Number One


Number One
Written by Tommy Shaw
Lead Vocals by Tommy Shaw

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You can't be still
You're such a nervous fellow
Like a yo-yo
Up and down

Take this little pill
And life will be so mellow
You'll feel the world
Start slowing down around

Who's that rushing out the door
Who's not taking any more
Who's been down this road before
Without you

You tell me who's number one
Who's not here
Who's having fun
Who's the one who cares this much
About you

You won't feel the pain
You won't mind the rain
You can be happy all the time
All the time

One dose twice a day
The world will go away
You'll be smiling through
The worst of times

Who's that rushing out the door
Who's not taking any more
Who's been down this road before
Without you

You tell me who's number one
Who's not here
Who's having fun
Who's the one
Who knows so much about you

I believe I believe
There's something more
I believe it's just beyond the door
I believe there's something more
I believe it's just
Beyond the door
I believe there's something
Better out there

Wanna leave this world
So far behind
I can see your face there
In my mind
I believe there's something
Better our there

Who's that rushing
Who's not taking
Who's been down this
You tell me who's
Who's not here who's
Who's the one who

Something better
Something better
Something better
Something better
Something better

Interpretation 

In the novel Brave New World, soma is a drug used to pacify the masses.

You can't be still, you're such a nervous fellow. Like a yo-yo, up and down. Take this little pill, and life will be so mellow. You'll feel the world start slowing down around.

A past life of self-medicating before meeting a lover that meets your emotional needs is replaced by taking care of yourself and having healthy fun. You can't help but care so much for someone that does that for you.

You won't feel the pain. You won't mind the rain. You can be happy all the time. One dose twice a day. The world will go away. You'll be smiling through. The worst of times.

It seems there's a pill for everything today. While not used by the government to control people, Americans and others are overmedicated.

Who's that rushing out the door? Who's not taking any more? Who's been down this road before, without you. You tell me who's number one. Who's not here? Who's having fun? Who's the one who cares this much about you?

Is there a play on words here? Not taking any more figuratively as well as literally?

I believe there's something more. I believe it's just beyond the door.

 There's a message of hope here.

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