(1)Fink, Brighton-based acoustic folk / blues / electronic artist
A recording / performance name of Brighton, UK's Fin Greenall - a Bristol-born understated singer-songwriter. He is an uncompromising artist - in acoustic folk / blues / dub - with an astounding stage presence, signed to Ninja Tune Records. Read Full BioThere are, at least, two artists known as Fink: 1) A Brighton-based acoustic folk / blues / electronic artist. 2) A Hamburg, Germany alt-country band, founded mid-90s & disbanded in 2007.
(1)Fink, Brighton-based acoustic folk / blues / electronic artist
A recording / performance name of Brighton, UK's Fin Greenall - a Bristol-born understated singer-songwriter. He is an uncompromising artist - in acoustic folk / blues / dub - with an astounding stage presence, signed to Ninja Tune Records. With live accompaniment by Guy Whittaker (bass) & Tim Thornton (drums), they have played over 300 shows, in the last three years (inc' supporting Zero 7 & Massive Attack). In addition to his performance history, Fink has written with many (inc' John Legend & Amy Winehouse), plus remixed Elbow, Nina Simone, 坂本龍一 & Robert Belfour. Prior to all of this, Greenall - who grew up in the same city as Roni Size, Portishead & Massive Attack - was a Ninja Tune DJ, spinning trip-hop & breakbeat internationally.
Fink’s 2006 debut Biscuits For Breakfast (recorded entirely in his loft in Brighton) saw him reincarnated to become Ninja Tune’s first singer-songwriter. Such was the impact of this collection of songs on the underground British musical landscape, iDJ Magazine stated: "If 'Blue Lines' was about Generation X's experience of house parties, hip-hop and smoking drugs then this astonishing album is its millennial equivalent."
2007 saw the release of Distance And Time, another critically acclaimed record that saw Fink’s fan base spread around the world. As an incredibly accomplished and versatile vocalist and guitarist he has since performed as a special guest in front of thousands at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of BBC Proms, New York's legendary Carnegie Hall (where he performed a cover of REM’s ‘The Apologist’ in front of the song’s creators), and even Milan's 80,000 capacity San Siro Stadium. It was also Distance And Time that caught the attention of John Legend, with whom Greenall co-wrote ‘Green Light’ featuring Andre 3000 and ‘Set Me Free’ from Legend’s Evolver LP. Legend, in return, makes a guest appearance on piano, and co-wrote two tracks with Greenall on Sort Of A Revolution.
There are very few independent artists who have quietly accomplished such an amazing array of achievements, and judging by this new and impeccable record, it doesn't seem that Fink - many a music fan's best kept secret - will be a secret for too much longer.
Discography (electronic / acoustic):
See It All (Single) - Released: 10/12/09
Sort of Revolution (Single) - Released: 07/20/09
Sort of Revolution - Released: 05/2009
Distance and Time - Released: 01/10/07
Biscuits For Breakfast - Released: 24/04/06
So Long - Released: 03/04/06
Pretty Little Thing - Released: 06/02/06
Fresh Produce - Released: 01/06/00
Ever Since I Was A Kid - Released: 01/04/00
Front Side EP/album - Released: 01/03/99
Fink Funk EP/album - Released: 01/07/97
Sites: YouTube & http://FinkWorld.co.UK (official).
(2) A Hamburg, Germany alt-country band, founded mid-90s & disbanded in 2007
Discography:
Vogelbeobachtung im Winter (xxs records/Indigo, 1997)
Loch in der Welt (xxs records/Indigo, 1998)
Mondscheiner (L'Age d'Or/Rough Trade Records, 1999)
Fink (L'Age d'Or/Rough Trade Records, 2001)
Haiku Ambulanz (Trocadero Records/Indigo, 2003)
Bam Bam Bam (Trocadero/Indigo, 2005
Website (german): http://www.finkmusik.de/ (official)
This Is the Thing
Fink Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
It's getting dark and it's getting cold and the nights are getting long
And I don't know if you even notice at all
That I'm long gone babe I'm long gone
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
This is the thing
This is the thing
I don't know if you notice anything missing
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
And I don't know if you even notice at all
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone
This is the thing
This is the thing
This is the thing
And I don't know if you notice anything, different
I don't know if you even notice at all
And I don't know if you notice anything missing
This is the thing
This is the thing
This is the thing
This is the thing
This is the thing
In Fink's song "This Is the Thing," the singer and songwriter hints at a relationship that has come to an end. He remains hopeful that the separation is for the best, insinuating that the things that keep them apart are the very things that he needs to stay alive. The lyrics suggest that he has left and observes that the other person may not have noticed his absence. He may be struggling with loneliness and missing the other person but acknowledges that being physically apart is necessary for his well-being. He repeats the phrase, "This is the thing," multiple times, emphasizing the simplicity of the situation and the certainty that this separation is necessary for both parties to move forward in their lives.
