One and Only by Adele

Album: 21 (2011)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Adele wrote this with American songwriters Dan Wilson (Josh Groban, Dixie Chicks) and Greg Wells (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson). It was produced by Rick Rubin, whose credits include Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Adele told The Sun: "That one's just about someone I've known for years who I've always loved and I think he's always loved me but we're too scared to be with each other in case that's it."
Part of the song was inspired by the 1999 high school themed romantic comedy Never Been Kissed. "When I wrote the middle eight - it's really cheesy," Adele laughed in a song-by-song preview video. "The night before I wrote the middle eight I watched Never Been Kissed, with Drew Barrymore in it… You know at the end when she describes being kissed as the whole world slows down and goes in slow motion, everything else goes blurry? I kind of see it like that. Whenever I hear the bridge it really is sort of like that, and it's quite epic. I mean, I don't think Never Been Kissed is a particularly epic movie."
After the breakup which inspired much of 21, Adele had a rebound romance with the guy she sings about on this track. It didn't work out and Adele commented during her performance, which was captured on the Live at the Royal Albert Hall CD/DVD: "When I wrote this song, I was really an optimist. I thought the sun shone out of his ass... Not enough time has gone by since he was a f---ing pr--k to me. So I will chat s--t about him until I'm blue in the face."

Comments: 3

Pinso from IndiaShe had a rebound romance. That was the inspiration, really.
Its a great song, i listen to that again and again.
This has a different version. What and which to see.
http://adele.wikia.com/wiki/One_and_Only_(song)
Shaun from Narita, JapanSince the beginning of her North American Tour in 2011, during her live shows she changes the lyrics from "You're the only one that want" to "You're the only one that I wanted."
Ny from Canberra, AustraliaI love this song, it has a great bluesy type sound. Funny what Adele told the sun, as it has always made me think of someone i have always loved but have been too scared to just go for it - these words are what i wish i could say to him....

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Joy To The WorldThree Dog Night

Hoyt Axton wrote the Three Dog Night hit "Joy To The World." He said the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" line just came into his head after having a drink of wine.

Hey Soul SisterTrain

Train's guitarist had to Google an instructional video to learn how to play the ukulele for "Hey Soul Sister."

American PieDon McLean

Don McLean's "American Pie" starts in mono and gradually goes to stereo. It isn't full stereo until the end of the song, which is over 8 minutes long.

Born To Be WildSteppenwolf

The first popular song to use the phrase "Heavy Metal" was "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, which was featured in the movie Easy Rider.

All StarSmash Mouth

"All Star" was written as a confidence builder for fans who were bullied for liking Smash Mouth.

Puff Daddy didn't get permission to sample the Police song "Every Breath You Take" on his Notorious B.I.G. tribute "I'll Be Missing You," but he later reached an agreement and even performed the song with Sting.