One By One
Wilco w/ Billy Bragg Lyrics
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One by one my words come falling on the page
One by one my dreams are fading in the twilight
One by one my schemes are failing fast away
One by one the flowers fade here in my garden
One by one the leaves are falling from the trees
One by one my hopes are vanished in the clouds dear
One by one like snowflakes melting in the breeze
One by one my hair is turning gray
One by one my dreams are fading fast away
One by one I ready your letters over
One by one I lay them all away
One by one the days are slipping up behind you
One by one the sweetest days of life go by
One by one the moments stealing up behind you
One by one she'll come and find not you or I
One by one I hear the soft words that you whispered
One by one I feel your kisses soft and sweet
One by one I hope you'll say the words to marry
One by one to one by one forever be
In "One By One," Wilco and Billy Bragg explore the theme of the gradual fading of passion and love. The lyrics are written in a somber tone that reflects the evanescence of life. The song's opening lines, "One by one the teardrops fall as I write to you / One by one my words come falling on the page," sets the melancholic and reflective mood.
As the song progresses, the themes of fading dreams, lost hopes, and fleeting moments continue to be explored. The lines "One by one the flowers fade here in my garden / One by one the leaves are falling from the trees" are particularly evocative, and they conjure an image of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
The final verse of the song offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer imagines the possibility of a committed partnership. "One by one I hope you'll say the words to marry / One by one to one by one forever be." Despite the passage of time and the loss of passion, the singer clings to the hope that love can be renewed and revitalized.
Overall, "One By One" is a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the gradual erosion of passion over time. The song suggests that even as love fades, hope remains, and there is always the possibility of renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
One by one the teardrops fall as I write to you
I am crying as I write this letter to you
One by one my words come falling on the page
I am writing one word at a time on this paper
One by one my dreams are fading in the twilight
All of my dreams are fading away slowly
One by one my schemes are failing fast away
All of my plans are failing quickly
One by one the flowers fade here in my garden
All of the flowers in my garden are dying one at a time
One by one the leaves are falling from the trees
The leaves on the trees are falling off one at a time
One by one my hopes are vanished in the clouds dear
All of my hopes and dreams are disappearing like clouds
One by one like snowflakes melting in the breeze
Everything is disappearing one by one like snowflakes melting
One by one my hair is turning gray
My hair is slowly turning gray
One by one my dreams are fading fast away
All of my dreams are disappearing quickly
One by one I read your letters over
I am reading your letters one at a time
One by one I lay them all away
I put all of your letters away one at a time
One by one the days are slipping up behind you
The days are passing by quickly one after another
One by one the sweetest days of life go by
The best days of our lives are going by quickly one at a time
One by one the moments stealing up behind you
The moments are slipping away quickly one at a time
One by one she'll come and find not you or I
She will come looking for us, but we won't be there
One by one I hear the soft words that you whispered
I am remembering the soft words that you whispered one at a time
One by one I feel your kisses soft and sweet
I am feeling your kisses one at a time
One by one I hope you'll say the words to marry
I hope you will propose to me one day
One by one to one by one forever be
We will be together forever, one and then the other
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JEFF TWEEDY, WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@acapps6341
I had a boyfriend, the first one that I really loved. We were in love, and wanted to marry. I introduced him to this album and he loved it. We would drink beer, talk all night, and slow dance. He even taught me a box step. Sadly he died, froze to death outside in December. Just two days after he left this world my stereo came on, by itself, early in the morning and I was in bed asleep, though this cd was still in the tray, playing this song loudly. I came downstairs and just sat on the last step, crying listening to the song. After the song was over, it stopped. It didn't play any other tracks. I'm convinced he was there saying goodbye to me. I love this song (the entire cd is a masterpiece) but it makes me cry everytime I hear it. He's been gone eleven years now, but I cry for what could of been a very happy life together.
@stevemelling9438
The fantastic idea of Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, to have her father's lyrics put to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco led to a host of great songs. I don't know if this was the first and/or only example of such a process but it was a magnificent tribute to her father and ensured his philosophy was rekindled at a time when essential human values were already fading away.
@viejachancletuda
This song is so beautiful it brings me to tears every time I hear it. I wish it would never end.
@shannonstahlin5376
Yes
@smolderingtitan
one by one, it fades in and fades out
@marcosperalta7709
Mágico. Melancólico. Nostálgico.
@sheripie123
What a great album! Totally worth buying.
@liliamaramello3008
A most beautiful song. Funny how songs bring back memories and feelings. This one hurts. It all meant a lot to me.
@deutschrapoderwas
It's an utterly catchy song!
@ericineffible
Thank you Billy Bragg Wilco and Woody got three, classic song, truth be told, Woody couldn't have done more justice to this lyric than what Billy Bragg and Wilco achieved! Good job boys and thank you monkadee for the upload! We be jamming!