Transvision Vamp was a popular UK alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by… Read Full Bio ↴Transvision Vamp was a popular UK alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James, the band enjoyed a brief period of success in the late 1980s, fusing elements of punk, pop and rock and the "big band" sound of Phil Spector to produce a pop punk sound. James, the lead singer and focal-point of the group, attracted media attention with her sexually-charged and rebellious image.
Together with Dave Parsons and Anthony Doughty (AKA Tex Axile) made up the the band's four permanent members. Additional members Pol Burton, James Piper and Martin Hallett were musicians engaged to play during live concerts: Burton, then later Hallett (AKA Mallet), on drums, and Piper on guitar.
The band was signed by MCA and released a cover single of the Holly and the Italians song "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" in April 1988 . A month later the follow-up single "I Want Your Love", with its pop/punk crossover appeal, entered the Top 5 in the United Kingdom. The band went on to release the hit album Pop Art in October.
1989 was the band's most successful year, with the number 3 hit single "Baby I Don't Care" and hit album Velveteen.
In 1990 MCA refused to release Transvision Vamp's third album Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble in the UK, reportedly disliking the mellower direction of the music. Wendy James has stated "...it came out in America and did better than the other two albums in America. But then we decided to split up, during which time the English record label had said they weren't convinced about this record, we're going to hold off on it and see how well it does in other countries first. By the time they were ready to release it, we'd already decided to split up, and so it never came out". The band formally split early in 1991. Tex Axile left to Join Max with John Reynolds, Kevin Mooney and Mathew Ashman formerly of Sinead O'connor, Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. Dave Parsons Joined Gavin Rossdale and formed Bush.
James went on to a solo career and in 2004 formed the band Racine.

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The Only One
Transvision Vamp Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm standing on the edge of the world
All by myself
Thinking about you and no one else
Cos you're the one
You're the only one
Yeah you're the one
You're the only one
You're the only one that could mess me up

And kick me down
Put an arrow through my heart
And twist it all around
Oh you're the only one

I've been walking all through the night
And dreaming all day
I ain't got nothing left to say
Except you're the one
You're the only one
Yeah you're the only
You're the only one
You're the only one that would pin me up
Just to rip me down

Take your place in my heart
And turn it upside down
Oh, You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
Yeah it's true
You're the only one
And I want you
You're the only one

I'm standing on the edge of the world
All by myself
Thinking 'bout you and no one else
Cos you're the one
You're the only one
Yeah you're the only one that would pin me up
Just to rip me down
Put an arrow through my heart
And turn it all around
Oh you're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one
You're the only one

To put an arrow in my heart
You're the only one

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Transvision Vamp's "The Only One" express a deep obsession and dependence on a person who has the power to bring the singer both pleasure and pain. Throughout the song, the singer is standing on the edge of the world by themselves thinking about this person, wishing they could be with them. The lyrics repeat the phrase "you're the one, you're the only one" to emphasize just how much of an impact this person has had on their life.

The lyrics suggest a level of vulnerability and devotion that is both empowering and dangerous. The singer acknowledges that this person has the ability to "mess me up and kick me down" and "put an arrow through my heart and turn it all around". Yet, they still can't help but yearn for them. The romantic notions presented in the song are ultimately tainted by the realization that this love is more destructive than it is healthy.

Overall, "The Only One" is a song about the complexity of love and the power dynamics that can arise between two people. The lyrics are emotive and border on melodramatic, but ultimately convey the depth of feeling that the singer has for this person.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm standing on the edge of the world
I feel like I'm at a precipice, looking down at everything I know.

All by myself
I'm alone in this moment.

Thinking about you and no one else
You're the only thing on my mind.

Cos you're the one
Out of all the people in the world, you're the most important to me.

You're the only one
There is no one else like you.

Yeah you're the one
Without you, my world would be incomplete.

You're the only one that could mess me up
You have the power to completely ruin me.

And kick me down
You can make me feel so low.

Put an arrow through my heart
You have the power to hurt me deeply.

And twist it all around
You can make me feel confused and conflicted.

Oh you're the only one
You're the only person who can do these things to me.

I've been walking all through the night
I've been wandering aimlessly and cannot find my way.

And dreaming all day
I've been lost in thoughts of you all day long.

I ain't got nothing left to say
I don't know what else to tell you .

Except you're the one
The only thing I'm sure of is that you are the most important person in my life.

You're the only one
No one else can replace you.

Yeah you're the only
There is no one else.

You're the only one that would pin me up
You're the only one who could build me up.

Just to rip me down
Then tear me down again.

Take your place in my heart
I want you to be the center of my emotions.

And turn it upside down
But your power over me means that you can completely change my mood.

Oh, You're the only one
You are my everything.

You're the only one
There is no one else who compares.

You're the only one
I need you in my life.

You're the only one
I love you.

You're the only one
I can't imagine life without you.

Yeah it's true
This is a fact.

You're the only one
You are the only person who can make me feel this way.

And I want you
I need you in my life.

You're the only one
You are my everything.

I'm standing on the edge of the world
I still feel like I'm at the edge of a cliff.

All by myself
I am still alone in this moment.

Thinking 'bout you and no one else
You're still the only thing on my mind.

Cos you're the one
But that's because you're the most important person in my life.

You're the only one that would pin me up
You're the only one who can make me feel on top of the world.

Just to rip me down
But then tear me down again.

Put an arrow through my heart
You have the power to hurt me deeply.

And turn it all around
You can also make me feel like I'm on cloud nine.

Oh you're the only one
You are still the only person who can make me feel this way.

You're the only one
You are still the only person who matters.

You're the only one
You will always be the only one for me.

You're the only one
I love you forever.

You're the only one
Thank you for being the only one.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN TARNEY, LEO SAYER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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