But it all began rather humbly in his hometown of Victoria, BC, where Moka Only discovered hip hop culture at an early age, starting out as a graffiti artist before switching to rhyming at house parties and freestyling anywhere and everywhere alongside partner K-Prevail (recording together as Splitsphere). In 1994, Moka made the move to San Diego in order to further his rap career, creating a number of connections that he would later use to his advantage. Upon moving back to Canada in 1995 and taking up residence in Vancouver, Moka met Mad Child, and along with K-Prevail, now just Prevail, the three emcees founded Swollen Members one night at a Denny's, with Moka coining their multiple meaning name. However, a group dynamic was not for Moka and he soon moved on to a solo career.
In 1995, Moka Only started flooding the local scene with a myriad of music, quickly earning himself the nickname of “The Most Prolific” by self-releasing cassettes on an almost seasonal basis, which led to a few vinyl releases and finally album deals with a variety of labels. All the while, Moka was building a name for himself as a strong and skillful emcee with down-to-earth subject matter ranging from hip hop to fashion, from food to travel, and from love to sex. Although best known for his rapping, Moka was also building his resume as a a quirky producer with a knack for mixing live and sampled instruments. While the majority of Moka's musical output has been self-produced, his beats are also sought after by a wide range of underground artists, including Buck 65, who used one of his beats for his new album, Dirtbike 1/3.
With his solo career as both rapper and producer on the rise, Moka Only participated in a few collaborations with Swollen Members resulting in Moka rejoining the group for Monsters in the Closet, their 2002 collection of b-sides and rarities featuring three new songs. He remained on board for Heavy in 2003 but left again prior to the recording of Black Magic. Once again Moka had found himself confined as part of a group.
His time with Swollen Members, which also saw him signed to the Battle Axe label, resulted in three consecutive Junos, but it also meant a decrease in the amount of solo music from Moka. “The Most Prolific” returned in 2005 beginning with the release of The Desired Effect, his Nettwerk debut that realized a much greater pop potential for Moka. Unhappy with the label interference, Moka released a Japan-only alternate version under the title Dirty Jazz that was more to his liking, marking Moka's return to releasing the nearly seasonal albums of gritty, underground jams he has always been known for through labels like Camobear, Legendary Entertainment and Urbnet, as well as an occasional one-off project for various other indie labels.
Once Again
Moka Only Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Hook]
[Mad Child:] It might seem
[Moka Only:] Seems like I'm in love
[Ma:] Big mistake
[Mo:] But that's a big mistake
[Ma:] I'll just hang
[Ma:] Like your smile
[Mo:] Guess I like your smile
[Ma:] Here again
[Mo:] December's here again
[Ma:] Should I go?
[Mo:] I'll leave just tell me when
[Ma:] Feel no pain
[Mo:] I won't feel no pain, but let me love you once again
[Verse: Moka Only] + (Mad Child)
Now I would jump into this thing, with no pre-conceive
Idea is, I always thought me and she can be free
But I see it's not as easy as I once believe
The more I look at the alternative the harder to leave
(No more)
No more looking in your eyes
(Before)
No more staring into sky
(It was cool)
I only asked if I could stay
(No rules)
From December until May
(No more counting down the days)
(No more drifting into space0
(We're just living for today)
It occurred to feel this way
[Hook]
[Verse: Mad Child]
When we connected, we made an agreement
No strings attached, we were keeping it even
It was like "Take it or leave it, let's be casual"
Although we got lost in time, it was magical
But I'm not ready for this settling down talk again
A cat needs his space, trying to box me in
I need oxygen, let me get back into my thing
This was only supposed to be from winter 'til spring
I think it's time for us to end this
What chu call? Falling in love? I'm calling more than friendship
God mix feelings but I'll be alright
I'm out the door but let me stay just one more night
[Hook]
[Hook 2]
[Mad Child]: It might seem
[Moka Only]: Seems like I'm in love
[Ma]: On the surface
[Mo]: But that's a big mistake
[Ma]: What's the purpose?
[Mo]: Hanging for a while
[Mo]: Guess I like your smile
[Ma]: Here again
[Mo]: December's here again
[Ma]: Is it too long?
[Mo]: I'll leave just tell me when
[Ma]: Should I move on?
[Mo]: I won't feel no pain, but let me love you once again
[Outro: Moka Only]
Let me love you once again (let me love you once again)
Seems like I'm in love, so let me love you once again
The song "Once Again" by Moka Only featuring Mad Child depicts two individuals who entered into a casual relationship, but the singer's feelings for their partner have grown stronger. Mad Child is content with the casual arrangement, while Moka Only is conflicted and struggling to decide whether they should move on or continue to love their partner. Despite the uncertainty, Moka Only ultimately decides to love their partner once again, even though they acknowledge it may be a big mistake.
The song is an emotional and relatable depiction of the struggles that come with navigating relationships, particularly when individuals have differing expectations and priorities. It highlights the challenges of balancing one's own desires and needs with those of their partner, and the complexities of deciding whether to stay or leave a relationship.
Overall, "Once Again" is a poignant and introspective song that encapsulates the complexities of human emotion and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
It might seem
Mad Child begins the song questioning the obvious emotional display by Moka Only.
Seems like I'm in love
Moka Only identifies that he appears to be in love.
Big mistake
Mad Child believes loving someone is a trap.
But that's a big mistake
Moka Only disagrees with Mad Child's assertion that love is a mistake.
I'll just hang
Moka Only wants to stay for a little longer.
Hanging for a while
He repeats his desire to stay a little longer.
Like your smile
Moka Only is attracted to the other person's smile.
