In 1984, Fell From the Sun EP was released and then followed in '85 by another EP, Northern Line. In 1987, the band released their first and last full-length album, Happy Nightmare Baby, on SST. Smith left the group on the Happy Nightmare tour and effectively put an end to the band. David Roback continued with vocalist Hope Sandoval, and in 1989 this band became Mazzy Star. A singles and rarities anthology, Early Recordings, was released that year on Rough Trade.
My Only Friend
Opal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My only friend
When will I see you again
I light a candle and then
It burns all night instead
My only friend
You said that you would be here soon
But I still donāt see your face
I light a candle again
My only friend
My only friend
Whenever Iām feeling down
I know that you will be here soon
And I should wait patiently
My only friend
My only friend
The lyrics of Opal's My Only Friend showcases the deep yearning of a person to see their only friend again. The first two lines reflect the loneliness and the longing for companionship that the singer feels. The repetition of "My only friend" emphasizes the importance of this person in the singer's life, as they have no one else.
The following lines, "When will I see you again, I light a candle and then it burns all night instead" is a display of the desperation of the singer to reunite with their friend. The lighting of the candle symbolizes hope and a prayer to see their friend again. The burning of the candle throughout the night instead implies the anxiety and the fear that the singer feels that their friend may not come back.
The third verse of the song tells how the friend promised to come back soon, but despite the promise, the singer still can't see their face. The singer still holds on to hope and lights a candle again, hoping that this time their only friend will arrive.
In summary, the lyrics of My Only Friend by Opal reflects the depth of the relationship between friends and the longing for companionship that a person can feel when they do not have any other. It also shows the desperation and hope that one feels when they believe that their only friend will return.
Line by Line Meaning
My only friend
The person being addressed in the song is the singer's only friend and confidant.
When will I see you again
The singer is longing to see their friend once more and is unsure when this will happen.
I light a candle and then
The singer goes through a ritual of lighting a candle in hopes that their friend will return.
It burns all night instead
The candle burns all night, signifying the singer's persistence and dedication to waiting for their friend.
You said that you would be here soon
The singer's friend had promised to return soon, but has not fulfilled that promise yet.
But I still donāt see your face
Despite the promise, the singer has not seen their friend and is anxious about their absence.
I light a candle again
The singer continues to light candles as a symbol of hope and faith in their friend's return.
Whenever Iām feeling down
The singer turns to their friend for emotional support and comfort.
I know that you will be here soon
The singer has confidence that their friend will return, bringing solace to their worries.
And I should wait patiently
The singer acknowledges the need for patience and understanding while waiting for their friend to return.
Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pmccaffrey100
A beautiful song from a strangely neglected masterpiece. IMHO "Early Recordings" is one of the greatest albums ever.
@carlscott4180
+pmccaffrey100 Well it keeps winding up on my turntable for repeat plays, year after year after year. And I now think this song is the highlight. (Carl)
@pmccaffrey100
Hear the Wind Blow is a bonus track on the CD and is a great song too.
@StevenMW
Agreed. Believe it or not, I have it on cassette from back then and still sounds good! Can't believe it, must have played it 500x over the yrs!
@StevenMW
...and RIP David Roback...just got word. š
@carlinphx
I love this song. I wish this album would be reissued.
@patcharisma
"My Only Friend" by OPAL was probably one of the most heart-tearing Love-Songs in Rock History - ever recorded...
(Pat, Switzerland)
@namaste91
It's a shame,that this only got a few views. Such a beautiful haunting song.
@roberthance7331
Came here to listen to David Roback's guitar. This was one of my favorite albums in high school. Got into Opal after he left RainParade. David your candle burned out too quickly. Peace!
@TheFibtastic
Everything good that came before influenced this album, and everything good that came after was influenced by it.