Peter Mulvey (born 6 September 1969) is an American folk singer-songwriter … Read Full Bio ↴Peter Mulvey (born 6 September 1969) is an American folk singer-songwriter based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since the early 1990s, he has developed a strong national following in the indie folk/rock scene through his relentless touring and critically acclaimed albums. Starting his musical career in Milwaukee while at Marquette University, he honed his performing skills while traveling in Dublin, Ireland. He later spent several years in Boston, where he frequently performed in the city's subway system. He is best known for his warmly wry songwriting and his intense percussive guitar style.

Mulvey self-released his first demo tape, Rabbit Talk, in 1992; this was followed that same year by his first major album Brother Rabbit Speaks (which was re-issued in 2001). Since then he has released more than a dozen albums. His music has featured on NPR's shows "All Songs Considered" and "Weekend Edition", as well as the television show "Felicity".

www.petermulvey.com

No One Else
Peter Mulvey Lyrics

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Well I promised I'd speed the journey home
But I saw the magic tonight
So I stopped my speck of a car amidst the mountains
And the silence and the starlight

I've been so long silent
So when I spoke I would know it was truth
Now I fashion this rose that grows

In the fertile soil of the heart of my youth

And I bring it to you, bring it to you
You will sleep curled in my breast
In my pocket I carry the notion
That we spend our waking hours together
And dreams account for the rest

In me a river of doubts I know becomes a sliver of doubt
But if this is a lie than the truth is not worth living or singing about
And I just saw a shooting star and I know what I want
Now I will be in it all
But I do not come home empty-handed
For I bring you, my love, this song
And I sing it to you, sing it to you
Then we will go on our way
In your pocket you carry devotion

Dreams are for giving, life is for living
Tomorrow and today

Overall Meaning

The song No One Else by Peter Mulvey is a melancholic yet beautiful composition that touches upon the themes of love, truth, and the beauty of nature. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer had promised someone that he would return home soon, but was struck by the beauty of the mountains and the starlight, compelling him to stop his car and experience the magic of nature. The singer then goes on to talk about how he has been quiet for so long that he only speaks when it is the truth. He describes the rose he has fashioned in the “fertile soil of the heart of his youth,” which he brings to his love, who he wants to hold close, and shares his dreams with.

The bridge of the song is particularly interesting as it seems to convey the singer's doubts about whether what he is sharing is the truth or a mere lie. The shooting star that he sees leads him to contemplate what he wants in life and how he wishes to be present for it all – both the good and the bad. He acknowledges that he does not come back empty-handed and sings the song to his love. The last lines of the song suggest that his love carries devotion in their pocket while dreaming of a bright future together.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I promised I'd speed the journey home
I made a promise that I would hurry back home

But I saw the magic tonight
However, tonight I witnessed something incredible

So I stopped my speck of a car amidst the mountains
Therefore, I decided to stop my small car in the mountains

And the silence and the starlight
Where it was quiet and filled with starry skies

I've been so long silent
I haven't been speaking much lately

So when I spoke I would know it was truth
But I made a promise to only speak the truth

Now I fashion this rose that grows
So, I created this rose that symbolizes growth

In the fertile soil of the heart of my youth
It comes from the rich soil of my youthful heart

And I bring it to you, bring it to you
I offer it to you as a gift

You will sleep curled in my breast
I want you to sleep safely and soundly in my arms

In my pocket I carry the notion
I always keep the thought

That we spend our waking hours together
That we will spend all our waking moments together

And dreams account for the rest
And, for the moments we sleep, we will have each other in our dreams

In me a river of doubts I know becomes a sliver of doubt
I know I have some doubts, but they've become smaller

But if this is a lie than the truth is not worth living or singing about
However, if this is not the truth, then I don't see a reason to live or sing anymore

And I just saw a shooting star and I know what I want
I just saw a shooting star and it reaffirmed what I already knew I wanted

Now I will be in it all
So now, I am fully committed to this relationship

But I do not come home empty-handed
But, I didn't come back with nothing

For I bring you, my love, this song
I bring you this song as a token of my love

And I sing it to you, sing it to you
And, I'll sing it to you with all my heart

Then we will go on our way
Then, we'll continue on our path

In your pocket you carry devotion
You always keep devotion with you

Dreams are for giving, life is for living
We should pursue our dreams but also live our lives to the fullest

Tomorrow and today
Every single day matters

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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