Active Since: 1993
Monique Brumby (bo… Read Full Bio ↴Origin: Tasmania, Australia
Active Since: 1993
Monique Brumby (born 16 September 1974, Devonport, Tasmania)[1] is an Australian Indie pop/rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer.[2] Her debut single, "Fool for You", peaked into the top 40 in the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ARIA Singles Charts,[3] and provided an ARIA Award for 'Best New Talent' in 1996.[4][5] Her single, "Mary", won an ARIA Award in 1997 for 'Best Female Artist'.[4][6]
Brumby's songs have been used for Australian television: Neighbours, Home and Away, McLeod's Daughters,[7] The Secret Life of Us[8] and Heartbreak High;[9][10] and in the Australian films: Diana and Me (1997) and Occasional Coarse Language(1998).[11]
Early years
Brumby was born in 1974 in Devonport, Tasmania, and moved to Hobart at age seven.[12] She attended three different primary schools including Lauderdale Primary School (in nearby Clarence) and then secondary school at St Michael's Collegiate School to Year 12, she sang in stage musicals and tried out for women's soccer. In 1991, she was selected for the Australian under-19 youth team in a three test series against New Zealand.[13][14] While still at school, Brumby busked by singing to acoustic guitar in Hobart streets and obtained some part-time gigs.[12][15] In 1993, after leaving school, Brumby had paying gigs in Hobart clubs and then travelled to England on a working holiday as a boarding house mistress for a year;[15] she returned to Tasmania to write songs and, in 1995, relocated to Melbourne, Victoria, where she performed in local pubs and clubs. She joined a guitar-based band and wrote songs with its members before leaving to concentrate on her own songs.[15] In September 1995 she was the support act for Jeff Buckley's performance at The Athenaeum in Melbourne and at the Phoenician Club in Sydney.[16]
One Love
Monique Brumby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is it that we’re fighting for?
Land, greed, power or what has gone before?
Still we carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on and build one love
Sad song sung, nick knack paddy whack give that dog a bone
He ain’t a dog, he’s a man
But going to war really messed him up now he’s dong the best he can
Just to carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on and build one love
Trying to find a way to get free
Here we are down on our knees
Trying to find a way to build one love
Sad song sung from a mother to her son
He asked her what are we dying for
And the song she sung was a beautiful song about standing strong and building one love
We’ve gotta carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on and build one love
Here we are rocking these streets
Trying to find a way to get free
Here we are down on our knees
Trying to find a way to build
And carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on
We’ve got to carry on and build one love
Build one love
Monique Brumby's song "One Love" is a contemplative and melancholic anthem that ponders the purpose behind human conflicts, and calls for solidarity and unity in the face of adversity. The song begins with the singer singing about a "sad song" being sung from the earth up to the heavens, reflecting the anguish and despair that many people feel due to war and conflict. As the song progresses, the singer asks the question, "What is it that we're fighting for?" and wonders whether it is for land, power, or something else entirely. Despite this sense of disillusionment, the singer urges listeners to "carry on" and "build one love", implying that hope and love are the keys to overcoming these struggles.
In the second verse, the song takes on a more specific and personal tone, as the singer sings about a soldier who has returned from war scarred and damaged, but who is still doing his best to carry on. This soldier is portrayed as being more than just a "dog", but as a human being with feelings and struggles like anyone else. Once again, the singer emphasizes the need to "build one love" as a way to move forward from these traumas. The final verse features a mother singing a "beautiful song" to her son, presumably to comfort him during a time of hardship. The song emphasizes standing strong and finding unity in the face of difficult circumstances, with the repeated refrain of "we've got to carry on and build one love" serving as a call to action.
Line by Line Meaning
Sad song sung from the ground up to the sun
Facing the reality of the world, acknowledging the sadness and pain that exist everywhere, from the lowest ground to the highest sky.
What is it that we're fighting for?
A question that begs for an honest answer, as we pursue victory and power at the cost of humanity.
Land, greed, power or what has gone before?
Reflecting on what drives conflicts and wars - the pursuit of territory, resources, and domination - or the cycle of past grievances and revenge.
Still we carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on and build one love
Despite the adversity and the odds, we must find the resilience and the purpose to keep going and strive for unity and compassion.
Sad song sung, nick knack paddy whack give that dog a bone
Mocking the futility and absurdity of trying to appease someone's hunger or thirst for power and validation, treating them like a toy or pet rather than a fellow human being.
He ain't a dog, he's a man
Reminding us that every person, no matter their past or present actions, deserves dignity and respect, and should not be dehumanized or devalued.
But going to war really messed him up now he’s dong the best he can
Acknowledging the deep wounds and trauma that war inflicts on soldiers and civilians alike, and the struggle to heal and cope with the aftermath.
Just to carry on yeah, we’ve got to carry on and build one love
Stressing the urgency and importance of breaking the cycle of war and division, and working together to create a culture and a world of love, empathy, and understanding.
Here we are rocking these streets
Expressing the collective angst and unrest that simmers in society, as people protest, resist, and demand change, often risking their own safety and security.
Trying to find a way to get free
Aspiring for a life that is free from oppression or discrimination, a life that allows individuals to fully express themselves and pursue their dreams without fear or persecution.
Here we are down on our knees
Referencing the desperation and vulnerability that people may feel when they face daunting challenges, spiritual or material, and seek guidance or inspiration.
Trying to find a way to build one love
Reaffirming the goal and the vision of creating a world that is peaceful, inclusive, and just, where people recognize their common humanity and celebrate diversity.
Sad song sung from a mother to her son
A poignant scene that captures the intergenerational impact of war and violence, as a mother shares her wisdom and her pain with her child, hoping to inspire him to strive for a better future.
He asked her what are we dying for
A haunting question that reflects the confusion and sorrow that young people may feel when they witness the bleakness and tragedy of war, and struggle to find a purpose or a hope.
And the song she sung was a beautiful song about standing strong and building one love
A moment of beauty and resilience, as the mother responds to her son's question with a song of hope and unity, urging him to join hands with others and create a better world.
Build one love
The simple, yet profound, message of the song, a call to action and a reminder of our shared humanity and the power of love to sustain us in difficult times.
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.