One Man Can Change the World

Album: Dark Sky Paradise (2015)
Charted: 82
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This soulful ballad testifies to the endless potential one person has for changing the world. Sean invites Kanye West and John Legend along for the rise, with each taking a turn at crooning the hook. "I just lost my grandma," he told MTV News. "So, right before she passed, I wrote this song. A major part of the song is about her. She never got a chance to hear it. It's just an emotional thing."

    "It's just a song that comes straight 100 percent from the heart," Sean continued. "I hope people can enjoy it. And I really appreciate John Legend and Kanye West being a part of that."
  • Sean reflects here on the positive influences in his life, in particular his late grandmother. (She suffered a debilitating stroke and passed away in December 2014). The rapper includes a clip of a recorded phone conversation between the pair at the end of the song. "In a selfish way, it was hard to say goodbye," he told Billboard magazine, "but when I stepped back, I was happy she was free of the wheelchair and didn't have to go through that."
  • Big Sean's late grandmother, Mildred V. Leonard, was one of the first female black captains in World War II and a pillar in her Detroit community. Sean said: "I hope my grandma is looking down smiling on me right now. Because the struggles she went through to become a female black captain in WW2, one of the first black officers in Detroit, a teacher/counselor, an amazing mom/grandma were too great for this song not to be a single. I'm sure you can relate if you ever had somebody like that who changed your world."
  • Sean consciously chose not to swear on this specific track. He tweeted: "Know it's hard to imagine me not cursing on a song/single... (Cues up IDFWY, etc lol). But honestly I'm proud to have a song so heartfelt."
  • This won for Best Video with a Social Message at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, the first VMA for either Sean or Legend. Accepting the award, Sean dedicated it to his late grandmother, saying, "If one person has shown me that one man - meaning male or female - could change the world, it's her."

    The video was directed by Andy Hines, who also did Big Sean's "Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)" clip.

Comments: 1

  • Mutuma Emmanuel from UgandaI really love this heartfelt song, so good en I play it every day above 30 times.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.