Click on the ‘Play’ button above to hear the songs as you read the lyrics below. If the player doesn’t start straight away, wait and then press the ‘Play’ button again. Alternatively, you can listen to the album’s songs on Bandcamp HERE
*
One November is the 12th and last track on the new album Broken Chains produced by Paul Robert Thomas
*
‘One November’ is a hauntingly beautiful song with soulful female vocals that delve into the bittersweet complexities of unrequited love‘. 💔 – Jamsphere Magazine & Radio
‘This track takes you on a journey from the start. It has a sense of drama that can be heard throughout the entire track. The gentle piano melodies lead nicely into the big almost operatic sections which make up part of the journey of this song. The vocals are immense too‘. Laura Beth DJ
*
Download One November on Bandcamp HERE
*
Download the album Broken Chains at download stores HERE and on Bandcamp HERE
*
Theme & Meaning
The central theme revolves around unreciprocated love and silent yearning. The narrator is infatuated with someone who remains unaware of their existence beyond a brief, seemingly insignificant interaction at a bus stop. This encounter, occurring on a “rainy day, one November,” becomes a symbolic moment frozen in time for the narrator, while the other person has likely forgotten it entirely. The contrast between the narrator’s deep emotional attachment to this moment and the other person’s indifference creates a profound sense of loneliness.
The repeated refrain, “We spoke once, sure you don’t remember,” emphasizes this emotional divide—one person treasures a fleeting moment while the other has already moved on. This repetition mimics the obsessive, cyclical nature of unspoken feelings, reinforcing the narrator’s isolation.
Imagery & Symbolism
“Bus stop on a rainy day, one November” – This setting evokes a sense of transience and melancholy. A bus stop symbolizes movement, temporary pauses, and fleeting moments, just like the narrator’s love, which is momentary yet deeply felt. Rain is often associated with sadness, introspection, or renewal, mirroring the narrator’s emotional turmoil.
“I said ‘Hi’ as the wind blew” – The wind serves as a metaphor for how easily words (and moments) can be lost or go unheard. It also conveys the fragility of their attempt to connect.
“I’ll just keep it inside” – This phrase is repeated multiple times, reinforcing the burden of suppressed emotions. The more the narrator represses their feelings, the heavier they become.
Emotional Depth & Psychological Insight
The song effectively captures the experience of one-sided love—how it can feel all-consuming, even when the object of affection is completely unaware. The narrator’s hesitance to confess their feelings suggests either fear of rejection or acceptance that the love is unrealistic. Instead of expressing their emotions, they suffer in silence, which adds to the song’s deeply introspective and heartbreaking tone.
Additionally, there is an element of self-doubt and resignation in lines like “Maybe you’re not to blame / Maybe my words weren’t clear.” This shows the narrator questioning whether the lack of acknowledgment is due to their own inadequacy rather than the other person’s indifference.
Structure & Repetition
The song’s structure is built around repetition, which mirrors the obsessive nature of the narrator’s emotions. Certain lines and phrases—such as “We spoke once,” “I’ll keep it inside,” and “One November”—recur throughout the song. This reinforces the idea that the narrator is trapped in a cycle of longing, unable to move forward. The unresolved ending (no confession, no closure) leaves the listener with the same sense of lingering sorrow and emotional stasis that the narrator experiences.
Overall Impact
Your lyrics effectively create a mood of quiet despair and longing, using simple yet powerful storytelling. The contrast between the narrator’s emotional depth and the obliviousness of their love interest makes the song feel deeply personal yet universally relatable. Many listeners will connect with the feeling of loving someone from afar, never finding the right moment—or the courage—to express their true emotions.
In essence, “One November” is a beautifully melancholic reflection on the pain of loving in silence, the weight of unspoken words, and the way small moments can hold immense meaning for one person while meaning nothing to another.
*
One November lyrics
I’ve seen you around here and there
I guess you never noticed me
But that’s okay, that’s okay
Maybe that’s how it’s meant to be
You’re busy with your stuff
Running here and there
Tryna reach the top
You don’t have much time to spare
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
At a bus stop
On a rainy day, one November
One November
I said “Hi’ as the wind blew
But you didn’t seem to hear
Maybe you’re not to blame
Maybe my words weren’t clear
Yeah I guess I love you
But I’ll never tell you that
I’ll just keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
It won’t go away what I feel
I feel it growing every day
But no-one knows, no-one knows
When will it stop I just can’t say
It’s hurting when I smile
Trying to be me
Knowing it’s in vain
My heart just won’t let me be
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
At a bus stop
On a rainy day, one November
One November
I said “Hi’ as the wind blew
But you didn’t seem to hear
Maybe you’re not to blame
Maybe my words weren’t clear
Yeah I guess I love you
But I’ll never tell you that
I’ll just keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
Yeah I guess I love you
But I’ll never tell you that
I’ll just keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
I’ll just keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
I’ll keep it inside
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
We spoke once
Sure you don’t remember
At a bus stop
On a rainy day
One November
One November
On a rainy day
One November
Paul Robert Thomas
No comments