Attica Blues were a 90's trip-hop band, with a trademark sound including do… Read Full Bio ↴Attica Blues were a 90's trip-hop band, with a trademark sound including downtempo yet funky rhythms, obscure jazz samples and soulful female vocals. Their sound was a perfect mixture of past and actual sounds.

The band was formed in 1993 by Tony Nwachukwu and Charlie Dark. Charlie Dark was a part time journalist and DJ and had been approached by James Lavelle to produce and engineer tracks for his Mo Wax record label.

Their first release, Vibes, Scribes and Dusty 45's Ep, contained the down tempo classic Contemplating Jazz. Featuring the vocals of third member Roba El-Essawy, Attica Blues' sound contained the trademark trip-hop aspects like heavy beats, vocals and deep dark atmospheres. They released a follow up album, Blueprint.

Attica Blues were also often solicited for remixing and producing.

After the Mo Wax album Blueprint, they released a second album, Test,Don't Test on Sony Records.

Enter
Attica Blues Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Backstreet ways
Crowded dorways
The darkness scares you
Do you dare to look into those eyes
Their kindness must disguise
Ulterior motives
Will you ever know if the shadow's that
Follow are only yours

Don't look behind
Keep your eyes on the road
Trust yourself
But none else
My friend
Extend a hand
But beware
Of the ones that bite

Synonymous with the anonymous
No one knows you
When you know no one
The life you lead is one of solitaire

Samaritans run the streets
And yet to me they seem ever empty

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Attica Blues's song Enter are a reflection of the loneliness and uncertainty that one experiences in the dark alleys of life. The opening lines "Backstreet ways, Crowded doorways, The darkness scares you" insinuate the feeling of fear and helplessness that one often encounters in the unfamiliar paths. The uncertainty of whether the people one meets have good intentions or ulterior motives is another theme of the lyrics. The lyrics ask the listener to question their trust in others and caution them to be aware of those who might deceive them. The lyrics offer the solution of relying on oneself and to extend a hand only to those who earn trust.

The lyrics express the idea that when one does not conform to society's norms or socialize with others, they lead a life of solitude. The line "Synonymous with the anonymous, No one knows you when you know no one," perfectly summarizes the silent and isolated life of those who prefer to remain on the outskirts of society. Moreover, the description of "Samaritans run the streets, And yet to me they seem ever empty" suggests that despite the crowd, one still feels alone.

Overall, Attica Blues's song Enter speaks to the complexity of human interactions and the challenges that arise when one steps outside their comfort zone.

Line by Line Meaning

Backstreet ways
Walking down alleys and side streets

Crowded dorways
The doors lead to busy places

The darkness scares you
You are frightened of the unknown

Do you dare to look into those eyes
Are you brave enough to see the truth behind people's facade

Their kindness must disguise
Their benevolence may be a mask

Ulterior motives
Hidden reasons behind people's actions

Will you ever know if the shadow's that Follow are only yours
You will never be certain whether or not the shadowy figures are figments of your imagination

Don't look behind
Do not dwell in the past

Keep your eyes on the road
Focus on your destination

Trust yourself
Believe in your intuition

But none else
Do not trust others blindly

My friend
A term of endearment addressed to the listener

Extend a hand
Offer help to others

But beware
Be cautious

Of the ones that bite
Be wary of those who hurt you

Synonymous with the anonymous
Being unknown is equivalent to being anonymous

No one knows you
No one truly understands you

When you know no one
When you lack social connections

The life you lead is one of solitaire
You are a solitary person