One Week

Barenaked Ladies

About One Week

"One Week" is a song by the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, and is the first single from their 1998 album Stunt. It was written by Ed Robertson, who is featured on the lead vocal of the rapped verses. Steven Page sings lead on the song's chorus, while the two co-lead the prechoruses in harmony. The song is notable for its significant number of pop culture references, and remains the band's best known song in the United States. Coincidentally, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. "One Week" is the band's best-performing single on the charts in both the US and the UK, though it slightly under-performed several other singles in Canada. It was the band's only No. 1 single in the US on both the Hot 100 and the US Modern Rock Tracks (for five non-consecutive weeks). The song spent seven weeks at No. 3 on the Hot 100 Airplay and an additional four weeks at No. 2 behind the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris". The band has not equaled this level of US chart success since, though singles "It's All Been Done", from the same album, and "Pinch Me", the first single from their subsequent album Maroon, both broke the top 50 of the US Hot 100. Apple used the song at MacWorld 1999 for presenting Mac OS X Server on a wall of 50 iMacs. In 1999, American parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody titled "Jerry Springer", a song about a man's strange obsession with The Jerry Springer Show, for his album Running with Scissors. 


Year:
2002
1,692 
#10

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It's been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side
and said I'm angry
Five days since you laughed at me saying 
Get that together come back and see me
Three days since the living room,
I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
But it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink
As I make you stop, think
You'll think you're looking at Aquaman
I summon fish to the dish,
Although I like the Chalet Swiss
I like the sushi 
Cause it's never touched a frying pan

Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes
Big like Leann Rimes
Because I'm all about value
Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
You try to match wits
You try to hold me but I bust through

Gonna make a break and take a fake
I'd like a stinkin, achin shake 
I like vanilla, It's the finest of the flavors
Gotta see the show,
Cause then you'll know
The Vertigo is gonna grow
Cause it's so dangerous,
You'll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Threw your arms in the air and said you're crazy
Five days since you tackled me
I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
It's been three days since the afternoon
You realized it's not my fault not a moment too soon
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
And now I sit back and wait till you say you're sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin X-Files with no lights on,
We're dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man's in this one
Like Harrison Ford I'm getting Frantic
Like Sting I'm Tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

Like Kurosawa I make mad films
Okay I don't make films
But if I did they'd have a samurai
Gonna get a set of better clubs
Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back swing
Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon
Cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes
That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
You soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Dropped your arms to your sides and said I'm sorry
Five days since I laughed at you and said
You just did just what I thought you were gonna do
Three days since the living room
We realized we're both to blame, but what could we do?
Yesterday you just smiled at me
Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry

It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

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Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies (often abbreviated BNL or occasionally BnL) is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto. They are best known for their hit singles, "One Week", "The Old Apartment", "Pinch Me", "If I Had $1000000", "Brian Wilson"; as well as the theme for the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. They have won multiple Juno Awards and have been nominated for Grammy Awards. They are also known for their light-hearted, comedic performance style. Their live shows are known for humorous banter between songs and improvised raps/songs, both of which are staples at virtually eve… more »

1 fan

Written by: Ed Robertson

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release and Chart Success
"One Week" was released as the first single from the Barenaked Ladies' album "Stunt" in 1998. It quickly became the band's breakthrough hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart where it remained for a week.
Song Creation
When the band's co-vocalist Ed Robertson was creating "One Week," he intended to write a rap song as a joke. It later evolved to be the music style of the song.
Lyrics Composition
The lyrics consist of a variety of pop culture references, random musings, and nonsensical phrases, often cited as being extremely hard to remember in sequence. Some of the lyrics include mentions of famous figures like Aquaman and Swiss Chalet.
Recognition
This song was recognized by Billboard as one of the top songs of 1998. Even after two decades, it is still recognized as the signature song of the Barenaked Ladies.
Music Video
The music video for "One Week" was directed by McG, who would later go on to direct blockbuster films such as "Charlie's Angels" and "Terminator Salvation."
Impact
"One Week" catapulted the band into mainstream success and remains one of the Barenaked Ladies' most popular songs.
Album Success
Partially due to the success of “One Week”, the album "Stunt" became the highest-charting album in the Barenaked Ladies' career, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart.
Use in Media
The song has been used in various films, commercials, and television episodes, like "10 Things I Hate About You", "American Pie", and a Mitsubishi commercial.
Live Performances
"One Week" has become a staple in Barenaked Ladies' live performances. During concerts, the members often freestyle additional verses for the song.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered "One Week," including the a cappella group Straight No Chaser and the rock band SR-71.
Chart Performance
"One Week" also charted successfully internationally. The song reached the top 10 in the UK Singles Chart and top 30 in Australia's ARIA Singles Chart.

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    One Week

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1998

    Billboard #1


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