Lead vocalist Danny Wilde began his musical career as the lead singer of The Quick, an L.A.-based punk and power pop inspired combo briefly popular in the late 70s, breaking through with their song "Pretty Please Me". The musical duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem had roots in an early 80s new wave/power pop band, called Great Buildings, which released a single critically-lauded album on Columbia in 1981. Although spawning minor hits in "Hold On To Something" and "Maybe It's You", major success eluded the outfit.
After they disbanded, Wilde released a series of slick 80s solo albums before rejoining with his former partner to form the Rembrandts. Initially, the band was heavily indebted to simplistic guitar pop reminiscent of early work from The Beatles and The Everly Brothers. They also took serious inspiration from pop contemporaries such as Squeeze and Crowded House. Their first, self-titled album, released in 1990, featured the surprise #14 hit "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which managed to claw its way onto top 40 playlists despite sounding out of place for the time. Follow-up singles "Someone" and "Save Me" also garnered some airplay.
Their second record, released two years later (and titled, humorously, 'Untitled') also spawned minor hits in the brooding, violin-spiked "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and the breezy "Rolling Down the Hill". Both songs showed the band's partial influence from alternative rock groups. In 1995, however, the Rembrandts became a surprise, seemingly-overnight success when they recorded the theme song to the program 'Friends', a ditty reminiscent of British invasion groups called "I'll Be There For You",
The song became an instant smash based on its thirty-second TV version. Interestingly enough, they recorded the full-length version of "I'll Be There For You" only after the shorter version was recorded specifically for the TV show. The band was busy prepping their third release, 'L.P.', at the time that "I'll Be There For You" became so successful, and it was shoehorned last minute onto the end of the track order (initial pressings omit the song on the track list). Unfortunately, much of the new audience generated by the hit didn't take a shine to the rest of the low-key pop rock on the disc. The album went platinum and picked up supportive critical reviews, but it has become something of a lost 90s classic. A few follow-up singles, notably "This House Is Not a Home", generated a small amount of interest, but nothing compared to that of the 'Friends' theme.
The sudden shift in the band's fanbase-- where they had gone from being a low-flying critical success to a discarded 'one-hit-wonder' in the popular consciousness-- took its toll on the band, especially Solem. He outright quit several years later. Danny Wilde produced another Rembrandts album without him, but it was a commercial failure. In 2001, however, the duo reunited for 'Lost Together', their fourth album as a duo and fifth overall. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2006, displaying that the band did in fact have a singles history far deeper than the 'Friends' theme. As time has gone on, they've also had a cult following among power pop fans.
One of Us
The Rembrandts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floating 'round you like an astronaut
Seems like you can't convey...the words I wanna hear you say
And now I'm floating like an astronaut...an astronaut
How'm I gonna get to where you are...when you seem so far away
One of us has to say goodbye
One of us has to know
That one of us has to be the one of us...to let it go
Floating 'round you like a satellite
Once you, were close to me...but now it seems eternally
I float around you like a satellite....like a satellite
How'm I gonna get to where you are...when you seem so far away
One of us has to say goodbye
One of us has to know
That one of us has to be the one of us...to let it go
I've been wishin' on a star...I'm flyin' in my car
But you're nowhere
(nice guitar solo)
Too late, I spoke too soon...on the dark side of your moon
One of us has to say goodbye
One of us has to know
That one of us has to be the one of us...to let it go!
One of us has to say goodbye
One of us has to know
That one of us has to still
One of us...one of us to let it go!
One of us!
One of us!
The Rembrandts's song One of Us is a heartfelt ballad about the difficulty of letting go of someone who has become distant. The lyrics convey a sense of floating aimlessly around the person like an astronaut or satellite, unable to bridge the distance that has come between them. The singer has realized they may have spoken too soon and wants the other person to say the words they long to hear. However, they recognize that one of them has to be the one to let go and say goodbye.
The lyrics use imagery of orbiting, floating, and distance to convey the emotional distance that has come between the two people. The space theme is particularly effective at conveying the sense of being adrift and alone, despite being close to someone else. The use of the phrase "dark side of your moon" also adds a sense of mystery and foreboding to the lyrics. The mention of an unfulfilled wish on a star and the guitar solo add to the emotional intensity of the song.
Overall, The Rembrandts's One of Us is a moving song about the difficulties of letting go and coming to terms with a relationship that has changed. The space imagery adds a unique touch and underscores the feelings of distance and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Too late, I spoke too soon...on the dark side of your moon
I made a mistake by assuming too much and now it feels like I am on the hidden, secretive side of your personality.
Floating 'round you like an astronaut
I'm circling around you, but I can't get close or seem to understand you because there is a barrier.
Seems like you can't convey...the words I wanna hear you say
It feels like you are withholding the things I want to hear from you.
And now I'm floating like an astronaut...an astronaut
I am feeling lost and isolated like an astronaut floating in space, unable to reach you.
How'm I gonna get to where you are...when you seem so far away
I'm struggling to connect with you because emotionally we seem distant.
One of us has to say goodbye
We need to end this relationship or bad situation at some point.
One of us has to know
We both need to be aware of our current situation and what needs to happen next.
That one of us has to be the one of us...to let it go
One of us needs to make the tough decision to end the relationship or situation, even if it's difficult to do so.
Your world has turned around....I'm obiting you upside down
It feels like you're the center of your own universe, and I'm spinning around you in confusion trying to make sense of it.
Floating 'round you like a satellite
I'm still circling around you, but now I'm feeling more detached and distant, like a satellite orbiting the Earth.
Once you, were close to me...but now it seems eternally
We used to have a connection, but now it feels like that connection is lost forever.
I've been wishin' on a star...I'm flyin' in my car
I'm feeling hopeless and trying to hold on to something that seems out of reach, even if it means trying to find it in a faraway place.
But you're nowhere
I can't seem to locate you or find my way back to you.
Too late, I spoke too soon...on the dark side of your moon
I regret jumping to conclusions and assuming things too quickly, and now I'm stuck on the previously mentioned hard to reach hidden part of your personality.
One of us has to still
Despite everything that's happened, one of us has to remain and accept the outcome.
One of us...one of us to let it go!
One of us needs to be mature enough to move on and end the situation, no matter how painful it may be.
One of us!
Emphasizing the fact that one of us needs to take action and make the difficult decision to bring an end to whatever painful situation we're in.
One of us!
Reinforcing the previous point that one of us has to take responsibility and break the negative cycle we're stuck in.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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