She is the daughte… Read Full Bio ↴Alice Russell (b. 1975) is a British soul singer.
She is the daughter of an organist, and grew up in Framlingham in Suffolk. At the age of nine, following in her father's and sisters' musical footsteps, Russell began taking lessons on cello, and sang in choirs, before studying art and music in Brighton from 1994.
As well as the classical influences of her father, and formal music lessons, Russell listened to gospel music and soul artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin from an early age, which played a big part in the shaping of her style. Other artists such as Minnie Ripperton, Eva Cassidy, Chaka Khan, and Jill Scott are listed by Russell as influences.
She began making a name for herself in the early 2000s, contributing to recordings by Bah Samba, Quantic, TM Juke, Kushti and Nostalgia 77. Her work with Bah Samba sees Russell fusing Latin sounds with tinges of house, jazz and funk, whereas her material with the band Kushti involved a more laid back, hip-hop and soul inspired sound. Her debut album, Under the Munka Moon (2004), was an amalgamation of various singles, remixes, and collaborations.
It was followed by My Favourite Letters in 2005, her debut studio album, created in collaboration with co-writer, producer, and guitarist Alex Cowan (a.k.a. TM Juke). Her third release, Under the Munka Moon II (2006), compiled her most recent collaborations, remixes, and cover versions, including her popular interpretation of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army. The Alice Russell – Live in Paris DVD also came out in 2006.
Russell and TM Juke have been touring together since 2006 in the U.K, Europe, Australia, the U.S., and other countries. In summer 2006, Grant Marshall (a.k.a. Daddy G of Massive Attack) asked Russell to play the main stage at The Big Chill music festival. Russell has also supported Lonnie Liston Smith, Femi Kuti and De La Soul, and has appeared on the bill with Amy Winehouse for the British showcase at the Midem Music Conference in Cannes 2007.
A Fly in the Hand
Alice Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly
It didn't help me understand
But it sure felt good to hold, hey hey!
Heavy change is what I need
No bag of silver with a smiling queen
Someday I'll take a little sum for me
From Rome to my very hand
Slipping through like each grain of sand
I open letters to the sound of air
But, aw get away I don't want to share
I catch a fly in my hand (in my hand)
My knuckles go white (hey)
I wanted to fly (to fly)
It didn't help me understand (understand, no)
But it sure felt good to hold
Look for the silver there's a finders fee
And there's an acre for every tree
I wanna go share all around
I drop a penny and I hear no sound
I close the box, hide it away
And put a value on their currency
That's ten to them for every one to me
Swallow the key for another day
I catch a fly in my hand
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly
It didn't help me understand
But it sure felt good to hold
Its through the nose, this shit is true
My favourite letters, I.O.U
I cut some feathers with some amber beads
I got an empty bag of some whales teeth
Show me the blood to pacify
It's what makes mothers leave and babies cry
I wanna go share all around
I change the time for every pound of pounds
I catch a fly in my hand (ooh)
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly (to fly)
It didn't help me understand (understand, no)
But it sure felt good to hold
I catch a fly in my hand
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly
It didn't help me understand
But it sure felt good to hold
I catch a fly in my hand
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly
It didn't help me understand
But it sure felt good to hold
I catch a fly in my hand
My knuckles go white
I wanted to fly
It didn't help me understand
But it sure felt good to hold
The song "A Fly in the Hand" by Alice Russell is an enigmatic and metaphorical reflection on the human desire to possess and control, and how its satisfaction can be bittersweet. The lyrics start with the image of catching a fly in one's hand, an act that is simultaneously thrilling and futile. The knuckles go white as the singer tries to hold onto something that she knows is ephemeral and will eventually escape. The desire to fly, to experience freedom and transcendence, is also present, but it is not fulfilled by the act of catching the fly. The opposition between owning and releasing, between holding tight and letting go, is thus at the center of the theme of the song.
The second verse introduces the idea of "heavy change," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for transformation or revolution. The bag of silver with a smiling queen represents an oppressive economic system that needs to be overturned. The spider in a box, a symbol of danger and deceit, could stand for the forces that keep people in check, including fear and ignorance. The singer dreams of taking a little sum for herself, which could be seen as a desire for personal gain and empowerment, but also as an act of rebellion against the system. The third verse touches on the idea of communication and isolation. The singer opens letters to the sound of air, suggesting that there is nothing substantial or meaningful in them. She doesn't want to share what she has caught, indicating a sense of possessiveness or mistrust.
