“Am I the Only One” by Aaron Lewis
On “Am I the Only One”, Aaron Lewis seems to be, most simply put, lamenting the current political state of America. And he is not doing so as most popular musicians as of late, i.e. actually advocating the current changes or what have you that are going on.
Rather he perceives love for the traditional values of the nation as deteriorating, even acknowledging “Old Glory”, i.e. the American flag, in that regard. Or more specifically, he is what some people would refer to as a constitutionalist. And in the song, Aaron also expresses an idea like being perturbed by the removal of confederate statues and/or that of other historical figures who, usually in regards of having been racist, have also been taken down during the last year or so.
But let’s say that Lewis’s main beef isn’t so much about the political climate of the country as it is his feeling that no one is speaking up about such matters, even though he’s obviously not “the only one” who is disturbed by them.
Or perhaps we can postulate, considering that by all means some netizens for instance have also publicly expressed displeasure for what’s going down, that who Aaron is more specifically referring to his musical peers. In fact with that in mind he even namedrops the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, and not in a good way.
Narrator is Saddened by the Current State of America
We can also say that there is a lot going on underneath the lyrics. For instance, it does appear, based on comments he’s recently made, that Lewis, as with likeminded individuals, is not too fond of the present manifestation of the Democratic Party.
But such is not to imply that he is a conspiracy theorist, nor is he anti-establishment in the truest sense of the word. Rather the sentiment being put forth are those of a man who is watching his nation change, unfavorably in his eyes and ultimately being powerless to do anything about it.
But that is not to say that he feels helpless. If he did, it’s highly likely that he wouldn’t have even bothered dropping this song. Instead, Aaron perceives himself more like “the only one” amongst his similarly-dispositioned peers who actually has the courage to drop a mildly anti-mainstream song like this.
Writing Credits for “Am I the Only One”
Aaron Lewis wrote this song alongside Ira Dean and Jeffrey Steele. That latter is Aaron’s bandmate in a group called Staind, which Lewis has been fronting since the mid-1990s.
Staind
Staind went on their first hiatus early in the 2010s. It was during that period also in which Aaron Lewis came out with his first solo album, 2012’s “The Road”. Since then he has also dropped two others, “Sinner” (2016) and “State I’m In” (2019).
However, Lewis had been coming out with singles unassociated with Staind even prior to that. For instance, back in the year 2000 he released a song in collaboration with Fred Durst (of Limp Bizkit) entitled “Outside”. In 2011 he teamed up with elder artists George Jones (1931-2013) and Charlie Daniels (1932-2020) to come out with “Country Boy”. And those two songs remain Lewis’s two most-successful singles (outside of Staind) to date.
“Am I the Only One”
Meanwhile “Am I the Only One” was released as a standalone single on 2 July 2021. It was done so by the well-known Big Machine Records. FYI, this is the same label that had been in headlines as of late for launching Taylor Swift’s career and then getting into beef with her afterwards.
You’re not the only one!
Amazing Song, very powerful!!
Unfortunately not…
Such an enormously emotional song! The truth is I’m a Canadian and was sitting in the car somewhere near the start of July 2021, when it was released. The world was terrified by both the pandemic as well as American politics. We were all living through a nightmare. I Remember sobbing as I drove home from a friends house. I absolutely love that song. It’s such a treasure and an honour to hear the words of someone like Aaron Lewis and be able to feel what he feels as I listen. You have to sing along to this one and scream at the top of your voice that you’re not the only one, please God, there are lots of us!
I love this song, but as far as I know Aaron never served in the armed services. Please dont claim to “fight for the red and white” or “take a bullet” when you haven’t put your ass on the line. Other than that, great song.
In all due respect (because I 100% respect and support our armed services with so much gratitude – I’m aUSN brat); but imo I think Mr. Lewis is paying his respect to all those that have literally fought on foreign grounds, and I think he has bled and taken a bullet for his country in a figurative way. He has spoken LOUDLY for people with similar beliefs (I.e. ME who has also never taken a bullet, literally). I’m sure he has taken a lot of serious grief as a result of releasing this song!! I respect him for taking the risk.
Figurative? That ain’t how bullets and drying for your country….it’s real blood.
Are you suggesting the only way to die for your country is via the armed forces?
But he SPECIFICALLY mentioned “taking a bullet” for “freedoms,” which tells me he’s talking about the military.
I have a problem with him because he never served and is obviously pro-war, and what bugs me about that is, whenever someone like me who also never served speaks out against war, I’m always hit with, “But did you ever serve?” And when I mention that I never did, those people then tell me I can’t speak about war.
Yet, Aaron and many others who have never served are allowed to give THEIR opinions about war?
It’s about consistency of criteria where a debate is concerned that matters. Hyopcrisy is a problem.
Sounds like you are NOT willing to fight to preserve our freedom! You must be one of the socialist supporters!
The point IS that Aaron talks a big game but doesn’t actually walk what he says he supports.
If he’s “willing,” then why hasn’t he joined up yet?
why didn’t he show Jan 6 in his video and say something about it ???
Toby Keith did it better, his Daddy did the fighting, and he paid homage to that while claiming the red, white & blue. Aaron, you say you’re willing…so put your ass where your wallet is….on the front…then drop another “patriotic” set of lyrics…..bet that’ll change your outlook…..forever.
