It first appeared in the 1990s and was pioneered by IG Culture. Appearing in the western parts of London, the genre is also referred to as West London, mainly because Goya Music's offices were in London's Ladbroke Grove, W11, as were most of the participating artists studios.
Artists in this area mostly have a drum and bass, house, hip hop, techno or acid jazz background. As a result of these various influences, broken beat is sometimes considered more sophisticated than regular dance music, on the scale of jazz, soul or funk.
II. Shadows
Childish Gambino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mmm-mmm, Mmm-mmm
She said, she said
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more oh (she said, she said)
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more
Yeah, no, no, no (she said, yeah okay, uh)
Face down in the brown grass (no)
Shame shame on my brown ass (oh lord)
Birds in the trees as we run through
And if I'm dead to the world, what you gon' do? What you gon' do?
Like, (I can't remember)
Shots fired, rewind, please, girl, be mine
Email denied, talk to me baby
Before I go crazy, might do it maybe
We were so Jay Z & Beyonce, my aunt say "keep the sex game picante"
The Aunt May and Mary Jane that I was hitting on
We were trying to forget that there was something wrong
Love is Russian roulette, I had the safety on
We popped pills at the Coachella
Hold my head in the weeds, man I can't tell her
The fear that I feel man it might kill her
Man, it might kill her, it's the prep school mic killa'
With the drums and the groove so it feel Dilla
I don't care what he say
I'ma get my platinum back like I'm a half ton gorilla
You can hang with homie on the low
But your boy so weak like a week ago
But we ain't speaking though
Tuesday afternoon, I ain't got shit to do
But fall in love with you (she said, she said, she said)
Tuesday afternoon, I ain't got shit to do
But fall in love with you (she said, she said, she said)
She said, love me better, kiss me back, listen more, oh (she said, she said, she said)
She said, love me better, kiss me back, listen more
The attitude
The attitude
And I hope you understand, and I hope you understand
We were never friends
And I hope you understand now
But I miss them
Oh no no no
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
Gonna get your love
I'm gonna get your love
And I hope you understand
I'm gonna get your, ohh
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
Childish Gambino's "II. Shadows" is a beautifully melancholic song that portrays the thoughts and feelings of someone who is trying to come to terms with a past relationship. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and metaphors, painting the picture of someone who is struggling to move on from the past.
The song begins with the words "Love me better, kiss me back, listen more," spoken by a woman. These words are repeated throughout the song, seemingly haunting the singer. The line "Face down in the brown grass, shame shame on my brown ass" suggests a sense of guilt and self-loathing, while the image of birds in the trees and running through the grass represents a desire for freedom and escape.
The line "We were so Jay Z & Beyonce, my aunt say 'keep the sex game picante'" is a reference to the idea of the perfect celebrity couple, but contrasted with the singer's own relationship, which is flawed and struggling. The use of "Aunt May and Mary Jane" is a nod to the comic book character Spider-Man, referencing the singer's sexual prowess. The line "Love is Russian roulette, I had the safety on" suggests a fear of love and relationships and a reluctance to take risks. The use of drugs and alcohol, mentioned later in the song, is a means of escaping this fear and numbing the pain of heartbreak.
The chorus repeats the woman's request to be loved better, kissed more, and listened to, suggesting that the singer feels guilt or remorse for not giving enough in the past. The song ends with the lines "And I hope you understand, gonna get your love, I'm gonna get your love," indicating a certain level of obsession and a desire to win back a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
She said, she said
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more oh (she said, she said)
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more
Love me better, kiss me back, listen more
Yeah, no, no, no (she said, yeah okay, uh)
The singer's partner is requesting for more love, attention, and physical affection, but the singer is unsure and hesitant to comply.
Face down in the brown grass (no)
The singer is feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
Shame shame on my brown ass (oh lord)
The singer is acknowledging their fault and taking responsibility for their mistake.
Birds in the trees as we run through
And if I'm dead to the world, what you gon' do? What you gon' do?
The artist and their partner are running through the wilderness, and the artist is questioning their partner's loyalty and commitment.
Like, (I can't remember)
Shots fired, rewind, please, girl, be mine
Email denied, talk to me baby
Before I go crazy, might do it maybe
The artist is reminiscing about a past relationship that ended badly, and they are attempting to reconnect with their former partner.
We were so Jay Z & Beyonce, my aunt say "keep the sex game picante"
The Aunt May and Mary Jane that I was hitting on
We were trying to forget that there was something wrong
The singer and their partner were once in a perfect, idealized relationship, and they tried to ignore the issues and struggles in their relationship.
Love is Russian roulette, I had the safety on
The singer is describing love as a dangerous game of chance, but they took precautions to protect themselves from getting hurt.
We popped pills at the Coachella
Hold my head in the weeds, man I can't tell her
The fear that I feel man it might kill her
Man, it might kill her, it's the prep school mic killa'
With the drums and the groove so it feel Dilla
The artist and their partner are using drugs and partying at a music festival, but the artist is feeling a sense of dread and anxiety.
I don't care what he say
I'ma get my platinum back like I'm a half ton gorilla
The artist is determined to achieve success and fame despite any criticisms or obstacles they may face.
You can hang with homie on the low
But your boy so weak like a week ago
But we ain't speaking though
The artist is aware that their partner is spending time with someone else, and the artist is feeling jealous and resentful.
Tuesday afternoon, I ain't got shit to do
But fall in love with you (she said, she said, she said)
Tuesday afternoon, I ain't got shit to do
But fall in love with you (she said, she said, she said)
The singer is expressing their love and devotion to their partner, but they are also feeling bored and aimless in their life.
The attitude
The attitude
And I hope you understand, and I hope you understand
We were never friends
And I hope you understand now
But I miss them
Oh no no no
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
Gonna get your love
I'm gonna get your love
And I hope you understand
I'm gonna get your, ohh
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
And I hope you understand
The artist is expressing a mix of emotions, including anger, longing, and determination, towards their partner who they were never actually friends with.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kent Jamz, Kenneth Gonzalez, Stephen Bruner, Donald Glover, Ludwig Gorannson, Victor Piagneri, Manzel Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vishwanath Ji
on This Is America
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