… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Cunningham is an English singer-songwriter based in Oxford.
Cunningham is a fresh talent, proving to be more than just a man with a guitar and a voice; a regularity that we have become all too familiar with. His new and ambitious EP Outside Things combines beautiful, yet honest song-writing with such percussive guitar playing that he truly stands out from the crowd.
Title track “Outside Things’” premièred on Best Fit; the lyrics are from the perspective of a newly-born baby. It’s a time that occurs in everyone’s life that cannot be remembered or recalled, this therefore, explorative aspect to his song-writing shows the depth Cunningham has to offer, unlike so many artists of his type. The song manages to convey an impression of diving in and out from the confusion of that foreign experience in such a compelling nature, accompanied by intense vocals playing on the track’s intimacy. “Outside Things’” carries with it a strange sense of longing, which is continuous throughout the EP.
“In One Out” is the first track to be heard on the record; it’s melodic, but profoundly sombre and relatively dark sounding. The finger-picked guitar behind the vocals is hypnotic. There’s a slight step away from this intensity of the opening track and that of the title track in “Lights Off” and “Plans” - the second and fourth tracks on the EP. With far less movement there’s time to breathe between songs, it really helps to make each one stand out in their own right. During both of these tracks Cunningham creates moments of silence, with constant breaks where everything comes to a brief halt – if you heard these tracks live you’d want to be situated in an intimate and silent setting.
The Outside Things EP not only demonstrates Cunningham’s impeccable writing ability, but his intricate and skilful playing technique, developed and picked up from his time spent in Seville, along with showing off his individual voice. Through the EP Cunningham’s percussive, yet flexible guitars playing technique is something to be whole heartedly admired.
Minimum
Charlie Cunningham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's so much work at first, it goes
How should I word this verse?
It's so much work the further, the further you go
Go, take off a load
Letting your wings unfold
They're keeping everything down to a minimum
Everything a bit low
Tell 'em what you know, not all that you know, though
The truth be told you need it more than you thought
But you're managing, that's how you evened out, out
Keep on walking that line, the fine line
Between a wrong and a right
You get yours, I'm gonna get mine
Is that what you signed for?
They're feeding you lines
To keep you on their side
It works every time
What you got to live for
And now you got the whole of the world at your feet
And how much more can you pass yourself 'round?
What you got to live for
Now you got the whole of the world at your feet
But you're still shaking
You need to make up some ground
Go, take off a load
Letting your wings unfold
They're keeping everything down to a minimum
Everything a bit low
Tell 'em what you know, not all that you know, though
The truth be told you need it more than you thought
But you're managing, that's how you evened out, out
The song "Minimum" by Charlie Cunningham is a reflection of the struggles and hardships that come with trying to make it in the music industry. Cunningham is questioning how to craft a verse, and he acknowledges that it takes a lot of work to create something meaningful. As the song progresses, he encourages the listener to take off any burdens and let their wings unfold. The line, "They're keeping everything down to a minimum," suggests that the industry is trying to control and constrain artists, forcing them to conform to certain standards and expectations.
The song also touches on the idea of staying true to oneself and not compromising values for the sake of success. The lines "Tell 'em what you know, not all that you know, though," and "Between a wrong and a right, you get yours, I'm gonna get mine," suggest that one must find a balance between sharing their knowledge and maintaining their integrity. Cunningham acknowledges the pressure to give in to the industry's demands but encourages the listener to stay grounded and not lose sight of their own worth and purpose.
In the chorus, Cunningham sings, "What you got to live for? And now you got the whole of the world at your feet." It's a reminder that success doesn't always equate to happiness, and one must find their own meaning and purpose in life. The last verse continues the theme of perseverance in the face of challenges, encouraging the listener to keep pushing forward and making progress, even if it's slow.
Line by Line Meaning
How do I word this verse?
The process of creating art can be laborious, and requires effort to put into words.
It's so much work at first, it goes
The beginning stages of creating art are difficult and require much effort.
How should I word this verse?
The artist may question how to express their thoughts and emotions cohesively.
It's so much work the further, the further you go
As one continues to create, the process becomes more challenging and requires even more effort.
Go, take off a load
The artist is encouraged to release the burden of creativity and let their ideas flow naturally.
Letting your wings unfold
The artist is advised to allow themselves to explore new creative avenues and ideas without hesitation.
They're keeping everything down to a minimum
Society may limit artists from truly flourishing and expressing themselves fully.
Everything a bit low
The expectations for artists are sometimes lower than they should be, and they are not encouraged to reach their full potential.
Tell 'em what you know, not all that you know, though
When expressing oneself, it is important to only share what is necessary and relevant, rather than overwhelming the audience with too much information.
The truth be told you need it more than you thought
Artists may experience doubt and uncertainty, but the act of expression is ultimately necessary for their creative process and personal growth.
But you're managing, that's how you evened out, out
Despite the challenges, artists can find a way to balance the difficulties of creative expression and manage to produce something meaningful.
Keep on walking that line, the fine line
Artists must find a balance between pushing the boundaries of creativity and staying within what is acceptable to society.
Between a wrong and a right
This balance is between staying true to their artistic vision while also not alienating their audience or going too far outside the norm.
You get yours, I'm gonna get mine
All artists have their unique style and creative vision, and they should pursue it without feeling the need to conform to others' ideals.
Is that what you signed for?
Artists should question their motives and intentions for creating, and make sure they are staying true to themselves and their artistic vision.
They're feeding you lines
The expectations put on artists by society can sometimes be formulaic and not reflective of true artistic expression.
To keep you on their side
These expectations are motivated by a desire to appeal to audiences and maintain commercial success, rather than allowing artists to truly express themselves.
It works every time
Despite the limitations and pressures put on artists, society is still able to maintain control over the artistic process and maintain the status quo.
What you got to live for
Artist may question their purpose and motivation for creating art.
And now you got the whole of the world at your feet
Despite these doubts, artists have the potential to make a significant impact and reach a large audience with their work.
And how much more can you pass yourself 'round?
Artists may question how much of themselves they should put into their work and how much they want to reveal to the world.
But you're still shaking
Despite the potential impact of their work, artists may still feel uncertain or scared to fully express themselves.
You need to make up some ground
Artists may feel like they have not yet fully reached their potential and need to continue working and growing to create truly impactful work.
That's how you evened out, out
Through continued hard work and dedication, artists can overcome their doubts and fears to create meaningful and impactful work.
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: Charles James Cunningham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind