Only One

Released at the absolute tail-end of 2014, the song is Kanye's first full-on ode to his mother Donda West since her passing which infamously caused severe changes in all things Kanye, from his personality to his musical output, as well as a loving tribute to his daughter, North West. The song is written from the perspective of his deceased mother, and only works outside of her perspective during the first few seconds ("As I lay me down to sleep, I hear her speak to me...") - Through out the song, Donda (Kanye) finds herself addressing her son (himself) and attempts to play "Catch-up" with him and all the changes that have occurred since she left this world, most notoriously including the fact that Kanye is now not only married, but a father of a girl (and a boy, who was not born at the time of this song's recording). The song is a very minimalistic, piano driven, mournful ballad with angelic-type backing vocals (Provided by Ty Dolla $ign), covered in slight prinkles of auto-tune, which fits the intimate, mother-son conversation talk that the lyrics describe. The name "Only One" is the literal meaning of Kanye's name, further emphasizing the mother perspective with his mother addressing him as her "Only one". According to Kanye himself, he does not have any kind of recollection of himself recording this song and never wrote any lyrics for it - He believes that for a moment, he was possesed by the spirit of his deceased mother and who manifested herself momentarily to address her son via the music. Kim Kardashian, West's wife, claims to cry every time she listens to the song, and according to rumors, West himself cried during and after the making of the song.

[Produced by Mike Dean & Paul McCartney] [Video by Spike Jonze] [Verse 1] As I lay me down to sleep I hear her speak to me Hello 'Mari, how ya doin'? I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are movin' I know you're happy, ‘cause I can see it So tell the voice inside ya head to believe it I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel And look at all that he gave you You asked for one and you got two You know I never left you ‘Cause every road that leads to Heaven's right inside you So I can say [Chorus] Hello, my only one, just like the mornin' sun You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name Hello my only one, remember who you are No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes [Verse 2] Hey, hey, hey, hey Oh, the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day Remember how I'd say Hey hey one day, you'll be the man you always knew you could be And if you knew how proud I was You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no you wouldn't do that And though I didn't pick the day to turn the page I know it's not the end every time I see her face, and I hear you say [Chorus] Hello my only one, remember who you are You got the world ‘cause you got love in your hands And you're still my chosen one So can you understand? One day you'll understand [Bridge] So hear me out, hear me out I won't go, I won't go No goodbyes, no goodbyes Just hello, just hello And when you cry, I will cry And when you smile, I will smile And next time when I look in your eyes We'll have wings and we'll fly [Chorus] Hello my only one, just like the mornin' sun You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name And you're still my chosen one, remember who you are No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes [Outro] Hey, hey, hey, hey Tell Nori about me, tell Nori ab- I just want you to do me a favor Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me Tell Nori about me...