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).
Tides
Bonobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why we don't need release in rain?
We cloud people, we never stay
We hold our freedom like a plane
We won't be dry soon
Here come the tides
You move when I do
We won't be dry soon
Here come the tides
You move when I do
You'll never be mine
I'm not supposed to feel
I'm not supposed to miss
How am I supposed to heal?
How am I supposed to fit?
A little awkward then
A little oxygen
I let you get away
I held the ocean in
We cloud people, we live in gray
If you love me, let me float away
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
The lyrics to Bonobo feat. O’Flynn's song "Tides" evoke a sense of restlessness and a longing for freedom. The opening lines refer to "cloud people" who live in grey, suggesting a sense of stifling monotony that they seek to escape from. The lyrics then question why "we don't need release in rain" - rain being a symbol of rejuvenation and renewal, and perhaps suggesting a more organic, natural way of life that the singers long for. The phrase "we hold our freedom like a plane" further reinforces this desire for freedom as they liken it to steering a plane, allowing them to chart their own course.
In the chorus, the lyrics hint towards an impending change with the phrase "here come the tides". The tides here could be a metaphor for change or upheaval, signifying an upcoming shift in the singer's lives. The repetition of "you move when I do" and "you'll never be mine" perhaps alludes to an unrequited love or an unfulfilled desire for someone, with the singer acknowledging that they can't force someone to want them back.
The rest of the lyrics continue in a similar vein, with a sense of restlessness and a longing for freedom pervading the song. The repeated line "we won't be dry soon" could be a call to action to try and break free from the monotony, and to embrace life's changes and unpredictability.
Overall, the lyrics to "Tides" use oceanic metaphors to evoke a sense of transition from one phase of life to the next, as well as a sense of restlessness and longing for change and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
We cloud people, we live in gray
As individuals, we often have to deal with uncertainty in life, and it can leave us feeling uninspired and unmotivated.
Why we don't need release in rain?
Even though being free of worries and expectations may seem counterintuitive, sometimes we just need to let go and allow ourselves to be cleansed by the rain.
We cloud people, we never stay
People who often find themselves feeling lost or uncertain do not remain stagnant but rather continue to search for something new and exciting.
We hold our freedom like a plane
Like a plane taking off into the sky, people who struggle with uncertainty wish to maintain their freedom and find their place in the world.
We won't be dry soon
Change is coming, and the feeling of being stagnant will soon be lifted.
Here come the tides
Just like the natural tidal waves, change will soon sweep over us with force.
You move when I do
We are both experiencing this ride of uncertainty and change together, so we must move forward in sync with each other.
You'll never be mine
Despite our shared experience, we are separate entities with our own individual paths in life that may not always align.
I'm not supposed to feel
Societal norms often dictate that we should suppress our emotions and keep them hidden, leading to internal conflict.
I'm not supposed to miss
Similarly, society can make us feel guilty for longing or missing something or someone, which can also lead to emotional turmoil.
How am I supposed to heal?
When struggling to move on from loss or heartache, the road to healing can seem unclear and daunting.
How am I supposed to fit?
Belonging and fitting in with others can be a challenge, especially when we are still discovering our own identity and place in the world.
A little awkward then
Feeling out of place or different from others can lead to awkward situations and feelings of uncertainty.
A little oxygen
However, introducing a breath of fresh air or new perspective can help alleviate those feelings of discomfort.
I let you get away
Allowing someone or something we love to slip away can be a painful experience.
I held the ocean in
Sometimes, we try to hold onto things that are beyond our control, like trying to contain the vast, uncontainable expanse of the ocean.
If you love me, let me float away
Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do for someone is to let them go and discover their own place in the world.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jamila Woods, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Simon Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keyboardtime5655
We cloud people, we live in gray
What we don't need release in rain
We cloud people, we never stay
We hold our freedom like a plane
We won't be dry soon
Here come the tides
You move when I do
You'll never be mine
We won't be dry soon
Here come the tides
You move when I do
You'll never be mine
I'm not supposed to feel, I'm not supposed to miss
How am I supposed to heal? How am I supposed to fit?
A little awkward then, a little oxygen
I let you get away, I held the ocean in
We cloud people, we live in gray
If you love me let me float away
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
We won't be dry soon (won't be dry)
Here come the tides
You move when I do (won't be mine)
You'll never be mine
@Otter-Destruction
I was starting to miss the the North Borders and Black Sand days. This is so good.
@Birdcomplex
Would love to go back to more downtempo style of beats.
@Mungo658
oh yeah dude this is such a blessing
@OfficialMyxomatosis
Hear! Hear!!
@lotusglobe2671
What about Migration? That album rules too!
@AuditiveRelease
absolutely...i loved these two...always thought these were his peak...now this sounds promising
@georgeheppel8413
Bonobo is possibly the most consistent electronic music producer of all time. I've been listening to him since I was a child and I turn 30 next year.
@laela6289
Dang
@rogerhel5458
Discovered him with SSX on tour in 2005. I turned 30 this year and can't agree more with you
@Just.A.T-Rex
Same!!