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So long ago, I don't remember when
That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
So I wondered how she hung around this place
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said it's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade
But there's got to be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all there's good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well this place is old
It feels just like a beat up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn
I'm so alone and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think of death, it must be killin' me
Hey, hey hey come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees
I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The long broken arm of human law
Now it always seemed such a waste, she always had a pretty face
So I wondered how she hung around this place
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
She said it's cold
It feels like Independence Day
And I can't break away from this parade
But there's got to be an opening
Somewhere here in front of me
Through this maze of ugliness and greed
And I seen the sun up ahead at the county line bridge
Sayin' all there's good and nothingness is dead
We'll run until she's out of breath
She ran until there's nothin' left
She hit the end, it's just her window ledge
Hey, come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Well this place is old
It feels just like a beat up truck
I turn the engine, but the engine doesn't turn
Well it smells of cheap wine, cigarettes
This place is always such a mess
Sometimes I think I'd like to watch it burn
I'm so alone and I feel just like somebody else
Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
I think of death, it must be killin' me
Hey, hey hey come on try a little
Nothing is forever
There's got to be something better than
In the middle
But me & Cinderella
We put it all together
We can drive it home
With one headlight
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by windandwater313
Track duration: 05:13
"One Headlight" as written by Jakob Dylan
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I returned to my hometown for a early morning funeral for someone I consider my friend.
The long arm of human law, death has taken her. They whisper she died of a broken heart as I sit here back in the trees watching the funeral.
She had such a pretty face, so much potential it seems a waste that she choose to stay here and try to make it better.
I never did understand how she stayed when I left. This place was so run down and messed up. I remember I used to think the only way out was dying. That I would die here in this city. This city that dreams died in.
She used to say,
"Hey, come on try a little , nothing lasts forever. There's got to be something better than being stuck in the middle of of all this."
She made me believe that we could do it. She made anyone she spoke to want to try. Want to find something better. She gave hope. And yet she stayed and helped even more.
She used to say,
"Even a car with one headlight can get you home."
She and I, we put it all together so I rise up and out. But she stayed to help others.
She would say,
There's got to be an opening, somewhere here in front of you. Through this maze of ugliness and greed for you to get out."
When I finally found my way out she was there.
She told me, as we stoped at the county line bridge on my way out of this city,
"It's cold but this is your independence day. Today we celebrate your freedom. But I have to stay. This parade needs me to help others. Remember, all there's good in the world is there for you. This nothingness is dead and gone, now in your past."
I was scared to leave all I knew. So she said "Lets run!" and ran with me, helped me past this last part. Over the bridge and out of the city until she ran out of breath. Like she was giving me one last push with all her heart. It seemed so strange at the time, running over a silly bridge. But it meant more than I knew. But she ran until there was nothing left. Helped so many but each failure she took to heart and it must have got to her. It must have broke her heart. The ones that would not, could not get out. She ran out of hope. She hit her end and found it at the edge of a window ledge.
I wander this place where I grew up. I look around at the mess, the poverty and the squalor. They say she died of a broken heart disease. Too many she could not help. Those who would not help themselves rise up out of this hell hole they were born in. It stinks of cigarettes and cheap wine. How could she stand it? Sometimes I think I would like to watch it burn. This place that destroyed someone like her.
Right now, I feel so alone and I feel like somebody else. The memories of who I was, where I came from and who am I now. I know I have not changed but I know am not the same person I was when I was here. This place is so old and run down. It feels like the truck I used too own when I was here. Always on the verge of dying on me. The one that died before I left. Now, it just will not start anymore. The life has left. She has left.
Dylan: I used to always have to hear about who people thought died in “one headlight.” there was never anybody who died in “one headlight.” but I actually encourage that. Countless times you hear an artist explain what their songs are about and you’re disappointed. I prefer people to listen. If they like the drumbeat, i’m okay with that. Whatever moves people.
from: lyricinterpretations.com/The-Wallflowers/…
He's singing about a girl who committed suicide, which is made clear by the lines "she died easy of a broken heart disease" and "She ran until there's nothin' left, She hit the end, it's just her window ledge" which seems to indicate she jumped out of a window. He talks about visiting her place, or some place she frequented, and how it's all broken dreams and he wants to watch it burn. It's the only thing left that remains of her in the real world, but it's filled with reminders of her hard life. He feels like he has failed her.
The most important part of the song, the driving it home with one headlight, is his way of coping with the loss. The world is a cruel and messed up place, but together the two of them made their way through it, feeling whole. Now she's gone but he resolves to carry on, to fight through to the end, even though this light in his life has gone out. What strikes me is his use of "we" as in "we can drive it home". She's dead, but he's still going to make it through for her. Pick up where she left off, and make it home (someplace where he can live his life in happiness and peace), because she couldn't. He will carry her memory with him, and try his best to live whatever dream they had aspired to when they were together, alone.
Jakob Dylan, the lead singer and songwriter of The Wallflowers, has said that the song is about "the death of ideas" and that the many metaphors and images in the lyrics were not meant to be taken literally. Dylan explains that he and the band had very little support when they were putting together the record, hence the shout-out "c'mon try a little." The last two lines of the chorus "we can drive it home / with one headlight" are a reference to how the band were able to get through with their ideas despite being hindered (i.e. with one headlight) by the lack of support. (Wikipedia)
My grandfather passed away, and I loved him more than anything. He helped me SADLY. He spent his whole life trying to figure out the wrongs in life, tried so hard to drink his pain away and could not move on from his real love. He drowned in that bottle. NOW THINKING "In the end your dead either way." I woke the fuck up. I realized I cant sit here anymore, I cant do nothing with my life because no matter if im happy or sad the world is still moving..... My first love is a musician. I wrote a poem very much influenced through this song and attempted to tell my first love what I learned because he was obviously going down a road to NO WHERE!!!! I always told him Id help him if needed. yet after a few calls, and realizing I was hurt so bad I cant be the same near him I wrote it out to the public and manipulated my way where I knew he would read it. (he had a girlfriend and didnt want to fuck that up BECAUSE IM TOO FUCKING NICE) He did and took that as a blast at his ego. I then saw him maybe like 6 months after and stopped by his work. The only thing he talked about with me is how many women he had sex with and how he is an animal in bed. He had no idea that it was killing me everytime he spoke. I pretty much got up and left. I cried on the way home..... Then the next day he turns 180 for this 17 year old girl who he treated like shit and she is like me. I really like the girl and feel bad because she is doing the same thing I did, and I hope he doesnt do the same to her. Everytime I am near this "kid/man" I die and go right back into a depressed state. I have to keep reminding myself that I was dreaming, reality is a motherfucker to set in.....
This song was me going through the motions of real life and getting to that opening..... Its real hard. I have a boyfriend now and been together almost two years. I am still hurt by my first that I havnt fully opened myself up to him. I feel I have nothing to give him anymore. I cant even be vulnerable because I can not deal with being devistated. Its hard navigating through life without the one who I felt was my other headlight.... Im hoping in the end he and I can drive it home with one headlight.... Navigating through bullshit with only half the vision to where both of us want to go...It sucks.....
Yup there you go I had to rant lol.... have a good one and INTERPRET THE SONG HOWEVER YOU WANT!!!! THAT IS WHAT MAKES MUSIC SO SPIRITUAL AND AMAZING!!!!