The New Zealand rock band have released three albums - 2004's platinum selling 'You Are Here', 2007's multi-platinum selling 'Second Hand Planet', and 2010's 'Until The End Of Time'.
Opshop were winners of the coveted 'Peoples Choice Award' at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards. Also in 2007 their single “Maybe” achieved the honour of being the biggest song at New Zealand radio ever, holding the #1 most-played spot for 12 consecutive weeks.
Opshop describe their sound like this: "An equal opportunistic grab bag of semi-funkster pop and crackle 'muesli' rock. We like playing music that sounds nice and loud. And dirty and quiet and every nook 'n' cranny in between. If you're not sure what it is. Its likely to be ours".
One Thing Worth Preserving
Opshop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was this just another bad dream
Restin’ on my head
If I could stop this hopeless sleeping
I might stop wakin’ up in another past life
Not I
Waste your time
[Chorus]
All at once
It dawned on me
That I might not stop this world from turning
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
No measure of sound
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Could detach us now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And this one thing alone is worth preserving
Denial would not hear any of this
No not here, not now
There’s only so much you can miss
I’m feeling neither happy nor sad
I’m delighted with an innocuous glimpse
Of bright light
Where everything sings like crystal cups
But tastes like cigarettes - Oh!
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
All at once
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
It dawned on me
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
That I might not stop this world from turning
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And no measure of sound
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Could detach us now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And this one thing alone is worth preserving
[Music]
And you alone can not hear me scream (scream, scream, scream)
Yeah… hey-hey-yeah…
Oh!
[Music]
All at once
It could dawn on me
That I might not stop this world from turning
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And no measure of sound
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Could detach us now
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And this one thing alone is worth preserving
[Music To End]
Opshop's song "One Thing Worth Preserving" is a heartfelt ballad about the realization that some things in life are beyond our control, and that despite our best efforts, we cannot stop the world from turning. The opening lines of the song, "I hear you scream, was this just another bad dream, restin' on my head," suggest a sense of confusion and disorientation, as if the singer is struggling to make sense of their surroundings.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "All at once it dawned on me, that I might not stop this world from turning," emphasizing the theme of powerlessness in the face of the unstoppable march of time. However, the singer also acknowledges that there is "one thing alone worth preserving," suggesting that despite our inability to control everything, there are still things in our lives that are worth holding onto and cherishing.
The vivid imagery in the lyrics, such as "Where everything sings like crystal cups, but tastes like cigarettes," adds to the emotional impact of the song, as the singer tries to make sense of the conflicting feelings they are experiencing. Overall, "One Thing Worth Preserving" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of life and the importance of holding onto the things that matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you scream
I am aware of your distress and pain
Was this just another bad dream
Is this an unpleasant reality or just a nightmare
Restin’ on my head
Causing me to feel burdened and overwhelmed
If I could stop this hopeless sleeping
If only I could stop feeling lost and hopeless
I might stop wakin’ up in another past life
Perhaps then I will stop feeling like I am reliving past mistakes
Not I
However, that is not the case
I don’t wanna waste your time
I do not want to be a burden or cause any further harm
All at once
Suddenly and intensely
It dawned on me
I realized with great clarity
That I might not stop this world from turning
I cannot control the world and its events
No measure of sound
No amount of noise or commotion
Could detach us now
Could separate us from one another
And this one thing alone is worth preserving
Our connection and love is the only thing truly worth keeping
Denial would not hear any of this
I cannot ignore this truth any longer
No not here, not now
It is time to face reality, no matter how painful it may be
There’s only so much you can miss
There is a limit to how much time one can spend dwelling on the past
I’m feeling neither happy nor sad
I am indifferent to my emotions, neither elated nor depressed
I’m delighted with an innocuous glimpse
I find joy in the smallest, most simple things
Of bright light
Of something pure and radiant
Where everything sings like crystal cups
Where everything is harmonious and clear
But tastes like cigarettes - Oh!
But it is tainted and unpleasant, with an underlying toxicity
And you alone can not hear me scream (scream, scream, scream)
I feel isolated and unheard in my distress
All at once
Suddenly and intensely
It could dawn on me
I may come to realize with great clarity
And this one thing alone is worth preserving
Our connection and love is the only thing truly worth keeping
Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.