‘The One I Love’ is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released on the band's fifth full-length studio album, Document, and also as a 7" vinyl single 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 in its 1991 re-release. 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 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 interpretation and suggest a darker, more manipulative theme ("A simple prop to occupy my time"). Stipe related in 1987 to Rolling Stone, "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." 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." This is not based on any real person or event. The band made up the lyrics while they were on a tour.
The lead vocal on the chorus contains just one word: "Fire," which Michael Stipe draws out into a long wail. In the background, you can hear bass player Mike Mills singing, "She's comin' down on her own, now." Often misinterpreted as a love song, this is just the opposite. Michael Stipe describes this song as about using people over and over. It's deceptive because it could be a love song until the line, "A simple prop to occupy my time." Speaking to Mojo in 2016, Stipe said that he wasn't at all dismayed that so many people misinterpreted the sarcastic and spiteful lyrics as a straightforward love song. "I didn't like the song to begin with," he explained. "I felt it was too brutal. I thought the sentiment was too difficult to put out into the world. But people misunderstood it, so it was fine. Now it's a love song, so that's fine."
Robert Longo directed the music video for this song, which has images of tenement buildings, dancers and lonely couples, mixed with sweeping clouds, lightning bolts and bursts of flame. The director of photography was Alton Brown, who would go on to be a Food Network star with shows like Good Eats, Iron Chef America, and Cutthroat Kitchen.
Label – I.R.S.
Songwriters – Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe
Producers - Scott Litt, R.E.M.
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro][Verse 1]
This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love
[Chorus]
Fire
Fire
[Verse 2]
This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love (Love)
[Chorus]
Fire (She's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (She's comin' down on her own)
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Verse 3]
This one goes out to the one I love (Love)
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
Another prop has occupied my time
This one goes out to the one I love (Love)
[Chorus]
Fire (She's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (She's comin' down on her own)
Fire (She's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (She's comin' down on her own)