One and Only”

Greg Wells, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Daniel Dodd Wilson

From the album, Adele 21, 2011.

Sometimes we need a little boost,

A gentle nudge,

When February’s chilled spirits

Seem not to budge,

It’s time to turn on to a tune

That is winter sad,

Yet brings us out of all its gloom,

Feel alive and glad.

“One and Only”

You've been on my mind

I grow fonder every day

Lose myself in time

Just thinking of your face

God only knows

Why it's taken me so long

To let my doubts go

You're the only one that I wanted

I don't know why I'm scared

Cos I've been here before

With every feeling, every word

I've imagined it all

You'll never know, if you never try

To forgive your past, and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be, your

Your one and only

I promise I'm worthy

To hold in your arms

So come on

And give me the chance

To prove I am the one who can

Walk that mile

Until the end starts

If I've been on your mind

Do you hang on every word I say

Lose yourself in time

At the mention of my name

Will I ever know

How it feels to hold you close

And have you tell me

Whichever road I choose you'll go

I don't know why I'm scared

Cos we've been here before

With every feeling every word

I've imagined it all

You'll never know

If you never try

To forgive my past

And simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your

Your one and only

I promise I'm worth it

To hold in your arms

So come on

And give me a chance

To prove I am the one who can

Walk that mile

Until the end starts

I know it ain't easy

Giving up your heart

I know it ain't easy

Giving up your heart (nobody's perfect)

I know it ain't easy (trust me I've learned it)

Giving up your heart (nobody's perfect)

I know it ain't easy (trust me I've learned it)

Giving up your heart (nobody's perfect)

I know it ain't easy (trust me I've learned it)

Giving up your heart (nobody's perfect)

I know it ain't easy (trust me I've learned it)

Giving up your heart

So I dare you to let me be your

Your one and only

I promise I'm worthy

To hold in your arms

So come on

And give me that chance

To prove I am the one who can

Walk that mile

Until the end starts

Come on

And give me the chance

To prove I am the one who can

Walk that mile

Until the end starts

 “One and Only” is a song that is both “sad and euphoric”

Adele has stated.  The song is meaningful to her, reflecting

 her feelings for a special someone in her life.  When she

 performs this piece live, she appears visibly choked up.

One of my favorite songs on the blockbuster 21 album, I am

 enamored of the soulful lyrics that poignantly point out to her

 love the reasons why she should be the one and only:  Her love

is “on my mind, I grow fonder every day.” It has taken

her a long time “to let my doubts go” and realize “you’re the

only one I wanted.”

She pleads with her love: “come on and give me that chance

 to prove I am the one who can walk that mile.”

She wants to know how her love feels about her.  She asks

“Do you hang on every word I say, lose yourself in time at the

 mention of my name.”  She wants her love to tell her “whichever

road I choose you’ll go.”  And that “you forgive my past and

simply be mine.”

“I dare you to let me be your one and only.  I promise I’m worthy

to hold in your arms.”  These are the lines that pierce my heart

every time I hear them.  She comes on strong with the daring,

yet the humility of promising she is “worthy” is incredibly touching.

The chorus of “One and Only” is enhanced with the soulful piano

 of Miles Robertson and the chanting, gospel-sounding backup

vocals of Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davila and Sharleen Linton.

The effect of this beautiful chorus is to soothe and reassure her

 love that “I know it ain’t easy giving up your heart. (nobody’s

perfect; trust me I’ve learnt it), repeated several times in soulful

hypnotic harmonies. 

The song ends with the plea for her love to “come on and give

 me the chance to prove I am the one who can walk that mile

until the end starts.”

I hope you have been listening to the video of Adele performing

“One and Only” live at The Royal Albert Hall.  Adele, the princess

 of blue-eyed soul, you rock!