For Pat Grossi of Active Child, the last two years have been nothing short of enriching. Musically, Pat has worked within and appropriated a number of styles into his sound, from his early days singing with that heavenly voice as a choir boy to his more recent forays into laptop-assisted indie-pop made in his bedroom, best exemplified on 2010’s acclaimed Curtis Lane EP. His sound is so wide-ranging that he has found himself touring with many notable acts of differing genres, including dubstep producer James Blake, dreamy synth-pop of School of Seven Bells, and the indie-rock bands White Lies and White Rabbits.
Nothing quite prepares you for the leap that Pat has taken with his debut album, You Are All I See, out on August 23rd via Vagrant records. Recently, he has expanded his sonic ambitions and turned the studio into an instrument for a record that sounds cosmically huge and yet intimate all the same.
Of the album title, Pat himself says, “You Are All I See is an attempt to build a bridge between the listener and I, in that, I wrote these songs for you as much as I did for me. And right now when you are listening to my voice, by yourself, it really is just you and I.” In attempting to craft songs that meant something not only to himself but that could be meaningful to others as well, he found himself working with some universally human and fragile themes. “The songs focus primarily on the joy and heartbreak of relationships, love lost and rediscovered, battles with monogamy, battles with identity,” Pat says. “It came out much darker than I had intended, but sometimes you only have so much control.”
The grand, cinematic scope of Pat’s artistic vision is apparent on You Are All I See, which owes as much to his wide array of influences as it does to Pat’s own knack for employing these influences in fresh, forward-thinking ways. With triumphant synths and shimmering, contrapuntal harp lines, songs like the title track and “Hanging On” are reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack,” but improve upon that template with layered vocals not far removed from Bon Iver or even James Blake, who Active Child recently opened for on tour. “High Priestess” and “See Thru Eyes” are stunning forays into electronic music territory, littered with samples, drum machines, and keyboards that propel the songs forward while simultaneously seeming weightless and suspended. It is in this tension that You Are All I See lives, breathes, and thrives so magnificently. The album is indebted to the sounds of the 1980s, from New Order’s drums-and-synths to danceable hip-hop beats, and it’s all topped off with soaring r&b melodies. The album’s first single, “Playing House,” features guest vocals from Tom Krell, the crooner of lo-fi r&b project How To Dress Well. Pitchfork Media recently premiered the track, noting “Active Child’s sound now seems positively ahead of its time.”
Reflecting on the album’s finished product, Pat says “I think more than anything, I see this debut release as a bridge towards something bigger and truer. Something I can look back on and think, ‘damn, you really did it’.” When you finally hear You Are All I See you’ll think the very same thing.
Mercy
Active Child Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've come so far came so close to finding you
And your love will help me through
Your love will guide me to you
Even when I try to take control
Need your love, need your love
There's a riddle inside that I'll never know
Need your love, need your love
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
It guides me to
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
After some time I recognized that it was for real
Real, real
You opened my eyes and I could not deny
How you make me feel
All of your ways, your ways
Your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
You can do it, baby show me what you got
Gimme what you got now
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me, you help me to get through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
It's your love
It guides me, it guides me back to you
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
You
can do it, you can do it, but you know it won't stop. The lyrics of the song “Mercy” by Active Child convey an emotional plea for the sustaining power of love. The singer returns home to find someone who has come close to finding him and believes that their love will help him through anything. Even though he tries to take control of his life, there is a riddle inside him that he will never know, and he needs the love of his partner to guide him.
The song then shifts to the recognition of the true significance of the relationship. The singer realizes that the love he shares is real, and it has opened his eyes to the undeniable feeling and chemistry between the two. He acknowledges the ways his partner has shaped his life, alluding to the fact that love is vital to his existence. The song ends on the note that love “guides him back to you,” revealing that the love between the two is an anchor in his life that ultimately brings him back to her.
The song as a whole is a beautiful ballad that highlights the importance of love in our lives. The melody and lyrics combine to create a hauntingly beautiful track that speaks to the depths of our hearts. The repetition of the phrase “It's your love” emphasizes the power of love and the impact it can have on one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I came back home and you said to me
Returning home, you greeted me with words of reassurance
I've come so far came so close to finding you
I've travelled great distances to reunite with you
And your love will help me through
I look to your love as a source of strength and support
Your love will guide me to you
Your love acts as a beacon, directing me towards you
Even when I try to take control
Despite my best efforts to steer the course, your love remains the constant driving force
Need your love, need your love
Your love is an essential requirement
There's a riddle inside that I'll never know
An unsolvable mystery dwells within me
Need your love, need your love
Your love is an essential requirement
It's your love
The love that you provide
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Although capable, your love cannot be contained
Help me through
Assist me in navigating the obstacles I face
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
Viewing the situation in its entirety
It's your love
The love that you provide
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Although capable, your love cannot be contained
It guides me to
It acts as a compass, directing me towards
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
Viewing the situation in its entirety
After some time I recognized that it was for real
Over time, I came to accept the authenticity of our connection
Real, real
Genuinely sincere
You opened my eyes and I could not deny
Through your actions, you made me see the truth
How you make me feel
The emotions that you stir within me
All of your ways, your ways
Every facet of your personality and behavior
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Although capable, your love cannot be contained
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
Taking a comprehensive approach
You can do it, baby show me what you got
Demonstrate the depth of your love and abilities
Gimme what you got now
Display your love and affection
Help me, you help me to get through
Your support aids me in overcoming obstacles
It guides me, it guides me back to you
Your love serves as a navigational tool, leading me towards you
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Although capable, your love cannot be contained
Contributed by Elena A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jessica
[Verse]
I came back home and you said to me
I've come so far came so close to finding you
And your love will help me through
Your love will guide me to you
Even when I try to take control
Need your love, need your love
There's a riddle inside that I'll never know
Need your love, need your love
[Chorus]
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
It guides me to
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
[Bridge]
After some time I recognized that it was for real
Real, real
You opened my eyes and I could not deny
How you make me feel
All of your ways, your ways
[Chorus]
Your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
You can do it, baby show me what you got
Gimme what you got now
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me, you help me to get through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
It's your love
It guides me, it guides me back to you
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
You
jessica
[Verse]
I came back home and you said to me
I've come so far came so close to finding you
And your love will help me through
Your love will guide me to you
Even when I try to take control
Need your love, need your love
There's a riddle inside that I'll never know
Need your love, need your love
[Chorus]
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
It guides me to
Looking at it from the bottom to the top
[Bridge]
After some time I recognized that it was for real
Real, real
You opened my eyes and I could not deny
How you make me feel
All of your ways, your ways
[Chorus]
Your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
You can do it, baby show me what you got
Gimme what you got now
It's your love
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
Help me, you help me to get through
Looking at it from the bottom to the top now
It's your love
It guides me, it guides me back to you
You can do it, but you know it won't stop
You
Chris Ybarra
I came back home and you said:
WWWWAAARRRR WAR WWAARR
Ernest McCann
surprised this doesn't have more plays
Dzulani Thanyani
Love the smoothness. This should have a lot more attention. I actually only saw there was a new album release last week. Market this better, please. All the love from South Africa
Ann Jenkins
#1 fave song on the whole album !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't take it off repeat c:
Stefano Kerberos
I had a major depressive crisis when Mercy got out. Not gonna lie, i had several moments of clarity while driving and listening to this. I’m very happy that i csn listen to this record again
Shashank Ukey
Listening this song after 5 years still hits hard.😍🥰🥰
Amber Maj!
This is so chill and smooth
J Scheffel
favorite song on this album
Noir Merde
love all of them.