One of Us

Album: Why Me? Why Not (2019)
Charted: 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This breezy song centers on the broken relationship between Liam Gallagher and someone very close to him. It is likely that the person Liam is talking to is his older brother Noel Gallagher; they have been openly feuding since the breakup of Oasis.

    You were always one of us
    Act like you don't remember
    You said we'd live forever
    Who do you think you're kidding?


    "One of Us" references Oasis' classic track "Live Forever," giving us a further clue that it is Noel whom Liam is addressing.
  • "One of Us" is described in a press statement as "a song which expresses hope that a fractured relationship can be salvaged in the future." According to Liam, the song centers on "family, friendship and a sense of belonging."
  • Liam Gallagher penned the song with Andrew Wyatt. The American co-wrote with Gallagher nine out of the eleven tracks on Why Me? Why Not.
  • Gallagher said the song's gospel outro reminds him of The Sweet Inspirations. The American gospel/R&B girl group was founded by Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston. As well as singing backup for many stars such as Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, they had their own hit in 1968 with "Sweet Inspiration."
  • Gene Gallagher, Liam's son, makes his recording debut on this song playing the bongos. "First time he's ever done it," his proud father told Q magazine. "Cans on, tap tap tap. He got the groove in one take."
  • That's songwriter Andrew Wyatt singing the Sweet Inspirations-like coda. Liam commented to Q Magazine: "It's like he's got five black chicks trying to get out of him."
  • The song's nostalgic black-and-white music video finds Gallagher revisiting his past with a series of childhood photographs in a field. Eventually, he enters a warehouse with "August 28, 2009" printed on a door. That was the date of Liam and Noel's backstage fist-fight in Paris, which ended with Noel quitting Oasis. The video was released exactly a decade later on August 28, 2019.

    Liam roped in Peaky Blinders director Anthony Byrne to film it. The concept was written by Stephen Knight, who is the creator of the BBC show.
  • "One of Us" was the last track Gallagher recorded for the album. He told the Los Angeles Daily News that he feels it has a "Wonderwall"-y vibe, saying, "It's got a skippy drum beat and all that."

    Gallagher added that lyrically, the song is about family. "Obviously, I've got a brother called Noel I don't get on with, but I've got another brother, Paul, that I do," he added. "It has got a bit of that. It's got a lot of things, really. I like the groove of it."

Comments: 2

  • Riley Shenton from Uk It’s definitely about Noel as he says that act like you don’t remember you said we’d live forever (written by Noel) he calls him kid at the beginning and Liam also says act like you want more, which is what Noel famously said in a interview about him having a rolls Royce, 3 stalkers, playing on the board at city etc and at the end he screams I WANT MORE!
  • Tim from St Louis, MoDefinitely does seem like he's referencing Noel, but also himself as Liam's nickname within Oasis was "the kid". Liam's explanation of it being about family sounds like it could be very accurate, but it may be his "Oasis family" that he's referring to as well, which includes Noel.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."