Template:Song"Only One" is a single by Kanye West that was released on December 31, 2014.[1] It was also released as the second track from Kanye's EP, Dear Donda (2021).[2] The song features backing vocals from Paul McCartney and Ty Dolla $ign.[3]
The song is a tribute to his daughter North and is sung as a message to himself through his mother Donda West. McCartney is featured on the track as a musician and can be heard on "faint" and electronically manipulated backing vocals, but does not sing any lead vocal part.[4][5]
Production[]
The song is an interpolation of the traditional folk song, "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep".[6]
Background[]
Some of the earliest versions of the song were produced during the Yeezus 2 era. One of the tracks on CyHi the Prynce's infamous "ypm" playlist is titled "OO", an abbreviation of "Only One".[7] Ty Dolla $ign revealed that he recorded his vocals for the song in Mexico in September 2014.[8] In 2016, Kanye made an updated version of the song for the Saint Pablo Tour with vocals from Caroline Shaw. This version would later leak in its entirety.[9]
In an interview, Kanye stated that he didn't remember recording the song at all. He stated that his late mother, Donda, "spoke through him that day".[10] In a tweet, Kanye's then-wife, Kim Kardashian, called it her favorite song by Kanye because "Kanye feels like his mom sang thru him to our daughter".[11]
An extended version of the song, featuring Lana Del Ray, was rumored to release on Cruel Winter. However, neither the song nor the album released.[12]
Music video[]
Kanye West - Only One ft. Paul McCartney
On January 29, 2015, Kanye previewed the music video for the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The video, directed by Spike Jonze, would release a day later.[13] In the video, Kanye walks through a soggy field with his 18-month-old daughter, North.[14]
Lyrics[]
As I lay me down to sleep
I hear her speak to me
Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin'
I know you're happy, 'cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside ya head to believe it
I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel
And look at all that he gave you
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
'Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you
So I can say
Hello my only one, just like the mornin' sun
You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name
Hello my only one, remember who you are
No, you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day
Remember how I'd say
Hey, hey, one day you'll be the man you always knew you could be
And if you knew how proud I was
You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no, you wouldn't do that
And though I didn't pick the day to turn the page
I know it's not the end every time I see her face, and I hear you say
Hello, my only one, remember who you are
You got the world 'cause you got love in your hands
And you're still my chosen one
So can you understand? One day you'll understand
So hear me out, hear me out
I won't go, I won't go
No goodbyes, no goodbyes
Just hello, just hello
And when you cry, I will cry
And when you smile, I will smile
And next time when I look in your eyes
We'll have wings and we'll fly
'Llo my only one, just like the mornin' sun
You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name
And you're still my chosen one, remember who you are
No, you're not perfect, but you're not your mistakes
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori ab-
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me
Credits[]
Adapted from Spotify[15]:
- Performed by Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Ty Dolla $ign
- Written by Kirby Dockery, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Paul McCartney, Kanye West
- Produced by Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein
References[]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_One_(Kanye_West_song)
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/3OlHi2WSahKBQmqzwsxHLk
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-only-one-lyrics
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_One_(Kanye_West_song)
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-kanye-wests-only-one-paul-mccartney-20150102-column.html
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Only-One/
- ↑ https://genius.com/a/cyhi-the-prynces-spotify-account-may-offer-a-glimpse-into-kanye-wests-scrapped-yeezus-2-album
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/57938-ty-dolla-ign-says-he-kanye-west-rihanna-and-paul-mccartney-are-dropping-a-song-together/
- ↑ https://krakenfiles.com/view/WiT4udzMNa/file.html
- ↑ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-kanye-wests-only-one-paul-mccartney-20150102-column.html
- ↑ https://twitter.com/kimkardashian/status/550558632639606785?lang=en
- ↑ https://allhiphop.com/rumors/kanye-west-to-release-a-new-project-this-week-cruel-winter/?expand_article=1
- ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/58261-kanye-west-previews-only-one-video-talks-fatherhood-adidas-partnership-on-ellen/
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_One_(Kanye_West_song)#Music_video
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/0j35X8cTq543QDYLOyqB8W?si=b07f38947ed349b1