The rest of the song continues to play with the contrast between the desire for possession and the need for freedom. The searching for silver and the owning of land represent the lure of material wealth and status. The cutting of feathers and the empty bag of whale teeth allude to the disconnection between material value and personal meaning. The reference to blood as a means of pacification and control suggests that violence and sacrifice are often used to maintain power. The desire to change the time for every pound of pounds could be interpreted as an attempt to subvert the dominant culture and create a new sense of time and value. In the end, the act of catching the fly remains a symbolic act of defiance against limitations and boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
I catch a fly in my hand
I grasp an insect in my palm
My knuckles go white
My hand tightens so much that my knuckles lose color
I wanted to fly
I desired to soar through the air
It didn't help me understand
It did not bring me enlightenment or knowledge
But it sure felt good to hold, hey hey!
Regardless, it provided a sensation of pleasure and satisfaction
Heavy change is what I need
I require a significant transformation or adjustment
No bag of silver with a smiling queen
I do not desire material wealth or riches
I got a spider in a box you see
I possess a spider enclosed in a container
Someday I'll take a little sum for me
One day, I will extract a small amount for myself
From Rome to my very hand
From the Italian capital to my immediate possession
Slipping through like each grain of sand
Flowing or moving through my grasp like individual particles of sand
I open letters to the sound of air
I expose and read through correspondences silently
But, aw get away I don't want to share
Yet, I do not desire to distribute or allocate anything to others
Look for the silver there's a finders fee
Search for silver, and you will receive a reward
And there's an acre for every tree
There is ample land for every tree that exists
I wanna go share all around
I desire to spread or distribute something everywhere
I drop a penny and I hear no sound
I toss a coin and there is no audible noise
I close the box, hide it away
I close and conceal the container
And put a value on their currency
I assign a specific worth or significance to their money
That's ten to them for every one to me
I receive ten units for every one unit they receive
Swallow the key for another day
I ingest or consume the key to delay opening it until later
Its through the nose, this shit is true
It is into the nasal cavity, and this information is genuine or reliable
My favourite letters, I.O.U
My preferred form of communication is an 'I owe you'
I cut some feathers with some amber beads
I carve feathers with amber jewelry
I got an empty bag of some whales teeth
I possess a bag that lacks any teeth extracted from a whale
Show me the blood to pacify
Demonstrate the evidence of harm or sacrifice to appease me
It's what makes mothers leave and babies cry
It is responsible for causing mothers to depart and infants to weep
I wanna go share all around
I desire to widely distribute or allocate something
I change the time for every pound of pounds
I alter the duration in exchange for a considerable amount of weight every time
I catch a fly in my hand (ooh)
I grasp an insect in my palm
My knuckles go white
My hand tightens so much that my knuckles lose color
I wanted to fly (to fly)
I desired to soar through the air
It didn't help me understand (understand, no)
It did not bring me enlightenment or knowledge
But it sure felt good to hold
Regardless, it provided a sensation of pleasure and satisfaction
I catch a fly in my hand
I grasp an insect in my palm
My knuckles go white
My hand tightens so much that my knuckles lose color
I wanted to fly
I desired to soar through the air
It didn't help me understand
It did not bring me enlightenment or knowledge
But it sure felt good to hold
Regardless, it provided a sensation of pleasure and satisfaction
I catch a fly in my hand
I grasp an insect in my palm
My knuckles go white
My hand tightens so much that my knuckles lose color
I wanted to fly
I desired to soar through the air
It didn't help me understand
It did not bring me enlightenment or knowledge
But it sure felt good to hold
Regardless, it provided a sensation of pleasure and satisfaction
I catch a fly in my hand
I grasp an insect in my palm
My knuckles go white
My hand tightens so much that my knuckles lose color
I wanted to fly
I desired to soar through the air
It didn't help me understand
It did not bring me enlightenment or knowledge
But it sure felt good to hold
Regardless, it provided a sensation of pleasure and satisfaction
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEX CONWAN, ALICE RUSSELL, JIM OXBORROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ygdrasil13
she rocks ! i like her powerful & soul voice, & her swing !
Fabio Rappenecker
BAM! her powerful voice just makes me move!
pakottaja
I was in Crete last friday. Alice Russell was playing live in Rethymno. I heard the gig at the docks (500m away) She kick'd ass. I hate myself for not being at the gig.
Elton Junior Peruzzo
sonzera...
Laurita Soubrié
sounds like Prince!!!!!!!! I just love this SONG and I love U ALICE!!!!
TheMiriMupfel
Wow, nice!
Nicotine Browse
Nicotine Browse- A fly in the hand (Alice Russel) our own version of this great song!
Ednaldo Silva
Top
PopcornColonelx
Am I the only one who thought of this song when watching the 2020 vice presidential debate? yes? ok i'll go.
Erhan
nicee