This One

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1989
Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1987 (Paul McCartney was 45 years old)

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions


"This One" demo

Dec 29, 1986


Recording "This One"

Mar 18, 1987


Recording "This One"

Mar 19, 1987


Recording "This One"

May 18, 1988



Mixing "This One"

Jan 23, 1989


Other singles from "Flowers In The Dirt"


My Brave Face

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt


Put It There

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt


Figure Of Eight

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt

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Song facts

This One” is a track from 1989 album “Flowers In The Dirt“.

From Wikipedia:

This One” is a single from Paul McCartney’s 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt. The song reached number 18 on the UK singles chart. It also reached number 8 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 in Austria, number 31 in the Dutch Top 40 in the Netherlands and number 40 on the Media Control Charts in Germany.

The single includes two songs recorded during the sessions for CHOBA B CCCP album: “I Wanna Cry” and “I’m In Love Again“. The later appeared in a slightly edited form than the version released on 1991 international edition of CHOBA B CCCP.

Like other songs from Flowers in the Dirt, despite the song’s modest chart success, to date it has not been included on any McCartney compilation album.

Reception

Allmusic called the song “lovely“. Rolling Stone opined:”This One,” likewise, extends its cute, lyrical conceit for too long and winds up taxing the listener’s patience“.

Track listings

This song was released as a 7″ single, a 12″ maxi-single, and a CD single. All songs written by Paul McCartney exept where noted

Paul McCartney in “Club Sandwich 52, Summer 1989“:

The song is basically a love song – did I ever say I love you? And if I didn’t it’s because I was waiting for a better moment… ‘There could never be a better moment than this one…’, and the words ‘this one’ kept coming back to me as ‘this swan’, and I got off on that… The image… was like one of those Hare Krishna posters that I used to see a lot in India…this little blue god…Krishna, who’s riding on this swan floating over this beauti-fully clear pond with lovely pink lilies on it. It’s a very spiritual, tranquil picture, and although I don’t subscribe to any particular religion, I draw on the nice moments from a lot of them.

Paul McCartney, in People Music, March 24, 2017:

“That’s completely silly wordplay. My dad was very into words and crosswords and things, and so was I at school. And then becoming a songwriter I was interested in wordplay. So when I heard someone say, ‘This one,’ I thought it could also be ‘this swan.’ I liked this image of a swan, like in Hindu art—Krishna and the swan gliding over water lilies. I was attracted to that image, so that’s what it became, using the two meanings of the word. And then the video by Tim Pope turned out that way, too.”

Last updated on April 29, 2021

Lyrics

Did I ever take you in my arms,
Look you in the eye, tell you that I do,
Did I ever open up my heart
Let you look inside.

If I never did it, I was only waiting
For a better moment that didn't come.
There never could be a better moment
Than this one, this one.
The swan is gliding above the ocean,
A god is riding upon his back,
How calm the water and bright the rainbow
Fade this one to black.

Did I ever touch you on the cheek
Say that you were mine, thank you for the smile,
Did I ever knock upon your door
And try to get inside?

If I never did it, I was only waiting
For a better moment that didn't come.
There never could be a better moment
Than this one, this one.

The swan is gliding above the ocean,
A god is riding upon his back,
How calm the water and bright the rainbow,
Fade this swan to black.

What opportunities did we allow to flow by
Feeling like the time it wasn't quite right?
What kind of magic might have worked if we had stayed calm,
Couldn't I have given you a better life?

Did you ever take me in your arms
Look me in the eye tell me that you do?
Did I ever open up my heart,
Let you look inside?

If I never did it, I was only waiting
For a better moment that didn't come.
There never could be a better moment
Than this one, this one.

The swan is gliding above the ocean
A god is riding upon his back
How calm the water and bright the rainbow,
Fade this swan to black.

Officially appears on


Flowers In The Dirt

Official album • Released in 1989

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


This One / The First Stone

7" Single • Released in 1989

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


This One

CD Single • Released in 1989

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


This One

12" Single • Released in 1989

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Figure Of Eight / This One (Club Lovejoys Mix)

12" Single • Released in 1989

6:10 • Studio versionB • Club Lovejoys Mix

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Eddie Klein :
Assistant mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Mixing engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jul 25, 1989
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK


Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package

Official album • Released in 1990

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Tripping The Live Fantastic

Official live • Released in 1990

4:29 • LiveL1

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyRobbie McIntoshHamish StuartPaul WickensChris Whitten
Paul McCartney :
Producer
Eddie Klein :
Assistant engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Peter Henderson :
Producer
Bob Clearmountain :
Mixing engineer, Producer
Jeff Cohen :
Recording engineer
Geoff Foster :
Assistant engineer
Scott Hull :
Assistant engineer
George Cowan :
Assistant engineer
Paul Rushbrook :
Assistant engineer

Concert From the concert in Detroit, USA on Feb 01, 1990


Flowers In The Dirt (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Rhythm guitar, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals, Wine glasses
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Robbie McIntosh :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Hamish Stuart :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Chris Whitten :
Drums, Percussion
Neil Dorfsman :
Mixing engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer, Glasses
Judd Lander :
Harmonica
Noel Harris :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
May 18, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Overdubs:
September - November 1988
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Jan 23, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


All Time Favourites

Official album • Released in 1993

Studio version


2017 exclusive downloads

Download • Released in 2017

3:26 • Demo

Paul McCartney :
Bass drum, Emulator 2, Harmony vocals, Lead vocal, Linn drum, Piano
Eddie Klein :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Dec 29, 1986
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK


Films


This One (version 1)

1989 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Tim Pope


This One (version 2)

1989 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Dean Chamberlain

Videos

Live performances

“This One” has been played in 107 concerts.

Latest concerts where This One has been played







Going further


Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_One_(song)

Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!

Zsolt Kovács 2 years ago

Hi!

Just a minor mistake to correct: The Club Lovejoys Mix's length is 6:10!


The PaulMcCartney Project 2 years ago

Thanks for noticing ! I have fixed this !


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