Tones on Tail's music is psychedelic/surrealist with a heavy English gothic rock vibe. It is textural and introspective and exhibits Ash's characteristically clean production. The band made a point of having each song sound as different as possible. In concert, the band sported all-white as a reaction to Bauhaus's all-black look. They never achieved a large following, though the track Go! is a retro dance club staple and a frequent addition to 1980s music compilations.
The band's back catalog has been subjected to a lot of compilations and reissues over the years; collecting the entire Tones on Tail discography was a difficult task. This was the situation until the 1998 release of Everything!, an appropriately named two-CD set of every track, fully remastered, plus a radio interview with Ash and Campling. The first disc contains the band's sole album Pop, while the second disc collects the rest of the band's work.
There's Only One
Tones on Tail Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you want two
he wants three
they want four
there's only one (2x)
coloured flies and cadillacs
take only one (2x)
black or white
right or wrong
up two flights and still as strong
there's only one (2x)
up and down
and up,up,up
freeze frame smash, then rip it up
take only one
sixteen bars and greasy spoons
big blue burgies and popcorn tunes
take only one (5x)
you want two
he wants three
they want four
there's only one
coloured flies and cadillacs
ninety nines or soft hatchbacks
take only one
black or white
right or wrong
up two flights and still as strong
there's only one
up and down
and up,up,up
freeze frame smash, then rip it up
take only one (5x)
oowow -there's only one
you want two
he wants three
they want four
there's only one
you want two
he wants three
they want - four
there's only one
you want two
he wants three
they want
there's only one
there's only one
baby I'll stop,
there's no intelligent life down here
'there's only one'
The song “There’s Only One” by Tones on Tail is an enigmatic and thought-provoking track with lyrics that leave much open to interpretation. At the surface level, the chorus of the song repeats the line “you want two, he wants three, they want four, there’s only one” multiple times. This seems to suggest some sort of conflict or debate about how resources should be distributed or how decisions should be made. The lines “black or white, right or wrong, up two flights and still as strong” may suggest that even when faced with difficult decisions or strong opposition, the subject of the song remains steadfast in their convictions.
The verses of the song do not follow a clear narrative, but instead consist of a series of disconnected phrases such as “coloured flies and Cadillacs, ninety nines or soft hatchbacks”. These images seem deliberately nonsensical and abstract, adding to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the song. The final line of the song, “There’s no intelligent life down here” seems to further emphasize the alien and otherworldly nature of the song’s lyrics. The overarching themes of the song may suggest a disconnect between the individual and society or a feeling of isolation in the face of the chaos of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
eno ylno s'ereht
There is only one
you want two
You may want more, but there is only one option
he wants three
He may desire more, but there is only one true choice
they want four
They might prefer more, but there is only one solution
there's only one
Regardless of how many alternatives there may be, there is only one valid answer or course of action
coloured flies and cadillacs
Vivid and ostentatious things may be tempting, but one must only choose one
ninety nines or soft hatchbacks
Multiple options are available, but one must only select one
take only one
Don't be lured in by all the possibilities, just pick one
black or white
There are contrasting options, but ultimately only one is right
right or wrong
Opinions and stances may differ, but there is only one decision that is correct
up two flights and still as strong
Even though it might be a long journey, the right choice will remain steadfast and reliable
up and down
There may be fluctuations and changes, but the correct solution will remain the same
and up,up,up
Even if the path is hard, the right decision will lead to success
freeze frame smash, then rip it up
Even if things seem solid, they can fall apart quickly. Be sure you only make one choice
sixteen bars and greasy spoons
Life can be complicated, but in the end, you must only make one decision
big blue burgies and popcorn tunes
Pleasures and enjoyment can be tempting, but one must only select one
you want - four
It may seem tempting to have more options, but in the end, there is only one that truly matters
baby I'll stop,
I will not continue making decisions that don't matter because in the end, only one choice truly matters.
there's no intelligent life down here
There is no point in looking for additional alternatives because there is only one valid solution.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, GLENN DEREK CAMPLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
duffy2604
As Good as Anything in its day, only better!
Clare Lonsdale
So ahead of their time! Bit like German band Can.
Vincent Avila
Only ONE.
Captain Sensible
Only one!
salome goguadze
რა ხდება ჩემიკაი