Guess I like your smile
He repeats the previous line, admitting his attraction to the other person.
Here again
December has come once again, indicating the passage of time.
Should I go?
Moka Only is considering leaving.
I'll leave just tell me when
He confirms his willingness to leave if the other person requests it.
Feel no pain
Moka Only is not afraid of leaving, but admits that it will hurt.
I won't feel no pain, but let me love you once again
Moka Only wants to love the other person once more, even though it will hurt to leave.
Now I would jump into this thing, with no pre-conceive
Moka Only is willing to commit without preconceived notions.
Idea is, I always thought me and she can be free
He has always believed that they can be together, without any strings attached.
But I see it's not as easy as I once believe
Moka Only acknowledges that being in love is not as easy as he once thought.
The more I look at the alternative the harder to leave
He finds it hard to leave once he has found an alternative to being single.
No more looking in your eyes
He will not look into the other person's eyes any longer.
No more staring into sky
He will not be lost in thought looking up into the sky any longer.
It was cool
He remembers their time spent together fondly.
I only asked if I could stay
Moka Only only wanted to stay a little longer to savor their time together.
No rules
There were no rules or commitments for their relationship.
From December until May
They have been together for some time, from December until the current moment in May.
No more counting down the days
He will not spend any more time counting the days until they meet again.
No more drifting into space
He will not waste any more time overthinking or getting lost in his thoughts.
We're just living for today
Their relationship is not bound by the future and they are living in the present moment.
It occurred to feel this way
He had an epiphany that he is indeed in love with the other person.
When we connected, we made an agreement
Mad Child recalls the previous agreement they made.
No strings attached, we were keeping it even
Their relationship was casual and uncomplicated, with no expectations or strings attached.
It was like "Take it or leave it, let's be casual"
They mutually decided to keep things casual with no expectations for commitment.
Although we got lost in time, it was magical
Mad Child appreciates the time they spent together and the memories created.
But I'm not ready for this settling down talk again
Mad Child is not yet ready for the expectation of commitment.
A cat needs his space, trying to box me in
He likens himself to a cat needing space and refuses to be restricted by commitment.
I need oxygen, let me get back into my thing
He needs space and independence to focus on himself.
This was only supposed to be from winter 'til spring
Their relationship was always intended to be temporary, from winter to spring.
I think it's time for us to end this
Mad Child believes their relationship has run its course and should come to an end.
What chu call? Falling in love? I'm calling more than friendship
Mad Child admits that he has feelings beyond friendship, but is not ready to commit to a relationship.
God mix feelings but I'll be alright
Despite mixed feelings, Mad Child is okay with the decision to end things.
I'm out the door but let me stay just one more night
Mad Child is leaving but wants one more night to stay with the other person.
On the surface
Mad Child repeats his previous sentiment about Moka Only's display of emotions being superficial.
What's the purpose?
Mad Child questions the purpose of their relationship if it is not to lead to commitment.
I won't feel no pain, but let me love you once again
Moka Only repeats his desire to love the other person once more, even though it will hurt to leave.
Let me love you once again (let me love you once again)
Moka Only ends the song reaffirming his desire to love the other person once more.
Seems like I'm in love, so let me love you once again
Moka Only reiterates that he is in love and wants to love the other person once more before leaving.
Contributed by Adrian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gwenweight6916
Chorus
(It might seem) It seems like I'm in love
(Big mistake) But that's a big mistake
(I'll just hang) Just hanging for a while
(Like your smile) Guess I like your smile
(Here again) December's here again
(Should I go?) I'll leave just tell me when
(Feel no pain) I won't feel no pain
But let me love you once again
[Moka Only]
Now how we jumped into this thing with no preconceived ideas
I always thought that me and she could be free
And I see, it's not as easy as I once believed
The more I look at the alternative the harder to leave
(No more) No more looking in your eyes
(Before) No more staring at the sky
(It was cool) I only asked if I could stay
(No rules) From December until May
No more counting down the days
No more drifting into space
We're just living for today
(Ain't it cool to feel this way)
Chorus
[Mad Child]
When we connected, we made an agreement
No strings attached we were keeping it even
It was like take it or leave it let's be casual
Until we got lost in time it was magical
But I'm not ready for this settling down talk again
A cat needs his space, you're tryin to box me in
I need oxygen, let me get back in and do my thing
This was only supposed to be from winter to spring
I think it's time for us to end this
What you call falling in love, I call it more than friendship
Got mixed feelings, but I'll be alright
I'm out the door but let me stay just one more night
Chorus
(It might seem) It seems like I'm in love
(On the surface) But that's a big mistake
(What's the purpose) Hanging for a while
Guess I like your smile
(Here again) December's here again
(Is it too long?) I'll leave just tell me when
(Should I move on) I won't feel no pain
But let me love you once again
Let me love you once again
Let me love you once again
It seems like I'm in love
So let me love you once again
@egoboy
2023 anyone?
@cecillyask4246
Yes!!!!!
@freedomslastflight
For some reason I had this song stuck in my head. I looked it up and found this HD version. Thank you from Atlantic Canada.
@CamdenMcInnis
Toronto, Summer 2005, age 15.
@freedomslastflight
My Canadian town isn't famous enough. But I'm from New Brunswick and I can relate.
@nickmckenzie9686
This was filmed at ashbridges bay too!!!
@patrickgrondines7997
i remember seeing this on much music
@williedesmond8201
Madchild looking so young here ,dope song ,OMG
@Megafoot2164
Still listening to this jam in 2021, great tune . Luv it !
@nicolemenzies8438
God bless you for uploading an HD version of this!!