Mike Ness (born Michael James Ness, born April 3, 1962) is a country music … Read Full Bio ↴Mike Ness (born Michael James Ness, born April 3, 1962) is a country music singer and guitarist, best known as the vocalist, guitarist, and chief songwriter for the American punk rock band Social Distortion.

Ness was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts and raised in Fullerton in Orange County, California. Kicked out of his parents' home in Fullerton at the age of fifteen, he dabbled in drugs and petty crime, involving himself in the punk scene and founding Social Distortion in 1978. The band signed a contract with Posh Boy Records in 1981, releasing the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record. Then the band moved to 13th Floor Records in 1982 and released the album Mommy's Little Monster (1982).

By this time, Ness's drug addiction and self-destructive behavior had deepened to the point that the band almost broke up. The turmoil was captured on a video, Another State of Mind, which chronicled a cross-country tour. Five years passed before Social Distortion released their next album, 1988's Prison Bound, on Restless Records but Ness emerged from the time off free of his addictions and ready to work.

In 1989, Social Distortion signed a deal with Epic Records and released four albums with that label: the self-titled album (1990), Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996).

The band left Epic Records after White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) and joined Time Bomb Recordings, releasing Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (a collection of old recordings and singles that were done in the early '80s) and Live at the Roxy (1998).

In 1999, Ness released his first solo album, Cheating at Solitaire. Although Social Distortion's music had contained country inflections as far back as Prison Bound, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness's country side. 'Solitaire' included guest appearances by rock icon Bruce Springsteen, former Stray Cat Brian Setzer and drumming legend Josh Freese as well as members of Royal Crown Revue. Springsteen had touted Social D's 'Heaven and Hell' as his favorite record of the year in a Rolling Stone interview in 1992. Ness continued in this vein, releasing a compilation of country covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on Time Bomb Recordings. Ness toured extensively in the U.S. in support of these albums, backed partially by the present-day (2006) incarnation of Social Distortion; Charlie Quintana (drums) Brent Harding (standing & electric bass) and Johnny Wickersham (guitar tech). Ness and the band played at Woodstock '99. After that, his bandmate and guitarist Dennis Danell died on February 29, 2000 due to an aneurysm, but Social Distortion did not completely disband.

In 2004, Social Distortion came back with a live DVD called "Live In Orange County," and then recorded an album titled Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, which was released on Time Bomb Recordings. These efforts marked the first recordings with a line up consisting of Ness on Guitar and vocals, Wickersham on guitar, and Quintana on drums and also consisted of songs co-written by Ness and Wickersham. This is the first time Ness collaborated with another songwriter since 1990's self-titled album, on which he and then bassist John Maurer wrote 'Let it be Me'. The band's lineup changed twice after Maurer left the band, just a month before the release on Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. He was replaced by Operation Ivy/Rancid bassist Matt Freeman until early 2005 and current member Brent Harding joined as his replacement.

In February 2006, Ness broke his wrist while skateboarding in Las Vegas. T.S.O.L. guitarist Ron Emory is filling in on guitar duties while Mike's wrist heals. Mike is still performing, just not playing guitar.

Social Distortion is currently working on their next studio album, which is due for release in late 2006/early 2007.

Ness currently lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife Christine Marie, and two sons Johnny and Julian. He is also a hot rod enthusiast, driving a chopped 1954 Chevy leadsled, a 1936 Ford, and a 1960 Chevy Impala.

(from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ness).

One More Time
Mike Ness Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The sky looks so dark, looks like it might rain
My babies gone, on the south bound train
Come back baby, lets try it over
One more time ,just one more time

she left me here, did not tell me why
I only know she, left me here to cry
Please come back baby, lets try it over

One more time, just one more time

she left me alone, on her on accord
This I gotta leave I know, in the hands of the lord
Please come back baby, lets try it over
One more time, just one more time
One more time, just one more time

One more time, one more time
One more time

Overall Meaning

In Mike Ness's song "One More Time," the singer is pleading with his lover to come back to him so that they can try again. The verses describe the singer's feelings of loneliness and sorrow after his lover has left him without explanation. His desperation is heard in his repetition of the phrase "one more time" as if the future of the relationship depends on one more chance. The chorus of the song is simple with only one phrase being sung and repeated three times. It is a direct plead to his love to come back and try to make things work.

The song's lyrics evoke a sense of hopelessness paired with yearning, as the singer desperately wants his lover to come back but realizes that it may not be possible. The line "This I gotta leave I know, in the hands of the lord" acknowledges his feelings of loss of control and understanding of the situation. In essence, the song shows a human's vulnerability to heartbreak and the longing to focus on what's important to them.

Line by Line Meaning

The sky looks so dark, looks like it might rain
The singer takes note of the sky's appearance and guesses that it might start raining soon.

My babies gone, on the south bound train
The singer's loved one has left on a train heading south.

Come back baby, lets try it over
The singer appeals to their loved one to return and make another attempt at their relationship.

One more time ,just one more time
The artist emphasizes their desire for one more opportunity to try again.

she left me here, did not tell me why
The artist's loved one departed without providing an explanation for their decision.

I only know she, left me here to cry
The singer is left to suffer emotionally as a result of the loved one's departure.

Please come back baby, lets try it over
The singer repeats their plea for reconciliation.

she left me alone, on her on accord
The loved one departed spontaneously, without involving the artist in the decision.

This I gotta leave I know, in the hands of the lord
The artist resigns themselves to the idea that the outcome of the situation is beyond their control and must be left to fate or a higher power.

One more time, just one more time
The artist reiterates their strong desire for another chance to make things work with their loved one.

One more time
The singer restates their desire for another opportunity one last time, bringing the song to a close.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL L HOWARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS