Alice Russell (b. 1975) is a British soul singer.

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.

Sweet Is The Air Featuring Natureboy
Alice Russell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sweet is the air by the waterside,
When the breeze is high and its cool.
Im such a fool, here by the sea so blue,
Wishing that you were here with me.
Days, they seem so long.
What am I to do? I'm only here for you.
Just for you, I'd walk a mile
It puts my mind at ease,

I feel that I can breathe again and again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Sweet Is the Air" seem to be about a person who is by the waterside and missing someone they love. The opening line, "Sweet is the air by the waterside," sets a calming, peaceful tone for the song. The following line, "when the breeze is high and its cool," emphasizes the soothing atmosphere the person is experiencing. However, the lyrics take a bittersweet turn with the line "I'm such a fool, here by the sea so blue, wishing that you were here with me." Even though the person is surrounded by beautiful scenery, they feel incomplete without the person they love.

The chorus of the song revolves around the idea that the person is only there for the one they love. The line "What am I to do? I'm only here for you" emphasizes their dedication and loyalty. They would go the extra mile just to make their loved one happy, as seen in the line "Just for you, I'd walk a mile." Being with this person seems to put their mind at ease and make them feel like they can breathe again.

Overall, the lyrics to "Sweet Is the Air" capture the bittersweet feelings of missing someone while being in a beautiful setting. The idea of doing anything for the person they love is central to the song, creating a sense of devotion and loyalty.

Line by Line Meaning

Sweet is the air by the waterside,
The air by the waterside is pleasant when the breeze is high and it's cool.

when the breeze is high and its cool.
The air feels pleasant because of the high breeze and cool temperature.

Im such a fool, here by the sea so blue,
I feel foolish being alone by this blue sea.

wishing that you were here with me.
I wish you were here with me to enjoy the beauty of the sea and the air.

Days, they seem so long.
The days feel long and stretched out without you here.

What am I to do? I'm only here for you.
I feel like I have nothing to do here without you, as I'm only here because of you.

Just for you, I'd walk a mile
I am willing to go to great lengths for you.

it puts my mind at ease,
Being with you brings comfort and tranquility to my mind.

I feel that I can breathe again and again
Being with you allows me to breathe easy and feel alive once more.

Writer(s): Dave Noble

Contributed by Ian F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it