One More Time
Redbone Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

papa tangles with his wige
at the threat of his life
he can't get a little independence
say your sister's got a babe
her man has gone away
she cries like the dickens til morn
got no bread to pay the landlord
got a song to keep my head clear
one more time for your trouble
and you say the jell with it and keep repeating
say your brother's got a jones
and he looks like skin and bones
he says he can kick it when he wants to
or your mama's on her feet
she's eatin at the street
all your friends get the giggles when she pass
got no pride to face the world with
cus my head is on my chest i' looking downward
one more time and then the problem




got to straighten out my brain from going crazy
one more time etc...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Redbone's song "One More Time" paint a vivid picture of a family struggling to make ends meet and dealing with different crises. From the father trying to assert his independence from his wife to the sister crying over her absent partner, and the brother with a drug addiction, to the mother who is reduced to begging on the street. The singer, perhaps due to feeling helpless, takes solace in music, singing "got no bread to pay the landlord, got a song to keep my head clear." It's as if singing this song is the only thing keeping the singer from losing their mind in the face of all these challenges.


The lines "one more time for your trouble, and you say the jell with it and keep repeating" further reinforce that sense of exhaustion and resignation. The singer knows that they will have to face these problems again but hopes that by singing one more time, they will be able to keep their head above water for a little while longer. This song is a poignant reflection of the human desire for hope and perseverance even in the face of overwhelming adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

papa tangles with his wige
Papa is having a fight with his wife


at the threat of his life
It seems like it's a very serious fight


he can't get a little independence
He's feeling trapped in his situation and wants some freedom


say your sister's got a babe
Your sister has a baby


her man has gone away
Her partner has left her


she cries like the dickens til morn
She's crying a lot all night long


got no bread to pay the landlord
She's broke and can't pay her rent


got a song to keep my head clear
Music is helping him clear his mind


one more time for your trouble
He's asking for another chance to get it right


and you say the jell with it and keep repeating
When things get tough, he wants to ignore them and keep going


say your brother's got a jones
Your brother's addicted to something


and he looks like skin and bones
He's physically wasting away due to addiction


he says he can kick it when he wants to
He believes he can stop whenever he chooses


or your mama's on her feet
Your mother is struggling to make ends meet


she's eatin at the street
She's so broke that she's eating food from the pavement


all your friends get the giggles when she pass
His friends make fun of his mother when she walks by in poverty


got no pride to face the world with
He's feeling ashamed of his situation and has lost his self-respect


cus my head is on my chest i' looking downward
He's feeling downcast and depressed


one more time and then the problem
He's asking for one more chance to solve his problems


got to straighten out my brain from going crazy
He needs to get a grip on his thoughts before he loses it


one more time etc...
He keeps holding onto the hope that he can make it right




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOLLY VEGAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@redboneband9825

Every November is "Native American Month"-- so, listen to the "Native American Themed' songs of Redbone, including:
1. JERICO
2.WOVOKA
3.MESSAGE FROM A DRUM
4. CHANT 13TH HOUR (WHICH INTRODUCED FIRST EARTH DAY IN 1970)
5. RED AND BLUE (ALSO INTRODUCED FIRST EARTH DAY IN 1970)
6.WE WERE ALL WOUNDED AT WOUNDED KNEE
7. CUSTER HAD IT COMING
8.NIJI TRANCE
9. ALCATRAZ (dealing with Native American protest & occupation of Alcatraz island)

Of course, there are MANY other great songs: my favorites are " When You Got Trouble", "One More Time", "Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band", "Maggie", Witch Queen of New Orleans", and "One Monkey"- Take a listen!



All comments from YouTube:

@erickberg5446

praise to all Native Indian Americans....THE REAL AMERICAN

@teenanance8691

Absolutely!!! Amen!!

@magnoliahernandez2322

Aho aho ❤

@jaamslt

The true originals ❤

@laurelwood791

They were Mexican.

@alicegorsen1968

@@laurelwood791 Wrong they were full fledged Native American Indians.......

16 More Replies...

@galesprouse2388

I love this music and redbone they need to. Get awards for there music. I m Cherokee Indian love my race proud to be American Indian. ✌🏽🤟🏾🇺🇸

@marcoantoniocruzdominguez7977

Seras nativo americano....pero no gringo...tus raices van mas alla de la benderita de las rallas y estrellas ..ess bandera significo la desaparicion de la mayoria del pueblo nativo real...los anglos son invasores de esta tierra...asi que solo expresa tus raices nativas....significa que nacieron fundaron esa tierra y no llegaron de otra.....nativo....ser de ahi...

@KarenDurrie

Redbone was righteous! Such a specific sound, and amazing talent, all of them. And HOT. The lead singer does it for me. This Indigenous band deserves so much more recognition in the annals of the musical history of the time.

@abaxteria

It's the bassist for me. His bass is beautiful, too.

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