Release
Afro Celt Sound System/Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics


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Don’t think you can’t see me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I’m sitting amongst yourselves
Don’t think you can’t see me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven’t gone anywhere
But out of my body

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven’t gone anywhere
But out of my body

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Reach out and you’ll touch me
Make effort to speak to me




Call out and you’ll hear me
Be happy for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Afro Celt Sound System’s “Release” are a message of reassurance and comfort to loved ones who are grieving for someone who has recently passed away. The opening lines “Don’t think you can’t see me” convey the idea that even though the person has passed away, they are still present in spirit and can be felt or sensed by their loved ones. The repeated lines “Don’t argue amongst yourselves / Because of the loss of me” appeal to the emotions of the listeners, asking them to focus on the memories of their loved ones rather than arguing or feeling guilty about their death.


The lyrics also suggest that the person is not truly gone but has simply left their body. The lines “I haven’t gone anywhere / But out of my body” reinforce the idea that the spirit of the person is still around and can be accessed through reaching out or speaking to them. The repeated refrain “Reach out and you’ll touch me / Make effort to speak to me / Call out and you’ll hear me / Be happy for me” urges the listeners to actively engage with their loved ones, even if they can no longer physically see or hear them.


Overall, “Release” is a poignant and uplifting song that seeks to console those who are dealing with loss and grief. The lyrics emphasize the importance of remembering, connecting with, and ultimately celebrating the lives of those who have left us.


Line by Line Meaning

Don’t think you can’t see me
Despite my physical absence, I am still present in your life and can see the things that you do.


Don’t argue amongst yourselves
Avoid conflict and disagreements among yourselves in my absence.


Because of the loss of me
My absence has caused sorrow and grief among you.


I’m sitting amongst yourselves
My spirit still remains with you, even though I am no longer in my physical body.


Reach out and you’ll touch me
Even though you cannot physically touch me, you can still feel my presence and connect with me in other ways.


Make effort to speak to me
Take initiative to communicate with me, either through prayers, thoughts, or memories.


Call out and you’ll hear me
Talk to me as if I am still listening, and know that I can hear you.


Be happy for me
Despite my passing, take comfort in knowing that I am at peace and free from pain.


I haven’t gone anywhere
I am still a part of your life, even though I am no longer with you in a physical sense.


But out of my body
My spirit has left my physical body, but it has not left this world entirely.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SIMON EMMERSON, JAMES MCNALLY, IARLA O'LIONAIRD, MARTIN RUSSELL, SINEAD O'CONNOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@riverad1745

Don't argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I'm sitting amongst yourselves
Don't think you can't see me
Don't argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven't gone anywhere
But out of my body
Reach out and you'll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you'll hear me
Be happy for me
Don't argue amongst yourselves
Because of the loss of me
I haven't gone anywhere
But out of my body
Reach out and you'll touch me
Make effort to speak to me
Call out and you'll hear me
Be happy for me



@NoNameThoughtOfYet

I've FINALLY Found The Irish Lyrics And English Translation That Íarla Ó'Lionáird Sings At 1:29… It Was Almost Impossible To Find Them And Then I Stumbled Across A Website That Had Them… Here They Are:

Ag Trasna An Linn/Going Across The Pool
Ag Feachaint Síos Tríd/Looking Down Through
Níl Aon Iarann I Mo Chroí Inniu/There's No Iron In My Heart Today
Ag Oscail An Síol/Opening The Seed
Ag Feitheamh An Scéal/Waiting For The Story
Níl Aon Airgead I Mo Phóca Innui/There Is No Money In My Pocket Today
I Mo Phóca Innui/In My Pocket Today
I Mo Phóca Innui/In My Pocket Today
Innui/Today



@abumc5104

only know this beautiful song 'cause of the MAW nuyorican soul 12"mix✨️
loved it since it came out end of the 90s✨️
sinéads voice here is pure beauty✨️
🤲 may ALLAH, the Creator be merciful with our sister sinéad, amīn✨️
* the word 'ALLAH' is unique✨️
first: 'ALLAH' cannot be made plural in arabic, it points to complete oneness✨️
second: the word cannot be made male or female. it's a standalone category✨️
third: no other word in the world reflects the absolute uniqueness of the Creator✨️
#Islām



All comments from YouTube:

@TerraPosse

Sinéad's voice is so haunting here...what a sad day. Keep sparkling amongst the stars...😭

@user-qu4vv2vj3w

"Be happy for her"

@findlayhamilton-jones3863

NOTES FOR GCSE MUSIC:

Release by Afro Celt Sound system was released in 1999. The group was a coming together of Irish, West African and electronic music. The album it is taken from, with the same name, has sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide and was nominated for the best world music Grammy award. I will give notes on the first song, Release.
The song starts with a pad drone and a talking drum solo in no particular rhythm. Then a shaker loop comes in and sets the rhythm, along with a bodhran a couple of bars later. The first verse is sung by Sinead O’Connor, in English. During this, the instrumentation builds up, with ascending chromatic line, until the break of a bodhran, bass guitar, percussion and interesting breath sample. The next verse in entirely in Gaelic and is sung by Iarla O Lionaird. Again, the verse continues with an ascending chromatic line for 8 bars and the bass drops out. There is a uillean pipe solo for 4 bars which is doubled by a tin whistle four bars later. Then the whistle goes solo as the bass drops out. A vocal sample is looped with an accordion rhythm, followed by a hurdy gurdy solo. O’Connor re-sings the second bar of the first verse along with the hurdy gurdy. Four bars later a uillean pipe solo is added. After this all instruments drop out but a bass guitar, bodhran and a drum loop. The outro begins with plucked electronic instruments, more are layered four bars later. Another hurdy gurdy solo is accompanied by wordless vocals, joined by uillean pipes later on. All of this is looped to fade at the end of the song.
The song is considered a fusion because of its many different inspirations. The driving musical forces are of Irish and African descent. Afro-Celt Sound-system also makes good use of music technology. Irish influences come from the Uillean pipes and the bodhran which both take integral parts in the piece. The hurdy gurdy, which takes solos also, is of European descent and is like a Violin crank action violin. The African influences include the kora, which is like a very large lute mixed with a harp, and the talking drum, a drum with an adjustable skin to change the note played.
One thing I noticed about the structure of the piece, is that it contains no choruses. The place of the chorus is taken by solos or breaks. For example after the first verse, there is 8 bars of bass guitar along with bodhran and other percussion, plus a breath sample. The piece is in C minor, has 100 beats per minute and is in 4/4.
EDIT: Hi GCSE sufferers, hope this helps. I made it out of the other side and I'm on the way to study music at uni. Trust me it does get better, if you can suffer through this than a level isn't much worse. Peace
SECOND EDIT: I made it through Uni and got a first! Love to all my GCSE music fam, keep on grinding, there's space in this industry for all of us :)

@sandhyakothapally6019

you're an actual God. Thank you so much I needed this I have my exams in like 4 months and I'm stressing WHY DID I TAKE GCSE MUSIC

@findlayhamilton-jones3863

Sandhya Kothapally no bother, I know right why did I put myself through two years of pain

@yinyin9702

you're amazing omg thank you

@findlayhamilton-jones3863

Lucirie Ethereal with mocks approaching o thought I'd help out some fellow idiots who took GCSE music

@viditgautam4708

never thought I'd get help for my GCSEs from the youtube's comment section

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@vermilliongecko

One of Sinead's best collaborations. Rest in peace, queen.

@davidstowell6462

"I HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE
BUT OUT OF MY BODY."
My favourite Sinead O'Connor line. And suddenly she's out of her body. I hope she finds love, light, and peace of mind where she is now.

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