The song contained lines directly lifted from the Byrds' 1967 song "Everybody's Been Burned," while the melody prominently features an organ riff lifted from the Deep Purple rendition of the song "Hush." In addition, Martin Blunt has described Jon Baker's guitar part as resembling that of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Tim Burgess has described the song as being "about teenage feelings: I like somebody, why do they not like me? I was 21 or 22, but still had those powerful emotions." According to him, the band initially intended to record a different song, "Polar Bear", for release as their second single, but after both a friend of Burgess' and their record label Beggars Banquet Records suggested that "The Only One I Know" would be a better choice, they changed plans. Burgess has described the song as having an unusual structure: "I’m still not sure which bit is the chorus. The title and main hook are in the verse, but the intro – before the main song crashes in – gives people just enough time to get on the dancefloor." Blunt has said that the breakdown to his bass part after the second verse was influenced by funk and Stax Records' southern soul sound. After the band recorded the track at The Winding Studios in Wrexham, it underwent further mixing by Chris Nagle at Strawberry Studios in Stockport.
The song was included as a track on the influential compilation album Happy Daze. A funk-styled cover version with vocals by Robbie Williams appeared on Mark Ronson's 2007 album, Version. In 2010, the song was used in a TV advert for Cadbury's chocolate. In 2012, the song featured in the film California Solo.
Tim Burgess, in his memoir Telling Stories, states that the single went on to sell 250,000 copies.
The Only One I Know
The Charlatans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only one I know, is mine when she stitches me
The only one I see, has found an aching in me
The only one I see, has turned her tongue into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
The only one I know, never cries, never opens her eyes
The only one I know, wide awake and then she's away
The only one I see, is mine when she walks down the street
The only one I see, has carved her way into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
The lyrics to The Charlatans' song The Only One I Know are full of enigmatic and mysterious images that seem to evoke the idea of someone who has come to take the singer away, someone who has found a place inside of him, someone who has turned her tongue into him. The song seems to be about the experience of being haunted by a presence; the sense that there is something out there that is both attractive and dangerous, both alluring and frighteningly powerful. The singer in the song is both drawn to this presence and also somewhat scared of it.
The repeated refrain, "Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain," seems to tie the song together thematically, suggesting that the experience of being haunted by something or someone is a universal one, and that everyone has felt the pain of longing and desire at some point in their lives. The song is full of tension and ambiguity, with its seemingly contradictory lyrics only adding to the sense of unease.
Overall, The Only One I Know is a haunting and enigmatic song that seems to be about the experience of being consumed by desire for something or someone that is both alluring and frighteningly powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
The only one I know, has come to take me away
The person whom I trust the most has arrived to rescue me from my problems or responsibilities.
The only one I know, is mine when she stitches me
The trustworthy person who always supports me is like a nurse who mends my emotional wounds and helps me recover.
The only one I see, has found an aching in me
The person who understands me the most has detected my pain and sorrow, and wants to help alleviate them.
The only one I see, has turned her tongue into me
The person who understands me the most can speak my language and empathize with me deeply.
Everyone has been burned before
All people have suffered emotional pain from past relationships or experiences.
Everybody knows the pain
The experience of emotional pain is common and universal.
The only one I know, never cries, never opens her eyes
The person who is always there for me never shows vulnerability or weakness, but remains stoic no matter the circumstance.
The only one I know, wide awake and then she's away
The person who is always there for me is alert and reliable, but can also disappear suddenly if needed.
The only one I see, is mine when she walks down the street
The person who always understands me is recognizable even from a distance, and is always devoted to me.
The only one I see, has carved her way into me
The person who understands me the most has left an indelible mark on me and has become an essential part of my life.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jon Baker, Jon Brookes, Timothy Burgess, Robert James Collins, Martin Victor Blunt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antonyvillenueve9246
The only one I know, has come to take me away
The only one I know, is mine when she stitches me
The only one I see, has found an aching in me
The only one I see, has turned her tongue into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
The only one I know, never cries, never opens her eyes
The only one I know, wide awake and then she's away
The only one I see, is mine when she walks down the street
The only one I see, has carved her way into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
@russc.9618
In my opinion this is one of the greatest songs in British rock history. It’s hypnotic and magical and has aged incredibly well.
@BaldricksTurnip1
It's just brilliant and uber cool,glad I grew up in that era because all subsequent music has paled into insignificance.
@shrekislikeanonion9876
YEAH MAN!!
@sherylmac40
@@BaldricksTurnip1 🎯
@Steven_mackenzie
It came out when I lsd for the first time, and just done aya recently. be careful, aya and dmt is great, but respect it
@viktorkovach8772
I agree this is a great song,
but there are so many of them that pretend to be greatest song of all time , so its difficult..I simply enjoy all od them and dont think..
@ianbeeston2881
Every time I hear this I’m transported back to being 21 again, going clubbing with my 19 year old girlfriend!!! We’ve been married 30 years this year 😂
@guitartopro
fantastic, I'm still with my girl from the 90's I was 21 she was 18 nearly we are still together im 48 now
@TheAzureus73
@@guitartopro ❤
@waynevincent4112
These songs are hypothetical