One Life At A Time
Thompson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In my nightmare everything's wrong
I'm waiting for love, but you come along
You smile, you wave, you great me, Ciao!
But you seem too happy to see me somehow

Then the sky falls in on my head
Your nails grow long, your eyes turn red
You say, forever dear and a day
You promise you're never going to go away
And my feet won't move when I run the other way

[Chorus]
I can't wake up to save my life
I can't wake up to save my life

In my nightmare you forgive me
The cruellest gift you could ever give me
You say that you understand me now
But your eyes say, brother, I'll get you somehow
Then the lightning streaks across the room

You smell like something fresh from the tomb
You squeeze too hard, you iinsist on kissing
When it seems like half your face is missing
And your hair's turned into reptiles hissing

[Chorus]

Things I done make my dreams go bad
Like Borstal boys coming home to Dad
What ye reap so shall ye sow
Now shake me, wake me, go man go





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Thompson's song "One Life At A Time" depict a nightmarish scenario where the singer is trapped in a twisted and distorted reality. The song explores themes of fear, love, forgiveness, and the consequences of one's actions.


The nightmare begins with the singer longing for love, but instead, they are faced with someone who appears too happy to see them. This juxtaposition creates a sense of unease, as if something is not quite right. As the nightmare unfolds, the sky metaphorically falls in on the singer's head, indicating the overwhelming feeling of despair and chaos. The person they encounter transforms into a menacing figure, with long nails and red eyes, symbolizing danger and deception. Despite the singer's attempts to escape, their feet are immobilized, showcasing their inability to confront the looming threat.


In the second verse, the nightmare takes a different turn, as the antagonist forgives the singer, which is portrayed as a twisted and cruel gesture. The forgiveness seems insincere, as the eyes of the other person convey a hidden agenda, suggesting that they are plotting something nefarious. The lightning streaking across the room represents the tension and danger that looms in the relationship. The antagonist's physical appearance becomes distorted, with hair turning into hissing reptiles, highlighting the malevolence and unpredictability of their character.


The chorus, "I can't wake up to save my life," conveys the feeling of being trapped in the nightmare, unable to escape or break free from its grip. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the desperation and helplessness of the singer's situation.


Line by Line Meaning

In my nightmare everything's wrong
In the dream, everything is going horribly and nothing is going right.


I'm waiting for love, but you come along
Despite seeking love, someone unexpected enters their life.


You smile, you wave, you great me, Ciao!
The person greets with a smile and friendly gesture.


But you seem too happy to see me somehow
However, there is suspicion that their happiness may be fake or deceptive.


Then the sky falls in on my head
Suddenly, everything starts to go terribly wrong.


Your nails grow long, your eyes turn red
The person's appearance changes dramatically, becoming eerie and unsettling.


You say, forever dear and a day
They make a promise of eternal commitment.


You promise you're never going to go away
They assure that they will never leave or abandon.


And my feet won't move when I run the other way
Despite wanting to escape, fear or paralysis prevents them from fleeing.


I can't wake up to save my life
They are unable to awaken from this nightmarish situation, even with utmost desperation.


In my nightmare you forgive me
Within the nightmare, the person grants forgiveness.


The cruellest gift you could ever give me
However, this act of forgiveness is incredibly painful and torturous.


You say that you understand me now
They claim to comprehend their situation and emotions.


But your eyes say, brother, I'll get you somehow
Despite their words, their eyes reveal a hidden, sinister intention to harm.


Then the lightning streaks across the room
Suddenly, a burst of intense energy or danger fills the environment.


You smell like something fresh from the tomb
Their scent resembles something deathly or undead.


You squeeze too hard, you insist on kissing
Their actions become forceful and demanding, crossing personal boundaries.


When it seems like half your face is missing
Their appearance becomes distorted, giving the impression of a missing or incomplete face.


And your hair's turned into reptiles hissing
Their hair transforms into reptilian creatures that emit threatening sounds.


Things I done make my dreams go bad
The regretful actions they have committed cause their dreams to turn into nightmares.


Like Borstal boys coming home to Dad
Similar to troubled youths returning to face their disappointed father, the consequences of their actions await.


What ye reap so shall ye sow
They are now facing the repercussions of their past actions.


Now shake me, wake me, go man go
They desperately plead to be shaken awake to escape this nightmare and move forward.


I can't wake up to save my life
Despite the urgent need, they are unable to awaken from their torment.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD JOHN THOMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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