I have family members that died for this county! But this song comes from the hearts of many Patriots that will fight here in this country for freedom and our flag! Love the song because it is what I feel is happening now!
I am an 11th grader at Newport High school in Newport WA. Aaron isn’t saying that he has fought for our country, he is saying that he is willing to fight for freedom, weather it is on the battlefield or in our society. He sings, “Am I the only one, willin’ to bleed, or take a bullet for bein’ free”. He is an amazing man. I appreciate him for writing these words. A very powerful song.
Have you served? Have you been in a situation? Talk to me then!
Get over yourself and actually pay attention to the song. He never says he did any of those things. He says he is willing to. Try using your ears and a dictionary next time instead of just your mouth.
I served , I’m damn proud of him for doing this song . Yes some us put our ass on the enemy lines physically, some of us are blessed with the ability to put the words on paper that we all are feeling , I watched the so called Americans attacking Americans on the 6th and was appalled an I wept, this is not how we do things , we are better than what is going on in this right now,
To the person complaining that he hasnt served or actually taken a bullet nd bled for our country, maybe you should actually listen to the song and read the lyrics. He never says he did any of that. Hes saying he feels so strong for our country and how he feels that he WOULD do all of those things if it came down to it. He WOULD bleed for our flag. He WOULD take a bullet. Pay attention and think a little next time before you try to put someone down for something you only think they said.
Nobody is suggesting that the guy ever said he served, what we’re saying is that he’s saying that HE is “willling” to do it, yet, hasn’t done it, and to this point, still isn’t doing it. Anyone can SAY that, but actions are different than mere words alone.
Also, whenever people who have never served speak out against war, they’re usually attacked and labeled “anti-military,” which is ALWAYS BS. But that’s what happens. So riddle me this: why is it okay for people who have never served in the military to be allowed to promote or support war while others who are against war aren’t allowed to speak out against it?
This song is a pro-war song if I ever heard one.
And going after Bruce Springsteen, a guy who has been antiwar his entire life, tells me I’m correct about what I wrote above. If you’re pro-war, you’re fine, but if you’re anti-war, you’re “anti-troops.”
Consistsency.
I am a 64-year-old US Army vet. I thank God every day I was never in combat. I did put my name on the dotted line 3 times.
So, I was willing, just no war going on while I served. I 35 plus years in law enforcement, so my a-s was on the line.
The song speaks of his and a lot of other people’s thoughts on things today. I love this country now and forever.
But our so-called leaders are F’en it up so bad, it hurts.
Everyone has their opinion, we don’t have to agree with everyone or everything. But we do need to shut up and listen. We all could learn something.
Just mt 2 cents worth.
GOD BLESS THE USA AND ALL WHO LOVE HER.
He is saying that our government is ruining this world and is asking if there is anyone else who sees it the same way he does. Great song and right on point of what is happening in this world. I am a junior in high school.
I’m curious as to why he’s upset about the confederate statues coming down?
Because it’s a part of history & people should learn from it, & learn why slavery is wrong & who was really on which side, not an alternate history. If you don’t learn from (real) history, you’re doomed to repeat it.
Yeah, but that’s not WHY those statues are or were out there.
There were no plaques telling us how slavery was horrible. They were merely statues showing the LOSERS of the war in high regard. You don’t give a person a statue if you believe they are odious.
By the way, we’ve been repeating history for decades, and it has nothing to do with statues.
Also, I don’t have issues with having those statues, just not on PUBLIC PROPERTY.
Put them in a museum and tell THE REAL STORY, not the MYTH.
“Am I the only one willin’ to bleed, or take a bullet for bein’ free” … this guy has never served one day in the military; he could, though, if he was “willin’ to bleed, or take a bullet,” but hasn’t. Why not? Then he talks trash about Bruce Springsteen? 😝
Hey, if that’s your belief, I back you up on that belief, as we are free to do so in this country… right now. Although that’s changing every single day. First, they come for the “undesirables,” then they come for the rest of us.
But that aside, I know veterans who would disagree with all of this stuff he’s talking about, because they fought and then realized they were just cannon fodder for wealthy people’s property and ugly desires—this is across political party lines, by the way. Also, whenever I speak about war, I’m told that because I never served, I can’t have an opinion about that subject. But Aaron, he’s allowed? Why? He’s never served.
And most of the people who have told me that also haven’t served… so why is their opinion more valid than mine or anyone else’s who hasn’t served, unless that opinion was in lockstep with those who seem to cherish war, which is ridiculous, because that only puts our military in harm’s way. Self-defense is one thing, but “preemptive” self-defense is a LIE.
Ask WWI General USMC Smedley Butler about it… he wrote a book entitled “War is a Racket,” and it’s only 79 pages in length, as the decorated general laid out why the reasons that we go to war are garbage. And nothing has changed since he served and wrote that book, except for maybe the technology of how we dispatch human beings we deem “unworthy.”
Our “freedoms” are shrinking by the day… so what values are our troops “fighting” for?
I can’t wait for the responses to this question. And hey, if you can convince me that I’m wrong, I will admit as much. I have no problem being wrong. I’m human, just like Aaron, just like you. But you better have a very strong counterargument to what I’ve just laid out, other than the same old tropes or empty slogans that get our country and our troops into these messes all around the globe.