For My Sunday Song #471, we are going to discuss “Who’s The One” by Winger from their 1993 album ‘Pull’. An often overlooked album. By 1993, the music landscaped had completely changed for the 80’s glam metal scene. Gone were the bands I’d had grown up loving and replaced by Grunge, but that didn’t stop bands from putting out albums. In fact, for one band, Winger, it might have produced its best album to date. The band was down to three members with Kip Winger, Rob Morgenstein and Reb Beach. Released on May 18, 1993, ‘Pull” showcased a very mature Winger and a band that wasn’t going to be stopped creating and putting out their best material (even though this was their last album for years to follow).
I have a lot of favorites on here and the final track from pull might be #1. This one was written by Kip Winger and Reb Beach. It seems to have some socio-political leanings towards it as well as a crisis of faith. It feels as the song is about a complete lost of faith in religion and the government. There are is an utter darkness to the lyrics with lines like “When all the colors begin to fade” and “What will be your savior now / Dragon or machine”. The Dragon usually means drugs and the machine is quite possibly the government. Both depressing saviors.
There are so many religious lines and so many lines about guns and armies. This is 1993 and the U.S. was involved in Somalia which was a horrific event. This could all stem from his thoughts on that political matter. I don’t really know, but I do know the lyrics carry a lot weight. The video for the song, gives you a good idea of all the crap we were dealing with at the time.
The song is an acoustic ballad that is my all time favorite ballad by the band. Kip’s vocals with the acoustic guitars are a perfectly blend of melodies and harmonies between a voice and an instrument. He also is feeling the song as he sings as he pulls a lot of emotion in to it. It is one of the most beautiful songs the band has ever done. The chorus is a huge payoff as the percussion done by Rob also adds some beautiful flavors to the song. But it is the emotion coming off those acoustic guitars where you feel that weight of the lyrics. If a song can be perfect, this would be as close as you could get. What a way to go out, leave me wanting more.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. What do you think it is about? It is definitely a heartbreaking song. Having a crisis of faith during what was going in the world at that time is understandable. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful and Happy Sunday.
“Who’s The One”
When all the colors begin to fade
And the imitations turn to grey
When the Iron Man begins to rust
And the Holy Water turns to dust
What will be your savior now
Dragon or machine
Who will wear the crown of thorns
In Mother Nature’s dream
Who’s the one
Who claimed my liberty
Robbed my soul of freedom
How long must I put up with the
Unholy sound of your gun
Tell me, brother
When believers start to lose the faith
And the naked army falls from grace
When all extremes return to one
See them melt into the setting sun
The bounty on the rebel’s heart
Washed away the pride
Drove the voice a million miles
Across the great divide
Who’s the one
Who claimed my liberty
Robbed my soul of freedom
Who’s the one
Who denied my eyes to see
Truth behind double tongue
Who’s the one
Who claimed my liberty
Robbed my soul of freedom
How long must I put up with the
Unholy sound of your gun
Tell me, brother
The bounty on the rebel’s heart
Washed away the pride
Drove the voice a million miles
Across the great divide
Who’s the one
Who claimed my liberty
Robbed my soul of freedom
Who’s the one
Who denied my eyes to see
Truth behind double tongue
Who’s the one
Who claimed my liberty
Robbed my soul of freedom
How long must I put up with the
Unholy sound of your gun
Tell me, brother
Writer(s): Charles Winger, Reb Beach
