The Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Ze… Read Full Bio ↴The Clean are an influential indie rock band that formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978. The Clean soon forged a distinctive and quirky sound, inspired by punk filtered through to the relatively isolated New Zealand. Although they released several chart-topping singles in their native country, The Clean are a little-known cult band outside of New Zealand, although their influence is surprisingly far-reaching. They became a staple of college radio in the 1980s; Stephen Malkmus of Pavement cites them as a major influence, and the band's droney 80s output is a direct forerunner of bands such as Yo La Tengo and Camper Van Beethoven.

In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.

During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.

In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.

In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).

Some One
The Clean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell me,
Tell me that you want me,
And I'll be yours completely
For better or for worse.

I know,
We'll have our disagreements,
Be fighting for no reason.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

'Cause I knew
The first day that I met you
I was never gonna let you,
Let you slip away.

And I
Still remember feeling nervous
Trying to find the words to
Get you here today.

You make my heart feel like it's summer
When the rain is pouring down.
You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong.
That's how I know you are the one.
That's why I know you are the one

Life
It's easy to be scared of.
With you I am prepared for
What is yet to come.

'Cause our two
Hearts will make it easy
Joining up the pieces
Together making one.

You make my heart feel like it's summer
When the rain is pouring down
You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong
That's how I know you are the one
That's why I know you are the one

When we are together you make me feel like my mind is free and my dreams are reachable, whoa
You know I never ever believed in love, I believed one day that you would come along and free me

You make my heart feel like it's summer
When the rain is pouring down
You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong

That's how I know you are the one
That's why I know you are the one

That's why I know you are the one
That's how I know you are the one

Overall Meaning

The Clean's song "Some One" is a heartfelt love song that expresses the various emotions and experiences that come with being in a committed relationship. The lyrics convey intense feelings of love, devotion, and appreciation for a special someone in the singer's life. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the entire message, with the singer pleading for their lover to express their feelings and return their love. The singer then describes the ups and downs that are inevitable in any relationship, such as disagreements and fights, but emphasizes that these moments do not diminish their love. The chorus is the triumphant declaration of how this person makes the singer feel, which is like they are in the midst of summer, even when it seems like everything is dark and gloomy.

The second verse of the song is a reaffirmation of the commitment that the singer has made to their partner. It speaks of their readiness to face whatever challenges life may bring, with the confidence that their love will be strong enough to see them through. The last lines of the verse communicate the idea that, together, the two hearts will become one. The final chorus repeats the message that this person makes the singer's world feel right, even when it seems all wrong. The added bridge helps the message sink in deeper, with the singer stating that when they are together, their minds are free and their dreams are reachable.

Overall, "Some One" is a beautiful and uplifting love song that expresses the depth of the singer's feelings for their partner. It recognizes that being in a relationship isn't always easy, but through it all, their love remains constant and unshakable. The song celebrates the transformative power of love and the way it makes things better even during the darkest times.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me,
The singer is requesting the listener to confess something to them.

Tell me that you want me,
The singer is asking the listener to communicate their feelings of desire towards the singer.

And I'll be yours completely
The singer is willing to commit to the listener fully if they express their feelings.

For better or for worse.
The artist is committed to accepting the good and bad aspects of a relationship.

I know,
The artist is confident in the upcoming statement.

We'll have our disagreements,
The singer acknowledges that conflicts will occur in the relationship.

Be fighting for no reason.
The singer understands that some disagreements may be irrational.

I wouldn't change it for the world.
The artist enjoys the relationship despite its flaws and wouldn't want it any other way.

'Cause I knew
The artist is explaining the reason for their strong commitment to the listener.

The first day that I met you
The artist is specifying when they felt a strong connection to the listener.

I was never gonna let you,
The singer has no intention of losing the listener after feeling a connection on the first day.

Let you slip away.
The artist is afraid of losing the opportunity to be in a relationship with the listener.

And I
The singer is continuing their personal account of their relationship with the listener.

Still remember feeling nervous
The singer recalls their initial feelings when trying to pursue the listener.

Trying to find the words to
The singer struggled to articulate their feelings for the listener.

Get you here today.
The artist was making an effort to get the listener to be with them.

You make my heart feel like it's summer
The listener has a strong emotional effect on the artist, making them feel happy and warm.

When the rain is pouring down.
Even in difficult circumstances, the listener's effect on the singer is positive.

You make my whole world feel so right when it's wrong.
The listener makes the singer feel secure and stable even when things go wrong.

That's how I know you are the one.
The lyrical repetition emphasizes the artist's conviction that the listener is the right partner for them.

Life
The artist is discussing the general subject of life.

It's easy to be scared of.
The artist acknowledges that life can be frightening or uncertain.

With you I am prepared for
The singer is explaining that they feel ready to deal with the difficulties of life alongside the listener.

What is yet to come.
The artist is anticipating a shared future with the listener.

'Cause our two
The singer is emphasizing the importance of their mutual connection with the listener.

Hearts will make it easy
The singer believes that their relationship will make facing difficulties easier.

Joining up the pieces
The singer is using imagery to express the idea that their relationship will bring all the components of their lives together.

Together making one.
The artist is emphasizing the unity and cohesion of a relationship.

When we are together you make me feel like my mind is free and my dreams are reachable, whoa
The artist is describing the positive effect the listener has on their sense of mental freedom and ability to achieve their goals.

You know I never ever believed in love, I believed one day that you would come along and free me
The singer is discussing how their perception of love has changed since meeting the listener.

Writer(s): David Auld Kilgour, Robert Marshall Scott, Hamish Robert Kilgour

Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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