"The One I Love" is a song by American alternative rock band

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...

It was released on the band's fifth full-length studio album, ''

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'', and also as a 7"

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single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in 1987. The song was their first hit single, reaching No. 9 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, No. 14 in Canada, and later reached No. 16 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

in its 1991 re-release. The accompanying video's

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

was artist

Robert Longo Robert Longo (born 1953) is an American artist, filmmaker, photographer and musician. Longo became first well known in the 1980s for his ''Men in the Cities'' drawing and print series, which depict sharply dressed men and women writhing in cont ...

. The

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Alton Brown Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show '' Good Eats'' that ran for ...

, who later became a

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personality. In March 2005, ''Q'' magazine placed "The One I Love" at No. 57 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In 2012, '' Slant Magazine'' listed the song as the 38th best single of the 1980s. The song is included on ''

R.E.M. Live ''R.E.M. Live'' is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the ''Around the World Tour'' in support of their thirteenth studio album ''Around t ...

'' (2007). It was also included in

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's ''

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'' and '' Guitar Hero on Tour: Decades'', both in 2008, as well as

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's ''

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'' (2015).

Lyrics and meaning

The record has become a popular radio dedication to loved ones, relying on a misinterpretation of its refrain, "This one goes out to the one I love." However, subsequent lyrics in the same verse contradict the

love song A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order ...

interpretation and suggest a darker, more manipulative theme ("A simple prop to occupy my time"). Stipe related in 1987 to ''

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'', "I've always left myself pretty open to interpretation. It's probably better that they just think it's a love song at this point."Pond, Steve. "In the Real World: R.E.M.". ''

''. December 3, 1987. However, in an interview in the January 1988 issue of '' Musician'' magazine, he said that the song was "incredibly violent" and added, "It's very clear that it's about using people over and over again". The song contains only three verses, the first two of which are identical; the third verse changes the line "A simple prop to occupy my time" to "Another prop has occupied my time." The chorus consists of just the word "fire", repeated over the backing vocal of "She's coming down on her own now / Coming down on her own" (sung by

Mike Mills Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., h ...

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry,

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his ca ...

and

Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of alternative rock band R.E.M. He is known for his vocal quality, poetic lyrics and unique stage presence. Pos ...

unless otherwise indicated. # "The One I Love" – 3:16 # "Maps and Legends" (Live)¹ – 3:15

12": IRS / IRS-23792 (US)

;Side one # "The One I Love" – 3:16 ;Side two # "The One I Love" (Live)¹ – 4:06 # "Maps and Legends" (Live)¹ – 3:15

12": IRS / IRMT 146 (UK)

;Side one # "The One I Love" – 3:16 ;Side two # "Last Date" (

Floyd Cramer Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "half step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signatu ...

) – 2:16 # "Disturbance at the Heron House"¹ – 3:26

1987 CD: IRS / DIRM 146 (UK)

# "The One I Love" – 3:16 # "Last Date" (Floyd Cramer) – 2:16 # "Disturbance at the Heron House"¹ – 3:26

1988 CD: IRS / DIRM 173 (UK)

# "The One I Love" – 3:16 # "Fall on Me" – 2:50 # "So. Central Rain" – 3:14

1991 Limited Edition CD: IRS / DIRMT 178 (UK)

# "The One I Love" – 3:16 # "This One Goes Out" (Live) – 4:01 # "Maps and Legends" (Live) – 3:13

1991 Limited Edition CD: IRS / DIRMX 178 (UK)

# "The One I Love" – 3:15 # "Driver Eight" (Live) – 3:27 # "Disturbance at the Heron House" (Live) – 3:40 # "Crazy" – 3:02 ¹ Recorded at

McCabe's Guitar Shop McCabe's Guitar Shop is a musical instrument store and live music venue on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California, United States. Opened in 1958 by Gerald L. McCabe, a well-known furniture designer. McCabe's specializes in acoustic and folk i ...

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, May 24, 1987. Certain releases list the live recording of "The One I Love" as "This One Goes Out" instead.

Charts

References

External links

Video clip at REMhq.com2020 interview
with

Bertis Downs Bertis Edwin Downs IV (born July 13, 1956) is an American entertainment lawyer. He originally provided legal counsel (particularly for initial contracts), and then became both counselor and manager, for the rock band R.E.M., taking over from the ...

on the song {{DEFAULTSORT:One I Love, The 1987 songs 1987 singles R.E.M. songs Songs written by Bill Berry Songs written by Peter Buck Songs written by Mike Mills Songs written by Michael Stipe I.R.S. Records singles Song recordings produced by Scott Litt Song recordings produced by Mike Mills Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe Song recordings produced by Peter Buck Song recordings produced by Bill Berry American new wave songs