Newman is noted for his practice of writing lyrics from the perspective of a character far removed from Newman's own biography. For example, the 1972 song "Sail Away" is written as a slave trader's sales pitch to attract slaves, while the narrator of "Political Science" is a U.S. nationalist who complains of worldwide ingratitude toward America and proposes a brutally ironic final solution. One of his biggest hits, "Short People" was written from the perspective of "a lunatic" who hates short people. Since the 1980s, Newman has worked mostly as a film composer. His film scores include Ragtime, Awakenings, The Natural, Leatherheads, James and the Giant Peach, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and The Princess and the Frog. He has scored many Disney-Pixar films: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Cars 3 and most recently Toy Story 4.
He has been awarded an Academy Award, three Emmys, four Grammy Awards, and the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy. Newman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Newman was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Newman grew up in a musical family with Hollywood connections; his uncles Alfred and Lionel both scored numerous films. By age 17, Randy was staff writer for a California music publisher. One semester short of a B.A. in music from UCLA, he dropped out of school. Lenny Waronker, son of Liberty Records’ president, was a close friend and, later, as a staff producer for Warner Bros., helped get Newman signed to the label.
Newman’s early songs were recorded by a number of performers. His friend Harry Nilsson recorded an entire album with Newman on piano, Nilsson Sings Newman, in 1970. Judy Collins (“I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”), Peggy Lee (“Love Story”), and Three Dog Night - for whom “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” hit #1 - all enjoyed success with Newman’s music.
Newman became a popular campus attraction when touring with Nilsson. His status as a cult star was affirmed by his critically praised debut, Randy Newman, in 1968, which featured his own complex arrangements for full orchestra, and later by 1970’s 12 Songs. He also sang “Gone Dead Train” on the soundtrack of Performance (1970). Live and Sail Away were Newman’s first commercial successes, but his audience has been limited to some degree because his songs are often colored by his ironic, pointed sense of humor, which is rarely simple and frequently misunderstood.
Good Old Boys, for example, was a concept album about the South, with the lyrics expressing the viewpoint of white Southerners. Lyrics such as “We’re rednecks, and we don’t know our ass from a hole in the ground” made people wonder whether Newman was being satirical or sympathetic. He toured (to Atlanta and elsewhere) behind the album with a full orchestra that played his arrangements and was conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.
Little Criminals, in 1977, contained Newman’s first hit single, “Short People,” which mocked bigotry and was taken seriously by a vocal offended minority. “Baltimore” from that album was covered by Nina Simone. Following that album’s release, Newman toured for the first time since 1974. He claimed that in the interim he’d done nothing but watch television and play with his three sons. In 1979 his Born Again featured guest vocals by members of the Eagles. In 1981 Newman composed the soundtrack for the film Ragtime (the first of many soundtrack assignments) and was nominated for two Oscars (Best Song, Best Score). His 1983 album, Trouble in Paradise, included guest appearances by Linda Ronstadt, members of Fleetwood Mac, and Paul Simon, who sang a verse of “The Blues.” That album’s “I Love L.A.” became something of an anthem, thanks in part to a flashy music video directed by Newman’s cousin, Tim Newman (who went on to shoot popular videos for ZZ Top, among others). Land of Dreams (#80, 1988) spawned a minor hit in “It’s Money That Matters” (#60, 1988). It would take Newman 10 more years to make another studio album, 1999’s critically acclaimed Bad Love. With that record peaking at #194, he continues to meet his biggest success in Hollywood, where he spent most of the ’90s becoming one of the town’s most sought-after film composers. Although the material on his own records is literate and biting, the songs he writes for movies are decidedly simpler and with a sunnier outlook - and they usually meet with more success. Both “I Love to See You Smile” from Parenthood and “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2, for instance, were nominated for Oscars; in 1998 alone, Newman garnered three Oscar nominations for three different movies.
In 1995 Newman wrote a musical adaptation of Goethe’s Faust. Both the play and the accompanying CD (which featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Don Henley, and James Taylor in the role of God) were commercially unsuccessful. In 2000 he received the Billboard Century Award.
The One You Love
Randy Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you need a friend,someone you can talk to
Who will understand what you're going through
When it comes to love,there's no easy answer
Only you can say what you're gonna do
I heard you on the phone, you took his number,
Said you were alone but you called him ";Sue";
Isn't he the one who made you blue?
When you remember those nights in his arms,
You know you gotta make up your mind
Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you
Or are you goin' back to the one you love?
Someone's gonna cry when they know they've lost you
Someone's gonna thank the stars above
What you gonna say when he comes over?
There's no easy way tosee this through
All the broken dreams, all the disappointments
Oh girl, what you gonna do?
Your hear keeps sayin', "It's just not fair"
But still you gotta make up your mind
Randy Newman's "The One You Love" is a moving ballad that explores the complexities of love and relationships. The song speaks directly to the listener as if offering a personal advice on the matter. Newman acknowledges that love is never simple and that the decisions we make have real consequences. He suggests that when it comes to love, there is no easy answer, and the only person who can decide what action to take is the person in question.
Newman’s lines "Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you or are you going back to the one you love?" sends chills down the spine. He paints the picture of a complicated love triangle where the singer is torn between two lovers. One of them, the "one who loves you" is someone who is ready to be there for you, to listen to you, and to care for you. The other love interest, "the one you love," is someone from your past who may have hurt you but with whom you still share a deep connection. The lyrics focus on the struggle between the past and the present, and the songwriter urges the listener to make a decision and stick by it.
Overall, "The One You Love" is a touching and thought-provoking song that offers insight into the human experience of love and relationships. It encourages critical thinking about the complexities of love and reinforces the need to take ownership of our choices in life.
Line by Line Meaning
The one you love
The person you still have feelings for
I know you need a friend, someone you can talk to
I understand that you need someone to confide in and seek advice from
Who will understand what you're going through
Someone who can empathize with your situation
When it comes to love, there's no easy answer
Love is a complex emotion and there's no straightforward solution
Only you can say what you're gonna do
Ultimately, the decision of what to do in your love life is up to you
I heard you on the phone, you took his number
I overheard you exchanging phone numbers with someone
Said you were alone but you called him 'Sue'
You lied about being alone and used a fake name while talking to him
Isn't he the guy, the guy who left you crying?
Isn't he the person who caused you emotional pain in the past?
Isn't he the one who made you blue?
Isn't he the one who caused you sadness and regret?
When you remember those nights in his arms
When you think back to the times you spent together
You know you gotta make up your mind
You realize that you have to make a choice
Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you
Do you plan on staying with the person who cares for you?
Or are you goin' back to the one you love?
Or are you considering rekindling things with the person you still love?
Someone's gonna cry when they know they've lost you
Someone will be emotional when they realize they no longer have your affections
Someone's gonna thank the stars above
Someone will be grateful for the opportunity to move on from the situation
What you gonna say when he comes over?
What will you tell him when he visits?
There's no easy way to see this through
This isn't going to be a simple or effortless process
All the broken dreams, all the disappointments
All the hopes and desires that didn't come to fruition
Oh girl, what you gonna do?
What choices will you make, my dear?
Your heart keeps sayin', 'It's just not fair'
Your emotions are telling you that this isn't just or equitable
But still you gotta make up your mind
Regardless, you have to make a decision
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind