Kanye West is kicking off 2015 by giving fans a glimpse at his softer side. At midnight last night the 37-year-old singer released the brand new single about his daughter North titled “Only You” that he wrote from the perspective of his mother, Dr. Donda C. (Williams) West, who died from surgery complications in 2007. The tender track features keyboards from The Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney and is the first of more collaborations between the two music giants, according to a statement issued along with the single.
“Only One” is the first “publicly available recording from what has become a prolific musical collaboration between these two legendary artists,” a spokesperson told Rolling Stone.
“My mom was singing to me, and through me to my daughter,” Kanye says of the song.
“Kanye sat there with his family, holding his daughter North on his lap, and listened to his vocals, singing, ‘Hello, my only one…,’” the statement reveals. “And in that moment, not only could he not recall having sung those words, but he realized that perhaps the words had never really come from him. The process of artistic creation is one that does not involve thinking, but often channeling. And he understood in that moment that his late mother, Dr. Donda West, who was also his mentor, confidante, and best friend, had spoken through him that day.”
Listen to “Only One” by Kanye West below and download it now from iTunes:
Kanye’s wife, and North West’s mother, Kim Kardashian shared her feelings on the new song, calling it her “favorite Kanye song:
People always ask me what my favorite Kanye song is and it's Only One. Kanye feels like his mom sang thru him to our daughter.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 1, 2015
I cry every time I hear this song
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 1, 2015
In the statement Kanye points out that the name Kanye means “only one.”
Here are the amazing lyrics for Kanye West’s “Only One:”
As I lay me down to sleep
I hear her speak to meHello ‘Mari, how ya doin’?
I think the storm ran out of rain, the clouds are moving
I know you’re happy, cause I can see it
So tell the voice inside ya’ head to believe it
I talked to God about you, he said he sent you an angel
And look at all that he gave you
You asked for one and you got two
You know I never left you
Cause every road that leads to heaven’s right inside you
So I can sayHello my only one, just like the morning sun
You’ll keep on rising till the sky knows your name
Hello my only one, remember who you are
No you’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakesHey, hey, hey, hey
Oh the good outweighs the bad even on your worst day
Remember how I’d say
Hey hey one day you’ll be the man you always knew you would be
And if you knew how proud I was
You’d never shed a tear, have a fear, no you wouldn’t do that
And though I didn’t pick the day to turn the page
I know it’s not the end every time I see her face and I hear you sayHello my only one, remember…
You got the world cause you got love in your hands
And you’re still my chosen one
So keep on… One day you’ll understandSo hear me out, hear me out
I won’t go, I won’t go
No goodbyes, no goodbyes
Just hello, just hello
And when you cry, I will cry
And when you smile, I will smile
And next time when I look in your eyes
We’ll have wings and we’ll flyHello my only one, just like the morning sun
You’ll keep on rising till the sky knows your name
And you’re still my chosen one, remember who you are
No you’re not perfect but you’re not your mistakesHey, hey, hey
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
I just want you to do me a favor
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me
Tell Nori about me, tell Nori about me…
