James Blake began his final year at Goldsmiths in September 2009 studying popular music while recording songs in his bedroom. In July 2009, he attended the Latymer School and released his debut single "Air and Lack Thereof" on Hemlock Audio. It was a firm favorite with Gilles Peterson from BBC Radio 1, and Blake was invited to do a special mix on Peterson's worldwide show, which included an exclusive Mount Kimbie track.
Blake released his debut EP The Bells Sketch on 8 March 2010 on Hessle Audio, followed soon after by CMYK on 31 May 2010 and Klavierwerke on 10 October 2010, both on R&S Records. All three EPs were met with significant critical acclaim: BBC's Nick Grimshaw chose CMYK as his Record of the Week, the title track of CMYK was ranked 24th on Frontier Psychiatrist's top 40 songs of the year, and all three of Blake's 2010 EPs were collectively ranked 8th on Pitchfork's top 50 albums of 2010.
On 4 February 2011, Blake released his self-titled debut LP, James Blake, via ATLAS and A&M. Three singles were released for the album: "Limit to Your Love," "The Wilhelm Scream," and "Lindisfarne"/"Unluck". The album was very well-received by critics: on 29 September 2010, BBC's Zane Lowe made "Limit To Your Love" his "Hottest Record in the World," Pitchfork awarded the album Best New Music and ranked it the 12th best album of 2011 on their year-end list, and it was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize.
On 7 October 2011, Blake released his fourth EP, Enough Thunder, via ATLAS and A&M. Two singles were released for the EP: "Fall Creek Boys Choir," a collaboration between Blake and Bon Iver, and "A Case of You," a cover of Joni Mitchell. On 12 December 2011, Blake released another EP through R&S, Love What Happened Here.
Retrograde
James Blake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a world you've grown
Few more years to go
Don't let the hurdle fall
So be the girl you loved
Be the girl you loved
I'll wait
So show me why you're strong
Ignore everybody else
We're alone now
I'll wait
So show me why you're strong
Ignore everybody else
We're alone now
Suddenly, I'm hit
It's the starkness of the dawn
And your friends are gone
And your friends won't come
So show me where you fit
So show me where you fit
I'll wait
So show me why you're strong
Ignore everybody else
We're alone now
(We're alone now)
I'll wait (we're alone now)
(We're alone now)
(We're alone now)
I'll wait (we're alone now)
(We're alone now)
(We're alone now)
(We're alone now)
(We're alone now)
Suddenly, I'm hit
It's the starkness of the dawn
And your friends are gone
And your friends won't come
So show me where you fit
So show me where you fit
The song "Retrograde" by James Blake primarily revolves around the idea of growing up and finding oneself while facing challenges and obstacles. The opening lyrics, "You're on your own, in a world you've grown. Few more years to go, don't let the hurdle fall," highlight the struggles that come with growing up and having to face challenges alone, without the support of people who used to be around. However, it also underscores the importance of being resilient and not letting the obstacles bring you down. The following lyrics, "So be the girl you loved, be the girl you loved," appear to emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself and not losing oneself in the face of adversity.
In the chorus, "I'll wait, so show me why you're strong. Ignore everybody else, we're alone now," Blake offers support and encouragement to the listener, indicating that they are not completely alone in their journey. He asks them to demonstrate their strength and ignore the opinions and judgments of others because at the end of the day, they are the ones who must navigate the challenges and find their place.
The second half of the song returns to the same themes as the beginning, with the lyrics "And your friends are gone. And your friends won't come. So show me where you fit. So show me where you fit." These lines tell us that friends may not always be around, but it is important to find where one belongs and feels most comfortable.
Overall, James Blake's "Retrograde" encourages listeners to stay true to themselves, be resilient and strong while navigating the challenges of growing up, and to find their own place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
You're on your own
You are responsible for your own actions and decisions
In a world you've grown
In a society and culture that you have become accustomed to
Few more years to go
You still have time left to achieve your goals
Don't let the hurdle fall
Do not let obstacles stop you from reaching your potential
So be the girl you loved
Be true to yourself and the person you know you can be
I'll wait
I am here for you and will support you
So show me why you're strong
Demonstrate your strength and resilience to me
Ignore everybody else
Focus on your own journey and ignore the opinions of others
We're alone now
We are in this together and can rely on each other
Suddenly I'm hit
I am struck by the realization of our situation
It's the starkness of the dawn
The beginning of the day is a harsh reminder of our reality
And your friends are gone
The people you thought were your friends have abandoned you
And your friends won't come
Your former companions are not willing to support you
So show me where you fit
Demonstrate how you can contribute and fit into our new reality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Blake Litherland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind