The band has released three albums, 2006's "Broken Boy Soldiers", 2008's Consolers of the Lonely and 2019's Help Us Stranger.
Dean Fertita from The Waxwings did live keyboards for the band in 2006; he also played in Brendan Benson's band and is now touring with Queens Of The Stone Age, and is a member of White and Lawrence's band The Dead Weather.
The band had to change their name in Australia, since there already was a band named The Raconteurs there. The band is referred to as The Saboteurs in Australia.
Only Child
The Raconteurs Lyrics
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Treated like a criminal ever since day one
Only child, where do you go?
And are you coming back again? 'Cause no one wants to know
Only child, one of these days
Someone's gonna come around, and try to make you change
Only child, sensitive soul
You see the beauty in everything, without ever being told
I thought about leaving you, once or twice
Leaving it all behind, and never think twice
Somewhere far away on a beach sounds nice
Nothing on my mind, nothing on my mind
Only child, the prodigal son
Has come back home again to get his laundry done
And I thought about leaving here once or twice
Leaving it all behind and never think twice
Somewhere far away on a beach sounds nice
Nothing on my mind, nothing on my mind
The Raconteurs' song "Only Child" is a poignant look at the life of someone who has always been treated like an outsider, someone who has never quite fit in with the rest of society. The opening line, "Only child, only son, treated like a criminal ever since day one," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is someone who has been made to feel like an outcast for his entire life, simply because of who he is.
Throughout the rest of the song, we get a glimpse into the life of this "only child" as he struggles to find his place in the world. He is a sensitive soul who sees the beauty in everything, but he is always wary of the world around him. He has been hurt too many times before, and he knows that there are people out there who would try to change him if given the chance.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it speaks to the isolation and loneliness that the singer feels. "Only child, where do you go? And are you coming back again? 'Cause no one wants to know." These lines convey the idea that the singer is constantly searching for a place where he belongs, but he never quite finds it. He is a wanderer, adrift in a world that doesn't quite understand him.
Line by Line Meaning
Only child, only son
Being the only child and son, the singer has always been treated unfairly.
Treated like a criminal ever since day one
The singer has always felt like they were blamed for everything since they were born.
Only child, where do you go?
The singer doesn't know where to go as no one cares about them.
And are you coming back again? 'Cause no one wants to know
No one really cares about the artist's whereabouts or if they come back.
Only child, one of these days
Someone will eventually try to change the person who is the only child.
Someone's gonna come around, and try to make you change
The pressure to change is always around the corner.
Only child, sensitive soul
Despite being treated unfairly, the singer is empathic and compassionate.
You see the beauty in everything, without ever being told
The artist always sees the best in things, without needing to be told.
I thought about leaving you, once or twice
The artist has considered leaving their current situation multiple times.
Leaving it all behind, and never think twice
The artist wants to leave without looking back or regretting their decision.
Somewhere far away on a beach sounds nice
A distant place, like a beach, seems like a desireable location to escape to.
Nothing on my mind, nothing on my mind
The artist wants a break from worrying thoughts.
Only child, the prodigal son
Despite being treated poorly, the singer has returned home to do laundry.
Has come back home again to get his laundry done
The singer is only returning for practical reasons, not sentimentality.
And I thought about leaving here once or twice
The singer has considered leaving their current location multiple times.
Leaving it all behind and never think twice
The artist wants to leave without looking back or regretting their decision.
Somewhere far away on a beach sounds nice
A distant place, like a beach, seems like a desirable location to escape to.
Nothing on my mind, nothing on my mind
The singer wants a break from worrying thoughts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brendan Benson, John Anthony White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind