An alternative take on Creed Lyrics Song 4 - "One"

During lent we all are thinking of how we might draw closer to God, do works of mercy and give alms. Reflecting upon the lyrics of creed songs is a way to do just that this lent. The Creed song “One” is a critique of institutions and society at large. Creed is a power metal band who is re-united and set to begin touring in the spring. I am so pumped and excited to see them again. The music of Creed is melodic, and hard hitting with a clear relatable lyric that asks some of the most profound questions of existence. Considering a Catholic perspective on Creed lyrics will be assistive in our Lenten journey. The lyrics of “One” are unique and thought provoking to consider in the Catholic frame of reference. As we lay out this song, any actual lyrics will be in both bold and italicized to denote them as the actual song lyrics as we progress through the song. Let us begin with the chorus and then the verses.

Chorus part 1 -

One, oh one. The only way is one. Straight away the chorus is referencing both the trinitarian nature and key to our salvation, namely Jesus Christ. This is a take on John 14:6 “Jesus said: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Hence the lyrics speak of one, and that the only way is one.

Chorus part 2 -

One, oh one. The only way is one. I feel angry I feel helpless. Want to change the world. I feel violent, I feel alone. Don't try and change my mind. The chorus part 2 begins equally as a reference to both the trinitarian nature and key to our salvation, namely Jesus Christ. This is a take on John 14:6 “Jesus said: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Hence the lyrics speak of one, and that the only way is one. Part 2 then adds the human factors into the equation with feelings of anger, helplessness, a desire to change the world, feelings of violence, loneliness and stubborn pride with the final exclamation; “Don't try and change my mind.” Part 2 is the existential question of life’s purpose, why and how is it that this Jesus could save me when I have all these issues and am seemingly unsavable. The beauty in this lyric is that the question remains open as each of us must find the answer for ourselves. It is this very openness that demonstrates profound respect, love and dignity of persons that is unprecedented in the world of rock music.

Verse 1 –

Affirmative may be justified, take from one give to another. The beginning of verse 1 represents the general downfall of any governmental system, communistic or more democratic. The goal is to be unified, take my hand be my brother. This section of the verse speaks to an even deeper level or the fall of society in general. The payment silenced the masses sanctified by oppression. Unity took a backseat sliding further into regression. We want to bring people up and the way to do that it seems is to put others down or shut them out. This is also a commentary on our past efforts to organize, and civilize humanity by taking away knowledge, history, culture, and making all things relative. From here we get the dumbing down of our education system, and from that we will end up with a one world government, there will be no individual rights, no private ownership of property, and by then if we the faithful oppose it, we will be put to death, martyred for our faith in the One true creator of the universe. This lyric is an eye opener for those with the ears to hear because it represents an attempt of man to be god with a small g and it is failing miserably. The beauty of the lyric is that the song then goes back to the chorus where one finds the seeds of hope for us all.

Verse 2 -

Society blind by color, why hold down one to raise another. Verse 2 is expanding upon the flaws or failings of both government and of society from verse 1. Discrimination now on both sides seeds of hate blossoming further. The critique in this verse is the conversal nature of our current existence. This is the diabolic opposition that we experience in everything from politics, to ethics, to religious beliefs. This is where factions become enemies of one another onto war and death rather than differences that can be dealt with in collaboration. This is also where the idea that hatred is a form of love or more commonly understood from Isaiah 5:20 where the lost will call evil things good and good things evil. The world is heading for mutiny when all we want is unity. Here the lyric clearly spells out that we find that unity continues its fall away from the world. The mutiny of this lyric is the degradation towards a one world government that will ultimately fail us all. We may rise and fall, but in the end we meet our fate together. Verse 2 ends with the exclamation that we are not just races of people but instead we are; "The human Race", this verse is crying out demonstrating that there needs to be one grand goal for everyone, and the answer lay within the words of the chorus, and not in some governmental ideal that will ultimately fail to realize the One true beatific vision – heaven, where we will all meet our fate together in the truest sense of unity.

Reprise -

I feel angry I feel helpless. Want to change the world yeah. I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind. I feel angry I feel helpless want to change the world yeah. I feel violent I feel alone, don't try and change my mind. The reprise repeats the anger and helplessness because we are just one person, and it is too easy to fall into the despair of a world lost in its futile attempts to be a god with a small g, in our lives. It is this small g that represents the grand failure that it is creating in the process. One, oh one. The only way is one. I feel angry I feel helpless. Want to change the world. I feel violent, I feel alone. Don't try and change my mind. Like the chorus part 2, the reprise is equally a reference to both the trinitarian nature and key to our salvation, namely Jesus Christ. This is yet again a take on John 14:6 where the Savior is speaking; “Jesus said: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Hence the reprise also speaks of one, and that the only way is one. The reprise also includes the human factors into the equation with feelings of anger, helplessness, a desire to change the world, feelings of violence, loneliness and stubborn pride with the final exclamation; “Don't try and change my mind.” The reprise returns the listener to the existential question of life’s purpose, why and how is it that this Jesus could save me when I have all these issues and am seemingly unsavable. The beauty in this lyric is that the question remains open as each of us must find the answer for ourselves. It is this very openness that demonstrates profound respect, love and dignity of persons that is unprecedented in the world of rock music. Creed lyrics are always making me see deeper and further into my heart than I ever expected to dive. Another historic success that is human and relatable to the masses. I know that any new work in the coming years will have an even bigger impact on our faith for those of us willing to consider what Creed lyrics mean to us from a Catholic perspective.