The song was released as the second single from the band's first studio album Anthem of the Peaceful Army on October 16, 2018, three days prior to the album's release.[3] A live acoustic version was recorded prior for Radio.com, and released on the same day.[3] The song was the earliest written song on the album, being written when brother Jake and Josh Kiszka were just 17 years old in 2013.[4] The song is credited as being written by all four member of the band.[5] Prior to the song’s release as a single, the band performed the song live in March 2018 with Elton John at his benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[6] On January 18, 2019, the band performed the song and “Black Smoke Rising” live on Saturday Night Live.[7][8] A clip of the recording of 'You're the One' went viral on TikTok for Josh Kiszka's dramatic head movements.
Composition and themes
Musically, journalist described the song as a "rock ballad" and "more laid back" than much of the band's material released at the time.[1][9] Jake Kiszka described the song as being inspired by the 1960s folk music revival, taking inspiration from artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.[10] The song was described as melodic, mid-tempo song, with a backing track of clean guitar notes, bass, drums, and organ.[11] Beyond the common comparisons the band commonly receives to the work of Led Zeppelin, the song was also compared to the work of The Allman Brothers and Bad Company.[12][13] The drumming was described as similar to the Led Zeppelin song "Your Time is Gonna Come".[14]
Lyrically, the song was described as a "dirt-road-rambling, lovelorn tune".[3] While generally described as a heartfelt love song about unrequited love for a female, it was also noted how at one point, the narrator describes her as young, pretty, and evil.[14][11][12]
Reception
Uproxx praised the song for having a "huge and catchy chorus that is begging to be chanted by a festival crowd" and "a gorgeous song that features a sense of timelessness that few modern rock bands could pull off."[1]
Personnel
Band
Joshua Kiszka – vocals
Jacob Kiszka – guitar, backing vocals
Samuel Kiszka – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
