Finger Eleven – One Thing

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  Song Meaning:There's something he wants. But he can't have it. He can't even trade all he has for this one thing. He knows it but he hates that he knows it. He would even like to pretend he could give away his fortune for this one thing, this one simple thing, but he can't and it sucks.
  
  It's art, you can argue about what that one thing is. But it has to be something you cannot buy. And it doesn't appear to be love. My guess is it's a loved one's death that he wants to prevent, but can't.

  Flag kanzeion May 04, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:This song was close to my heart when my dad was going through chemo and radiation for lung cancer. I sold my home, put everything in storage, and rushed to be by his side. I was always trying to learn more about his illness in the hopes of trying to find that magic cure and I planned on using the money from selling my home to save his life. I would have traded it all for that one thing. I often find myself wishing I could visit him in the after-life or whatever.
  Even though I know
  I don't want to know
  Yeah I guess I know
  I just hate how it sounds

  Flagged amabsheron November 14, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:You all are too sensitive. While Lando's comment was insensitive it wasn't as uncalled for as you all of you trying to put meaning behind a song to which the lyrics make absolutely no sense at all. I read ur comments and I really can't believe any of you are even trying to find a deeper meaning to this song than some guy singing about a "thing" -maybe a girl? WHO FUCKING CARES. It's catchy so stop acting like u have supreme cognitive abilities, cuz really ur pulling all of this out your ass :)

  Flagged KethrynQon June 29, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Idk why but for some reason this song strikes me as meaningful ... it's deep in a simple way... I see it can be interpreted as wanting something, and wanting to really sacrifice all to have it... it could be anything he really feels it means something to him that it's worth all the sacrifice he is willing to make - "just for one thing".
  
  "Even though I know, I don't want to know, Yeah I guess I know, I just hate how it sounds" :-) beautiful line. To me I can apply this to my self because since I have type 1 diabetes, it's something I know I have, have to live with, and not like, but I have to accept that but I dislike having it and hate the fact/sound of it.
  
  Well I guess I to applied the song's meaning to life living with diabetes. I love how this song can be related to wanting something and willing to sacrifice whatever for it even though it may be hard. I sacrifice a little discipline to achieve good blood sugars! :-)

  Flag ameaningsbeauty10on April 21, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I'm more of a punk/grunge kid so I'm not supposed to like this kind of music but it takes me back to my childhood, and I quite like it :)

  Flag Tig45on February 06, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I have a pretty different interpretation of this song. To me, it's about the envy we sometimes feel towards individuals who have a single, all-consuming passion in life. Some people are born to do a certain thing, and they don't need to be a "well-rounded" person in order to be happy: their life is their passion. It probably wasn't intended to be interpreted this way, but that's what I get out of it.

  Flag BIGBOOMBAon February 04, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:A Man who has focused his entire attention on building his career and focusing so entirely on that one thing, that he's now reached a point in which he's realizing he's losing his lover because he never gave to the relationship what she needed. And he's conflicted because so much of his identity and focus has been on his career to the exclusion of all else. So, he's finally growing up and starting to ask the big questions and realizing his mortality. It's a beautiful song that speaks to the message... on your deathbed, what do you regret most (?) not spending enough time working or not spending enough time loving? Because in the end, the "job" offers no love or comfort or companionship and if you focus your entire existence and identity on your job, you will end up alone. He's only just beginning to come to this realization and it could definitely be considered as a mid-life crisis song.

  Flag Jinxie617on October 19, 2011   Link

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  My Interpretation:He is married with a family. And then meets the right girl who he falls in-love with. Trading "IT ALL" he is referring to his life as he knows it. He could never leave his wife and children but will always long for his true love.

  Flag roxy88on August 26, 2011   Link

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• -2
  General Comment:By far and away the DUMBEST song ever recorded — in any genre of music.

  Flag MyDogSkipon July 10, 2011   Link

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    you don't know good music.
    

    Flag Browns12on October 06, 2012  
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  General Comment:This song has special meaning to me. If you review the lyrics, you'll understand. I fell in love with a girl named Gio. She fell in love with me too. But we couldndn't be together because I was caught up in a bad marriage and she was committed to taking care of her mother. For eight years we maintained a strict email only friendship, no phone calls, no physical contact. Her mother passed on a year ago and recently she finally seemed ready to start her life. I was prepared to move beyond my marriage. (The side effect of all of this is that I am still going to end my marriage because it's clearly not healthy.) In any event, we never connected because she died two months ago at the age of 36. It was a freak accident. She dropped a can of food on her foot and it created a blood clot that hit her pulmonary and killed her. I guess "the line" could be the one that separates here from the afterlife. In any event I guess I know, I just hate how it sounds. I love you, Gio.

  Flag GiosStringon April 28, 2011   Link

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