Description
“One More Time” is a song recorded by American rock band Blink-182. The song was released on September 21, 2023, through Columbia Records as the second single for their ninth album of the same name, and released simultaneously with another song, “More Than You Know“. It was written by bassist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker, with Barker co-producing the song alongside songwriters Andrew Goldstein and Aldae.
Background
The song focuses on the band’s history, and the interpersonal relationships between the three members of the classic line-up. DeLonge opens the song by addressing his exits from the band and how they impacted his relationship to both Hoppus and Barker: “Strangers, from strangers into brothers / From brothers into strangers once again.”Hoppus answers in his second verse, directly referencing his own battle with cancer, as well as Barker’s survival of a deadly 2008 plane crash. A second verse prominently features Hoppus, DeLonge and Barker harmonizing the phrase “I miss you,” a reference to their 2004 single of the same name. While recording, DeLonge had considered the song building to a guitar-heavy climax, but erred on keeping it simple, feeling as though the song worked better without a build-up.
In an interview, DeLonge expanded on the song’s concept and themes:
With Blink, I always feel like we’re the guys next door. A lot of people knew more about us individually, and our stories in the band. So I feel like our story as a band is a little more present than a lot of rock bands. Having a song like [“One More Time”], I think a lot of people can relate, because we all get older and look back […] I think it was a good moment for us to relate on a really human level and bring people more into our story. Which is essentially punk rock […] it’s a vehicle for emotion, it’s a vehicle for kind of eternal youth with our band.
Composition
Sadie Bell of People described the song as an “emotional, pop-punk ballad.”The song is based around an acoustic guitar riff, and later incorporates piano. “One More Time” is also notable for being one of the few Blink-182 songs to feature Barker’s vocals.[citation needed]
Music video
The song’s music video was directed by Carlos López Estrada, and features the band performing the song on a set that switches between backgrounds from the band’s previous music videos—including “All the Small Things“, “Adam’s Song“, “First Date“, “Feeling This” and more. It also incorporates other key memories from the group’s career, including sets emulating stages at Warped Tour 1999, MTV Spring Break at Daytona Beach from 2000, the TRL studio, and the front cover of their live album The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!). As the song reaches its conclusion, the clip shifts to archival footage of the group from their youth. The video concept originated at Columbia, the band’s record label.