This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love

Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
Another prop has occupied my time
This one goes out to the one I love

'The One I Love' is lyrically very straightforward. It's very clear that it's about using people over and over again. I think that's probably a sentiment everyone has felt at one point or another, so you can apply it to youself. But it's not an attractive quality.
Michael Stipe

I didn't want that song to come out. I thought it was too mean. I didn't want to record it. I thought it was to creepy. It never occured to me that people would take it as anything other than what it was. It was very clearly this kind of spiteful, awful, spitting song. That may be naive, but when was that? 1987? I was a puppy.
Michael Stipe 1996

Quotes collected from 'R.E.M. - In Their Own Words' by Peter Hogan

Lyrics are based on fans interpretations and are not official.

All R.E.M. originals written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

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By Chery one of my favourite REM songs so it must be good a masterpiece

By KriS Dustin, this one is for you. You served your purpose. It was an even trade.

By Mreen My favorite!

By Alexus i love this song so much. REM's songs always remind me of something, whether its performing myself, watching my brother perform in his band or my cousin crying when she heard me play guitar for one of the first times. the words may not necessarily reflect anything from this song to anything real to me, but it touches my heart. REM are truly gods and are one of the greatest bands to come together.
Mushroom Baby

By Mushroom Baby REM songs tell the story of my life. The way Michael Stipe sings The One I Love and others songs is so deep that touchs my heart

By Adriana This one is my favorit song of this album. I think it is all true. You love en you left. Many times this can happen in your live. The way they sing about it gives me the creeps. But it is on the other hand so beautiful performed.

By marian There is, Mark, another version of this song on a Best of R.E.M. bonus disc that you must hear. I has a piano part and either a guitar or mandolin in it. Both are very beautiful tracks. By the way this ought to get R.E.M. to the rock Hall of Fame.

By Eddie this band was so great..i luv them so much..

By joann this band was so great..i luv them so much..this nuwave punk are crazy like me..hehehee....

By joann Fire! I love this song!

By Kara