What do you think One Headlight means?

The Wallflowers: One Headlight Meaning

Album cover for One Headlight album cover

One Headlight Lyrics

So long ago, I don't remember when
That's when they say I lost my only friend
Well they said she died easy of a broken heart disease
As I listened through the cemetery trees

I seen the sun comin' up at the funeral at dawn
The long broken...

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  1. anonymous
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     Feb 14th 2011 !⃝

    I think it is about the death of the American dream. A lot of the music video alludes to it- the she is the anthropomorphizing of America. It's very somber, giving a feeling of a lost era and a slow, sad death.

  2. anonymous
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     Feb 9th 2011 !⃝

    #1 you have to think about the influence Bob Dylan had on his music and writing , I think that this was a very deep song but one that cant be understood by taking the songs lyrics by their grammatical meaning. It is more metaphorical and kinda has a collective meaning. Dying of a broken heart disease to me speaks of watching someone battle deppression and not being able to let go of things that happend in the past. The long broken arm of human law not being laws, but the basic human law of treating people as you want to be treated. Something humanity has lost as a whole. I love this song

  3. anonymous
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     Feb 2nd 2011 !⃝

    The "One Headlight" means that while method of transportation, be it life or a car, is imperfect, and not totally clear, It still works well enough to finish the journey.

  4. cwarrior86
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     Nov 26th 2010 !⃝

    I interpret the song as a couple that found themselves stuck spinning there tires at a certain point in their lives that their not happy with anymore and refuse to accept that its the end of the road. So they made a plan and put it in motion to get to a higher place using faith will imagination and their love for each other as fuel. Before their fairytale takes off something happens to cinderella. So they guy abandons their plans and stays stuck and depressed until he realizes that their separation dosent have to stop him from fulfilling the dreams they shared and their separation isnt forever. So he finally decides to fulfill them because thats what she would of wanted. And he does even tho one of the lights that light the road might be out, He knew they could make it off of the same love for each other.

  5. m320753
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     Jun 23rd 2010 !⃝

    a very interesting comment that jakob said that one headlight was in the past. my previous comments said it was a song about dad leaving and mom is the one headlight which led to my saying that dad didn't have to worry, because jakob sang "we can make it home with one headlight. i said that was an in your face moment for bob and jakob and sara and the rest of the kids would be ok with only 1 parent. now this is not to say bob was cut off from his children but the opposite was true. he saw to it that his children were sent to the finest schools on the best vacations probably after talking it over with sara. i don't know the date of the concert that jakob saying that's in the past, you like to live in the past? it had to be fairly recent because father and son have long conversations and daddy gives his son input for songs etc. so if fences are mended one headlightis clearly was before they made up. jakob said in a recent interview that his father talks with him on a regular basis now. the interviewer asked if his father gave him advice about his songs? jakob answered yeah he gives me advice and i take it, i mean who wouldn't he's bob dylan

  6. anonymous
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     Jun 22nd 2010 !⃝

    This song is a very political song. However, the lyrics are so absolutely brilliant that they are capable of being interpreted in more than just one way. My belief is that it is about Lady Liberty just for the fact that the official music video of the song has an American Flag in the background. It also talks about Independence Day and how people feel they must celebrate it otherwise they will be an outcast to all other Americans. It also has very many other references to the life of America and its people. and it is a very true, great song. and the lyrics are some of the very best ever written.

  7. anonymous
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     Jan 11th 2010 !⃝

    I think that the song sort of talks about a friend who's close friend/crush/love dies, most likely through suicide, because "She died so easy of a broken heart disease" seems to me like saying depression (broken heart disease) and the she died so easy seems to point to a suicide to me, but I might be wrong

  8. anonymous
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     Apr 13th 2009 !⃝

    He moved on and she hit the windowsill. She could not see beyond the frame of her window.

    This song is about a man having to leave a friend, a loved one behind, while he pursues his dream of sorts.

    No suicides here, but a death of a relationship.

  9. sharingHISgrace
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     Jan 31st 2009 !⃝

    Cindarella in Bob's song Desolation Row is probably Sara. The best bet this song is about Bob and Sara's divorce. If the "in the past" quote of Jacob is correct then Bob and Sara are on better terms now.

  10. anonymous
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     Nov 10th 2008 !⃝

    You know how when you first start dating someone and there is that one song that randomly plays ALL the time...well that is this one for me and my ex.
    It seemed as if the song was reflecting our situation in the beginning, mostly because I would not date him because I had recently went through a nasty break up. Our relationship was somewhere in between "just friends" and "together"; This song would come on and it was so awkward:
    Hey, come on try a little
    Nothing is forever
    - Try to get over the past, because the pain isn't going to last forever anyway, so why not just try the idea of being with a new person.