The overall tone of the song carries a tinge of sadness and mournful reflection, but it also speaks of acceptance and growth. Fink's recognition that the situation is what it is and that he must move forward creates a sense of hope and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know if you notice anything different
I wonder if you see that something has changed
It's getting dark and it's getting cold and the nights are getting long
The weather is turning colder and the days are shorter, signifying a change in season
And I don't know if you even notice at all
I don't think you're paying attention to me or our surroundings
That I'm long gone babe I'm long gone
I am no longer present in your life or our relationship
And the things that keep us apart
The issues that cause distance between us
Keep me alive
These same problems are what motivate me to continue living
And the things that keep me alive
My personal struggles and motivations for survival
Keep me alone
Despite my will to live, these same issues alienate me from others
This is the thing
This is the problem or issue that I am referring to
I don't know if you notice anything missing
I don't think you realize that something important or valuable is gone
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
Perhaps you don't see the changes in our external environment or my personal belongings
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
I didn't make any noise when I left, so it's possible that you don't even know I'm gone
This is the thing
Again, this is the problem or issue that I am focused on
This is the thing
Reiterating the importance of the issue at hand
This is the thing
Continuing to emphasize the significance of the problem or issue
This is the thing
Still underscoring the importance of the issue being discussed
This is the thing
Concluding with one last assertion of the critical nature of this topic
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FINIAN PAUL GREENALL, TIMOTHY WILLIAM THORNTON, GUY WHITTAKER, NICHOLAS SOMER MACKICHAN BLAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rahul Sharma
And I don't know if you notice anything different
It's getting dark and it's getting cold
And the nights are getting long
And I don't know if you even notice at all
That I'm long gone, baby, gone, long gone
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
I don't know if you notice anything missing
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
And I don't know if you even notice at all
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
And I don't know if you notice anything different
And I don't know if you even notice at all
And I don't know if you notice anything different
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
This is the thing
Rahul Sharma
And I don't know if you notice anything different
It's getting dark and it's getting cold
And the nights are getting long
And I don't know if you even notice at all
That I'm long gone, baby, gone, long gone
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
I don't know if you notice anything missing
Like the leaves on the trees or my clothes all over the floor
And I don't know if you even notice at all
'Cause I was real quiet when I closed the door
And the things that keep us apart
Keep me alive
And the things that keep me alive
Keep me alone, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
And I don't know if you notice anything different
And I don't know if you even notice at all
And I don't know if you notice anything different
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing, mmm
This is the thing
This is the thing
rickdafrog
This dude's amazing. Shows you don't need doodlin' to make beautiful music. Miles Davis said it: "Why play many notes when you can play the most beautiful ones?"
EllieAine
Holy shit you know when you just hear the first 3 seconds of a song and it takes you to the exact place and feeling you had when you heard it the first time, this just did that.
pluvia13
every heartbreak.. </3
N
We break our own hearts
nicole ferrell
This friggin comment. Legit my life
Sarah McGibbon
I've listened to this song countless times over the past year and for me, it's that song that I turn to when I'm upset. I just sit here and listen to it, take in his beautiful voice, breath through the words and let the music take me away. I will never get over this song and I am so glad i found it.
MA-Saracen
Damn this comment makes me feel really old
asiaxena
It's a damn shame nobody is really listening to lyrics anymore:( This man has the whole package.
Nisa K
Thank you Dear John for introducing me to this song! "This Is The Thing" was a perfect fit for the scene and story. I am thrilled to have downloaded his latest album "Sort of Revolution" which is equally as amazing.