Bonobo's first album - 2000's Animal Magic - was released via Tru Thoughts before being picked up by Ninja Tune. It announced him as a serious talent; able to bring a musician's edge to electronic music, with all the freedom that skill allowed. His subsequent albums for Ninja, Dial 'M' for Monkey and Days to Come, developed his sensibility, won him fans across the globe, and saw him develop his live show into a mesmeric re-working of his records.
He has also worked hard as a DJ, a part of Green's arsenal that perhaps truly came into its own at the same time as 2010’s Black Sands. 2012 saw him take the uptempo, club re-edits of Black Sands from a seminal Boiler Room performance in London to dance floors across the world, and unveil a new light show that further enhanced the impact of these stunning songs. A remix album was released featuring reworkings by fans and peers such as Machinedrum, Floating Points, Mark Pritchard, Lapalux and FaltyDL.
Later the same year, he finally settled down in his New York studio to write his fifth album. The North Borders was another long stride forward - both a natural evolution and a continuation of the electronic palette of Black Sands. With vocal features from Erykah Badu, as well as Grey Reverend (The Cinematic Orchestra) and Cornelia (Portico Quartet) it's another finely balanced body of work.
Bonobo has a long history of unearthing new talent (Andreya Triana, Bajka) and The North Borders saw him do so once again. The vocals of new collaborator Szjerdene are sprinkled across the album.
Since the album’s release, Green has gone on to play over 175 shows across three continents and 30 countries, wowing audiences with the hypnotic, extended live versions of his songs. He performed sold out shows at The Sydney Opera House and Brixton Academy, and his very own, day long festival at London’s Roundhouse. 2014 saw him and his band play the iconic Coachella, Sonar, Glastonbury and many more. This period of extensive touring came to a breathtaking close with his largest show to date at London’s Alexandra Palace in November. In celebration, Ninja Tune released The North Borders Tour. — Live. in October. A deluxe release including a live album, hardback book and a DVD of seminal live performances from a truly memorable tour.
In January 2016, Bonobo announced on Twitter that he intended to release a new album sometime in 2016. Bonobo released his sixth album, Migration, on 13 January 2017 via Ninja Tune. It was announced on 3 November 2016 with the release of the single "Kerala", and an official video. The album features Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker), Rhye, Innov Gnawa and Nicole Miglis (Hundred Waters).
All In Forms
Bonobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, because you cannot stay,
But I want to know...
That you're safe and sound asleep,
That's when I'm my best you see...
The lyrics of Bonobo's song "All in Forms" are open to interpretation, but many fans and critics believe that the lyrics are about the importance of feeling safe and secure when you are your best self. The repeated lines "Promise me, do you make? That when I'm my best… I want to know… you're safe and sound, That's when I'm my best…" suggest a strong need for reassurance and stability, especially during times of personal growth and self-improvement.
The next verse, "Promise me, because you cannot stay, But I want to know... That you're safe and sound asleep, That's when I'm my best you see..." further emphasizes the idea that being at one's best requires a sense of security, even when the person you are relying on for that security is not always present. The final line, "That's when I'm my best you see," could be interpreted as a plea to a loved one to help the singer achieve their full potential by providing a solid foundation of safety and support.
Overall, the lyrics of "All in Forms" capture a sense of vulnerability and the importance of feeling safe and secure while striving to be one's best self.
Line by Line Meaning
Promise me, do you make?
Can you promise me?
That when I'm my best...
That when I'm at my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
I want to know that you're safe and comfortable,
That's when I'm my best...
Because that's when I can be my best self...
Promise me, do you make?
Can you promise me?
That when I'm my best...
That when I'm at my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
I want to know that you're safe and comfortable,
That's when I'm my best...
Because that's when I can be my best self...
Promise me, do you make?
Can you promise me?
That when I'm my best...
That when I'm at my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
I want to know that you're safe and comfortable,
That's when I'm my best...
Because that's when I can be my best self...
Promise me, do you make?
Can you promise me?
That when I'm my best...
That when I'm at my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound,
I want to know that you're safe and comfortable,
That's when I'm my best you see...
That's when I am able to truly be myself and shine...
Writer(s): Simon Charles Green
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Krystall Angela
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, do you make?
That when I'm my best...
I want to know... you're safe and sound
That's when I'm my best...
Promise me, because you cannot stay
But I want to know...
That you're safe and sound asleep
That's when I'm my best you see...
JD97711
What's wrong with me?
You, you came
Just put on my best
I just want to know
Just a square
Just put on my best
What's wrong with me?
You, you came
Just put on my best
I just want to know
Just a square
Just put on my best
What's wrong with me?
You, you came
Just put on my best
I just want to know
Just a square
Just put on my best
What's wrong with me?
You, you came
Just put on my best
I just want to know
Just a square
Just put on my best
onlyrome
(What's) wrong with me
Didn't you say
Put on my best
(Just) Want to know
(He's) just a square
Put on my best
(So) am me
Can't I say
Just want to know
Didn't you say
Pair of shoes
Put on my best
Willem Ricardo
2022 and this masterpiece still on !!
yassine EL amrany
2023
Mashroom69
i feel the soul put into this. such an amazing masterpiece
Maaz Khan
Due to the quarantine, just randomly watched the film. Loved this end track
E46325mod
what film ?
Maaz Khan
@E46325mod it’s House at the End of the Street
Mikaela Mckenzie Allen
Just watched the film the end was such a plot! Found this song nice so had to listen to the whole thing
Eric Carrington
Yeah yo! I'm highly impressed with this track
E. C
Same here. I already knew Bonobo. Good band
Ziad Joumaa
Soundtrack still bangs in 2021