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.
Searchin' For My Soul
Amel Larrieux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once I was alive
The spirit of my guilty in the mimic of the sky
Watching lives be taken
Must be something in\
Cause every day is another for my spirit to survive
See I was lost oh where's the key?
[Chorus]
Somebody tell me where to go
Searchin' for my soul
Thought it was stayin' but now I know
Searchin' for my soul
It left an empty space you know
Searchin' for my soul
If you should see it send it home
I tried to be strong but my strength is getting weak
Happiness is clearing I hope I have the vision to see
I'm so heavy-hearted
I've got clearly blues
Lately I can't even bring myself to watch the news
Oh I feel the weight of all the world
Is resting on the shoulders of this girl
[Chorus]
Every time one of us goes down
Like I'm looking at my own blood on the ground
Seems like everybody's lost their minds
And I just might be the next one in line
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
Searchin' for my soul
Searchin' for, searchin' for, searchin' for my soul
In "Searchin' For My Soul," Amel Larrieux sings about feeling lost and disconnected from herself and the world around her. She reflects on a time when she was happy and alive, but now her soul seems to have gone missing. She expresses frustration with the constant violence and tragedy in the world and the weight of responsibility that she feels as a person and as a woman. She longs for guidance and direction, asking for someone to show her where to go and to help her find her missing soul.
The opening lines of the song set up a comparison between the singer's inner turmoil and the chaos of the world around her. The guilt she feels is like the sky, which is constantly changing and unpredictable. She feels like every day is a struggle to survive, and she can't find a way to unlock the potential within her. She feels lost, and she needs someone to help her find her way back to herself.
The chorus echoes the song's title, with the singer repeating that she is "Searchin' for my soul." She acknowledges that she once thought her soul was staying put inside of her, but now she knows it has gone missing. She asks anyone who may see it to send it home, emphasizing how much she needs to rediscover that part of herself.
Overall, "Searchin' For My Soul" is a haunting and emotional track that speaks to the human desire for meaning and connection in a tumultuous world. It captures the feeling of being adrift and unsure of where to turn, while also conveying a deep longing for spiritual and emotional fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was happy
There was a time where I felt genuine happiness
Once I was alive
I felt like I was truly living and enjoying life
The spirit of my guilty in the mimic of the sky
I see my guilty conscience reflected in the sky
Watching lives be taken
Seeing lives being lost
Must be something in
There must be something causing all of this
Cause every day is another for my spirit to survive
Every day presents a new challenge for me to keep going and stay alive spiritually
See I was lost oh where's the key?
I am lost and unsure of how to move forward
Cause this soul's simply cramped outside of me
My soul doesn't feel at home within me and needs to find its place
Somebody tell me where to go
I am seeking guidance and direction
Searchin' for my soul
I am on a quest to find my true self
Thought it was stayin' but now I know
I once thought I had found my true self, but now I realize I was mistaken
It left an empty space you know
My soul's departure has left me feeling empty
If you should see it send it home
I am asking for help in finding my soul and bringing it back to where it belongs
I tried to be strong but my strength is getting weak
I have been trying to persevere, but I am feeling more and more depleted
Happiness is clearing I hope I have the vision to see
I am starting to see the possibility of happiness, but I hope I can recognize it when it comes
I'm so heavy-hearted
I am weighed down by sadness
I've got clearly blues
I am experiencing a deep sense of sadness
Lately I can't even bring myself to watch the news
I am so overwhelmed by the negativity in the world that I can't even bring myself to watch or read about it
Oh I feel the weight of all the world
I am carrying the weight of the world's problems on my shoulders
Is resting on the shoulders of this girl
I, as a woman, feel responsible for solving the problems of the world
Every time one of us goes down
Every time someone dies or suffers
Like I'm looking at my own blood on the ground
It feels like I am witnessing my own tragedy
Seems like everybody's lost their minds
It appears that everyone has lost their sense of reason
And I just might be the next one in line
I feel vulnerable and like I could be the next one to experience tragedy
Searchin' for my soul
I am doing everything in my power to find my true self
Searchin' for, searchin' for, searchin' for my soul
I am continuously searching for my soul despite the challenges and setbacks
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AMEL LARRIEUX, GUESLEY LARRIEUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind