Essentially an electronic breakbeat act, they include elements of jazz and particularly lounge music into their style. They also draw on other styles such as big band and Indian. The result is a contemporary, often instrumental music that is much used by Games, Film and TV producers (FIFA, Adidas etc) and consequently many Skeewiff tracks will be subliminally familiar to a wide audience...
They have also collaborated with 60's legends like Hammond organist Alan Hawkshaw and remixed many similar acts like Lemon, Ursula 1000 and Amy Winehouse.
They also run their own label Jalapeno Records and more recently started Pedigree Cuts.
http://www.skeewiff.com/
Man of Constant Sorrow
Skeewiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen trouble all my day.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.
(chorus) The place where he was born and raised
For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasures here on earth I found
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now.
(chorus) He has no friends to help him now
It's fare thee well my old lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train.
(chorus) Perhaps he'll die upon this train.
I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my day.
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave.
(chorus) While he is sleeping in his grave.
I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my day.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.
(chorus) The place where he was born and raised
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train.
(chorus) Perhaps he'll die upon this train.
You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave.
(chorus) While he is sleeping in his grave.
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you'll never see no more.
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore.
(chorus) He'll meet you on God's golden shore..
The lyrics to Skeewiff's song "Man of Constant Sorrow" depict a story of a man who has seen constant trouble throughout his life. The first and third verses both "bid farewell to old Kentucky," the place where he was born and raised. The chorus repeats this line twice, emphasizing the strong connection the man feels to his home state despite his hardships. The second verse speaks of the man's six years of trouble, with no pleasures on earth to be found. He is bound to ramble through the world with no friends to support him. The fourth verse is a farewell to the man's lover, with the suggestion that he may die upon the northern railroad. The fifth verse is a repetition of the first (and third) verse, with the chorus following.
The song's lyrics express feelings of sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness. The man's constant sorrow stems from the trouble he has seen, and he has no support system to help him through it. His farewell to his lover suggests that he feels resigned to his fate and that they will never see each other again. However, there is a promise in the last verse that he will meet his lover on "God's golden shore." Despite the overwhelming sadness in the song, this promise provides a ray of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a man of constant sorrow
I am a man who has experienced pain and hardship throughout my life.
I've seen trouble all my day.
I have encountered difficulties and problems throughout my life.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
I say goodbye to the place where I come from, Kentucky.
The place where I was born and raised.
The place where I grew up and spent my childhood.
(chorus) The place where he was born and raised
The chorus repeats the earlier line to emphasize the importance of his hometown.
For six long years I've been in trouble
I have been experiencing hardships and misfortunes for six years.
No pleasures here on earth I found
I have not found any enjoyment or happiness in my life so far.
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I am destined to wander and roam aimlessly in this world.
I have no friends to help me now.
I do not have any companions or supporters to help me in my current situation.
(chorus) He has no friends to help him now
The chorus repeats this line to highlight the artist's loneliness.
It's fare thee well my old lover
I bid goodbye to my former lover.
I never expect to see you again
I do not anticipate seeing my lover again in the future.
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
I am destined to travel on the northern railroad.
Perhaps I'll die upon this train.
It is possible that I may pass away while traveling on this train.
(chorus) Perhaps he'll die upon this train.
The chorus reiterates the possibility of the singer's death while traveling.
You can bury me in some deep valley
When I die, please bury me in a deep valley.
For many years where I may lay
Allow me to rest in peace in that valley for many years.
Then you may learn to love another
After I pass away, you may find love with someone else.
While I am sleeping in my grave.
However, I'll be at rest in my grave.
(chorus) While he is sleeping in his grave.
The chorus repeats the earlier line to reinforce the fact that the artist has passed away.
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
Your friends might not recognize me or consider me a stranger.
My face you'll never see no more.
You won't see me again because I'll be gone.
But there is one promise that is given
However, there is one promise that I can make.
I'll meet you on God's golden shore.
We'll meet again in heaven, the golden shore of God.
(chorus) He'll meet you on God's golden shore.
The chorus ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that the singer believes in an afterlife where he'll be reunited with his loved ones.
Contributed by Harper V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.