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.
Say You Want It All
Amel Larrieux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To dip your fingers in the green
You say you want it all
The sun, the moon, and what's in between
You say you want it all
You want the world to know your face
Baby haven't you heard
Every star can be replaced
Ride the product line
Hop in your box but don't protest
You just been signed
To the three ring bullshit business
It's a players ball
And the pimps come in black and white
And that's about all as I turn in this song to
My pimp tonight
[Chorus]
Oh, you
Ask me how
You can win
How many walls you gon' have to break down
To get in
Oh, oh, oh
As you're steady pushin' through
Oh, oh, oh
Don't let it be breakin' you
Some who have it all
Are one big shiny lie
They're selling us a story they know that
We're gonna buy
But don't you let them fool you baby
They can't sleep at night
Their mirror shows a reflection of a person that they don't like
Ride the product line
Hop in your box but don't protest
You just been signed
To the three ring bullshit business
Check your brain at the door
Then hang it up with your originality
I can't say no more
Cause if I do then they won't let you hear from me
[Chorus]
There ain't no real love up in here
There ain't no
There ain't no real love up in here
There ain't no
If you're lookin' for real love up in here
If you're lookin' for
Gotta bring your own real love up in here
Bring your own
[Chorus]
The song "Say You Want It All" by Amel Larrieux is a commentary on the music industry and the price of fame. The lyrics depict a conversation between Larrieux and an aspiring musician who wants it all - fame, money, and success. Larrieux tells them that the industry is full of empty promises and that true success comes from being true to oneself, not selling out to the industry.
The first verse speaks to the desire for fame and material success. The line "You say you want it all, to dip your fingers in the green" suggests that the aspiring musician wants to make money. "The sun, the moon, and what's in between" indicates that they want everything. However, Larrieux warns that "Every star can be replaced," implying that the industry is fickle and that fame is fleeting.
The second verse criticizes the music industry and its treatment of artists. The line "It's a players ball and the pimps come in black and white" suggests that the industry is controlled by powerful people who exploit artists. The line "Check your brain at the door, then hang it up with your originality" implies that the industry wants artists to conform to a certain image and abandon their true selves.
Overall, the song is a call for artists to stay true to themselves and not sell out to the industry's demands in exchange for fame and success.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you want it all
You desire to have everything you can.
To dip your fingers in the green
To have lots of money.
The sun, the moon, and what's in between
You want everything under the sun.
You want the world to know your face
You want to be famous.
Baby haven't you heard
You need to realize that there are many celebrities and they can be replaced.
Every star can be replaced
Even if you become a star, someone else can easily take your place.
Ride the product line
Follow the set rules and regulations.
Hop in your box but don't protest
Conform to the system despite your dislike.
You just been signed
You have just become a part of a corporate business.
To the three ring bullshit business
To a business based on lies and manipulation.
It's a players ball
It's a game and only the best players succeed.
And the pimps come in black and white
Anyone can be corrupt.
And that's about all as I turn in this song to
This is where the song changes.
My pimp tonight
The singer is controlled by someone else.
Oh, you
Here we go, attention to the listener.
Ask me how
Asking about how to succeed.
You can win
It's possible to achieve your goal.
How many walls you gon' have to break down
How much work and effort is required.
To get in
To achieve your goal.
Oh, oh, oh
This is repeated for emphasis.
As you're steady pushin' through
As you continue to work hard towards your goal.
Don't let it be breakin' you
Don't let the effort destroy you emotionally.
Some who have it all
Those who have everything may be lying.
Are one big shiny lie
Their success and wealth is not always true or justified.
They're selling us a story they know that
They are manipulating us, so we believe their story.
We're gonna buy
We are going to believe their story.
But don't you let them fool you baby
Don't get taken for a ride.
They can't sleep at night
Their conscience bothers them.
Their mirror shows a reflection of a person that they don't like
They don't like themselves as much as they pretend to.
Check your brain at the door
Don't think too much for yourself.
Then hang it up with your originality
Your originality is not appreciated in the corporate game.
I can't say no more
I have to stop speaking out before I get into too much trouble.
Cause if I do then they won't let you hear from me
If I continue to speak out, they will silence me.
There ain't no real love up in here
The music industry lacks genuine emotions.
If you're lookin' for real love up in here
If you want to find real love in the music industry.
Gotta bring your own real love up in here
You need to bring your own emotions to the table.
Bring your own
You have to be yourself, no more, no less.
Chorus repeated for emphasis
The chorus is meant to remain in the listener's head after the song is over.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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