin' gay fish
(I'm a fish yo) Goin' on a gay fish
Yeah now I'm where i belong girl
Verse 5
But I gotta settle down I can't be a whore
I ain't gonna just sleep with any fish no more
I've found me a lover, a brother who's a cross-dressing Cod named Trish
And together we are gay fish (gay fish)
Chorus
(Gay fish yo) motherfuckin' gay fish
(I'm a fish yo) goin' on a gay fish
(Yeah, now I'm where i belong girl) makin' love to other gay fish
(Gay fish, gay fish, gay fish, gay fish, gay fish, gay fish...)
@alicesmithy6391
I never realised before but this is about his mother and north. if you read it from his mother point of view its really sweet
As I lay me down to sleep
I hear her speak to me
Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin'
I know you're happy, cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside ya' head to believe it
(then this part is talking about how god sent him 2 angels, kim and north)
I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel
And look at all that he gave you
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you
So I can say
(and apparently only one was what Kanye's mom would call him because I believe that's kinna what his name means)
Hello my only one
Just like the morning sun
You keep on rising till the sky knows your name
Hello my only one
Remember who you are
No you’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakes
(and then the rest of the song is the same her being encouraging to Kanye and probably what she would say to him to keep being great. and the at the end she asks him to tell north about her "nori" = north
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me
damn Kanye actually made me cry :(
@TheThirdPew
Glad to see Kanye putting so much faith in a newcomer like this Paul guy. I'm always a fan of pushing undiscovered talent.
@AnoushkaRamkumar
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha I love your videos
@jamayrian
Are you trolling?
@NTJordan
jamayrian no he's def serious
@JudyGarlandRulez152
Paul has been in the business since 1957. You GOT to be trolling!
@supermanhatesme
Anyone that doesn't see that this is a troll is an idiot
@KimS-ud9hm
"No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes"... Makes me tear up every time
@Theonlyoneto
That's literally Kanye
@KimS-ud9hm
@ima hunt if he's a clown then why are you here watching this video? Lol
@KimS-ud9hm
@ima hunt idk why. I'm actually not a big fan of Kanye tbh but this song especially paired with this video is really something special.