Larrieux was born and brought up in the neighborhood of Greenwich Village in New York City. Her mother was a dance critic and professor who encouraged Larrieux to grow up in a free-spirited, artistic environment. Many of her influences are drawn from R&B, soul, jazz, folk, hip-hop and gospel, with flashes of Middle Eastern, West African, and Indian ethnic styles. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
As a solo artist, her music is mostly categorized as fitting within the nu-soul genre, though she also dabbles in jazz, blues and gospel sounds. She sang lead vocals with Sade's band Sweetback while Sade was on hiatus. On her last album 'Lovely Standards' she gravitated away from nu-soul to produce a cover album made up of songs from the jazz and blues singers that inspired her. Larrieux is also influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Prince — as she has previously credited on her website.
Mountain of When
Amel Larrieux Lyrics
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Fiddle with an arrow
The shot is too long
Precision is not in my marrow
What's wrong
With me contentedly singing my own song
But not heard the music
But I took the scenic route
And I can't call
The number's in the pocket of my jeans
Through it all
Talking the talk ,running before I walk
Missing the meaning
chorus
Plotting the course
While I'm stuck at the bend
Penchant for rocky terrain and dead ends
Wind myself up just to unravel into a great,
Mountain of when
should've is a place
I sometimes frequent
Yet they know my face
Better at I can't
But if there's a wait
I will is close by and when stays open late,
The menu is vast
chorus
predicting the loss
Before I begin
So it don't cut too deep
When I don't win
Not like it's working
For this clever lark
I can recite the story
Behind every scar
Predicting the loss
Before I begin
So it don't cut too deep
When I don't win
I hate it when I'm right
Much rather be wrong
I'd rather be wrong
chorus
The song "Mountain of When" by Amel Larrieux is a powerful reflection on the struggle between ambition and contentment, and the ways in which we sabotage ourselves with self-doubt and fear of failure. The chorus compares this struggle to getting lost in the wilderness, stumbling through rocky terrain and dead ends and winding ourselves up only to unravel into a "mountain of when" - a metaphor for the regrets and missed opportunities that plague us when we let our fears hold us back.
In the first verse, Larrieux sings about her own insecurities and doubts, admitting that she lacks the precision and focus to hit her targets ("precision is not in my marrow"). She wonders why she can't simply be content singing her own song even if no one else is listening, but acknowledges that she wants more - she wants to be heard and recognized. The second verse takes on a more fatalistic tone, with Larrieux admitting that she often predicts failure before she even begins, and recites the stories of her scars as if they were inevitable outcomes.
Despite the dark themes of the song's lyrics, there is also a sense of hope and resilience - the fact that "I will" is close by and "when" stays open late suggests that there is still time to pursue our dreams and overcome our fears. Ultimately, the song's message is that the struggle to achieve our goals is worth it, even if we stumble along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Aim to be strong
I strive to be resilient and steadfast
Fiddle with an arrow
I fiddle with my weapons, but lack proficiency
The shot is too long
My aim is off for this particular goal
Precision is not in my marrow
I lack inherent accuracy and attention to detail
What's wrong
What is the issue with doing my own thing?
With me contentedly singing my own song
I am happy to express myself and follow my own path
But not heard the music
Others have not yet recognized or appreciated my talents
The writings' on the wall
The signs and warnings are evident
But I took the scenic route
I chose a longer, more picturesque path
And I can't call
I cannot reach out for help
The number's in the pocket of my jeans
The solution is within reach, but I cannot find it
Through it all
Despite my struggles and challenges
Talking the talk, running before I walk
I am attempting to succeed without proper preparation
Missing the meaning
I am failing to comprehend the lesson or message
Plotting the course
I am planning out my journey
While I'm stuck at the bend
I am currently at a metaphorical standstill
Penchant for rocky terrain and dead ends
I have a tendency to navigate towards difficulty and failure
Wind myself up just to unravel into a great, mountain of when
I become overwhelmed by uncertainty and doubt
Should've is a place
Regret and missed opportunities are a destination
I sometimes frequent
I often find myself dwelling on past mistakes
Yet they know my face
I am familiar with these feelings and emotions
Better at I can't
Others are more capable than I am
But if there's a wait
If I need to be patient
I will is close by and when stays open late
I have the determination to keep going, and opportunity is always available
The menu is vast
There are many options and possibilities
Predicting the loss before I begin
I anticipate failure or disappointment before even attempting something
So it don't cut too deep when I don't win
I attempt to protect myself from the pain of failure by predicting it
Not like it's working
My current approach is not successful
For this clever lark
Despite my intelligence and wit
I can recite the story behind every scar
I am familiar with the reasons for my past failures and setbacks
I hate it when I'm right
Even though I predicted my failure, it still hurts
Much rather be wrong
I would prefer to be surprised by success than disappointed by failure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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