    There's got to be something better than
    In the middle
    - There has to be something better than almost committed to each other, this whole "friends" deal is not going to be enough.
    But me & Cinderella
    We put it all together
    We can drive it home
    With one headlight
    - Basically, this is the part where he is telling her that he doesn't care if she can only half love him now. He wants to be with her regardless, and he is okay with the fact that she may be broken from the past, in fact he will help her pick up the pieces and move on together.

  11. anonymous
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     Oct 22nd 2008 !⃝

    I'm not sure if this is right, this is just what I get out of it. And even if it is wrong, I think it's okay to interpret and see songs the way you want to.

    Before I begin I just want to say that I think it relates to a very personal experience and I don't think its outwardly political or has to do with issues with the world, government, etc.

    For some reason I think the woman he's talking about is his mom and maybe, no matter how hard she tries to keep the family life together and keep things in order, it's just not working and she's trying so hard, maybe people don't see how hard she's working and how much love she's putting into her work.

    "Broken heart disease" means maybe she was so depressed about SOMETHING, I don't know what, that she couldn't stand to live with anymore so slowly died away somehow (or maybe suicide).

  12. anonymous
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     Jul 14th 2008 !⃝

    Theres A Video Behind The Song As Well. Not Many Songs Have Videos With Meanings Behind Them. you'll notice the American flag in the background of the music video. leads up to a controversy with his lyrics.

    My interpretation is. That its not a girl that has died, but rather lady liberty. If you look at the lyrics or rather listen to them you can understand why I see whats behind them.

    (So long ago, I don't remember when
    That's when they say I lost my only friend)
    -Its been so long since liberty has truely been seen-

    (The long broken arm of human law
    Now it always seemed such a waste
    She always had a pretty face
    So I wondered how she hung around this place)
    -The judicial system has long been corrupt
    and it seems points... whos really getting judged for their true crimes, when they have power behind them.
    -bring it back down to how liberation from tyranny was a beautiful thing, but in this country its a joke, why is it even a word in this country?-

    (There's got to be something better than
    In the middle)

    -But just when it seems like he's questioning the methods of this country he points out that there's hope towards finding something that works-

    -hence the chorus and song name-
    (We can drive it home
    With one headlight)

    The Second verse runs deeper into explaining his thoughts on out society.

    (It feels like Independence Day
    And I can't break away from this parade)

    -on independence day, its the day all Americans come together, and you're not an American if you don't celebrate it, meaning your forced into others believes in freedom, so you won't be judged by "patriots," you can't break away from it.

    The most influential lyric I've read from the song that brings out my beliefs on it is...

    (Through this maze of ugliness and greed)

    -Our country is based on being the best,at everything, but in a materialistic way,buy the best car, best house on the block, best Fireworks, best clothing, best education... and when it comes to your hard work in life, you get paid off, no longer with acknowledgment or pride in your achievements. but with cold hard cash, that you refuse to give away to those who suffer. ugliness and greed.

    (Well this place is old
    It feels just like a beat up truck)

    -Is self explanatory... :D

    (Man, I ain't changed, but I know I ain't the same
    But somewhere here in between the city walls of dyin' dreams
    I think her death it must be killin' me)

    -an old motto in America has always been 'good old fashion American,' ... your truck is classic American made... American made steel... I feel he changes course and turns his story to a first person point... America is not the same since its first days, but they claim it hasn't changed.

    Dying dreams is an American dream if you look at it.... or it can be a dream of liberty... cause either or in the end..... They're both dead..and it's killing those with opened eyes-

    In closure.... This is a very political song

  13. m320753
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     Jul 14th 2008 !⃝

    Back to bob being the broken headlight. I read in a book perhaps behind the shades that the defining moment in the failure of their marriage was when sara came down for breakfast one morning and found bob sitting at the table with the children and his latest girlfriend, mistress or groupie which could account for THE FUNERAL AT DAWN THEY SAY I LOST MY ONLY FRIEND because most boy young children their father is their best friend

  14. robmove
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     Jul 4th 2008 !⃝

    This song is about Bob Dylan being such a lousy parent and how Jakob and his sister can make it home with just one parent. Bob Dylan once said that parents are like headlights illuminating the way for their children.

  15. m320753
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     Jun 23rd 2008 !⃝

    To all you out there, here is something to chat about. What if me and Cinderella is the Cinderella his father sang about in desolation row. or maybe she is his mother Sara and he is telling dad that mom is a headlight and the one that is out is Bob Dylan and that he and mom will make out o.k. How about them apples?

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