As a solo artist, Briggs has released one EP, Homemade Bombs in 2009, and two albums, 2010's The Blacklist and 2014's Sheplife. He has also made appearances on songs with Hilltop Hoods, the Funkoars, Drapht and The Last Kinection. In the live arena, he has supported international artists such as Ice Cube, KRS-One, Necro, Ghostface Killah, Dilated Peoples, M.O.P., and Pharoahe Monch. In 2015, Briggs founded his own record label, Bad Apples Music, which has signed several Indigenous hip-hop artists and houses A.B. Original, a joint project with Trials from the Funkoars.
Extending his career beyond music, Briggs has appeared in several television series on ABC: as a writer and actor for the second season of the sketch comedy Black Comedy in 2016; playing the role of Maliyan in the drama series Cleverman in the same year; and becoming a regular cast member on news satire program The Weekly with Charlie Pickering in 2017.
Individual releases
Homemade Bombs (2009, independent)
The Blacklist (2010, Golden Era Records)
Sheplife (2014, Golden Era Records)
Purgatory
Briggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But soon you learn they can heal with the bullet inside
And ya hardly blind, but ya missing the sight
Ya missin that smile, missin that hug and missin that cry
Hard to push aside when you're full of that pride
You wanna be right but ain't no body ever winning that fight
Cut down to size, when you're cutting those ties
Convince yourself, look in the mirror, believe those lies
We carry our demons, We carry our beatings
We carry our dead to earth and send em back to the dreaming
Yeah I drank a bit of purp, till my head felt heavy like
No sleep, felt that every night, up late, think about better times
You need to get up, and get to lookin after yourself, brother
You need to get up, and get to lookin after your health, brother
Feelin the hurt but I didn't give a fuck
Had it all in my hands,
But I couldn't get ahold and I didn't give enough
YOU CANT HAVE IT ALL, TRYNA GET WHAT YA WANT
THIS FISH TOO BIG FOR THE POND, AND I KNOW THAT IM WRONG
BUT WHEN I STEP ON STAGE IM A GOD
I HOLD DOWN WHERE FOR I'M FROM, WHETHER IM THERE OR NOT
WHETHER THEY CARE OR NOT, UNTIL IM DEAD AND GONE
I DO IT FOR MY LITTLE WORLD, FOR MY LITTLE GIRL
ITS BIGGER THAN ME, ITS BIGGER YOU, EVEN BIGGER THAN HER
ITS MORE THAN A SONG
ITS MORE THAN A SCENE
ITS MORE THAN YOU WANT
ITS MORE THAN YOU NEED
Always Was, Always Will be
If I gotta stay here, you might as well kill me
Barrel in my mouth, my thoughts on a wall
Buildings burn, oceans rise, empires fall
Everything comes to an end, how many foes back then?
How many of those were quick to pose while you're making ends?
Pats on the back, while they chat to their friends
Scared of the crown, coz they'll lose their heads
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, DON'T LET EM DEFINE YOU
BECAUSE THE SNAKES IN WAIT, THEY SNEAK UP BEHIND YOU
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, DON'T LET EM DEFINE YOU
BECAUSE THE SNAKES IN WAIT, THEY SNEAK UP BEHIND YOU
Briggs's song "Purgatory" addresses themes of pain, loss, and self-reflection. In the first verse, Briggs acknowledges the healing power of time but also recognizes the weight of emotional scars. The reference to the bullet inside alludes to the idea that some wounds, whether physical or emotional, never fully heal. The lyrics also touch upon the struggle with pride and the difficulty of letting go of past hurt. The repetition of "nah, nah, nah fuck that, nah" emphasizes the need to reject the mindset that perpetuates negative self-talk and self-serving lies.
In the second verse, Briggs describes his struggle with addiction, using the metaphor of drinking "a bit of purp" (presumably codeine or another type of cough syrup) until his head felt heavy. He acknowledges the importance of taking care of oneself, especially when feeling hurt or lost. The chorus delivers a powerful message about the impact of one's actions on a larger scale. Briggs emphasizes that what we do in life has consequences beyond ourselves and can have a positive or negative impact on those around us. The song ends on a note of resilience, urging listeners not to let their mistakes and failures define them and to beware of those who might exploit their vulnerabilities.
Line by Line Meaning
All the wounds you earn will always heal with time
With time, the wounds you suffer will eventually heal.
But soon you learn they can heal with the bullet inside
Unfortunately, you realize that the wounds can also heal with the pain still inside.
And ya hardly blind, but ya missing the sight
You're not entirely oblivious, but you're not seeing things clearly.
Ya missin that smile, missin that hug and missin that cry
You long for the happiness, affection, and release that can come with smiling, hugging, and crying.
Hard to push aside when you're full of that pride
It's difficult to let go of these desires when your pride is in the way.
You wanna be right but ain't no body ever winning that fight
You desire to be right so strongly, but no one ever really wins these kinds of fights.
Cut down to size, when you're cutting those ties
When you sever ties with others, it can humble you and make you feel smaller.
Convince yourself, look in the mirror, believe those lies
You sometimes tell yourself lies, look in the mirror, and truly believe them.
Nah, nah, nah fuck that, nah
This way of thinking is no longer acceptable or desirable.
We carry our demons, We carry our beatings
We carry our emotional baggage and the physical wounds inflicted upon us.
We carry our dead to earth and send em back to the dreaming
We mourn our loved ones and lay them to rest, but hope they are in a better place.
Yeah I drank a bit of purp, till my head felt heavy like
I consumed a drink laced with codeine until my head was spinning.
No sleep, felt that every night, up late, think about better times
I suffer from insomnia and spend my nights reflecting on happier times.
You need to get up, and get to lookin after yourself, brother
You must take care of yourself and prioritize your own well-being, my friend.
Feelin the hurt but I didn't give a fuck
I'm in pain, but I'm numb to it now.
Had it all in my hands,
I used to have everything within my grasp,
But I couldn't get ahold and I didn't give enough
But I couldn't hold on, and I didn't put in enough effort.
YOU CANT HAVE IT ALL, TRYNA GET WHAT YA WANT
You can't have everything you desire, even if you try desperately to obtain it.
THIS FISH TOO BIG FOR THE POND, AND I KNOW THAT IM WRONG
I understand that I'm in the wrong, trying to fit in where I don't belong.
BUT WHEN I STEP ON STAGE IM A GOD
However, when I perform on stage, I feel like a deity.
I HOLD DOWN WHERE FOR I'M FROM, WHETHER IM THERE OR NOT
I represent my hometown and its people, whether or not I'm physically present there.
WHETHER THEY CARE OR NOT, UNTIL IM DEAD AND GONE
My loyalty and dedication to my community will endure, even if it goes unnoticed until I die.
I DO IT FOR MY LITTLE WORLD, FOR MY LITTLE GIRL
I do what I do for my personal life and for the sake of my daughter.
ITS BIGGER THAN ME, ITS BIGGER YOU, EVEN BIGGER THAN HER
It's not just about me, you, or my daughter - it's something greater than all of us combined.
ITS MORE THAN A SONG
It's not just a piece of music.
ITS MORE THAN A SCENE
It's not just a cultural movement or a trend.
ITS MORE THAN YOU WANT
It's not just what you desire.
ITS MORE THAN YOU NEED
It's not just what you require.
Always Was, Always Will be
I've always been this way and always will be.
If I gotta stay here, you might as well kill me
If I have to remain in this situation, life isn't worth living.
Barrel in my mouth, my thoughts on a wall
I feel cornered and trapped, to the point where suicide seems like the only option.
Buildings burn, oceans rise, empires fall
The world goes on, and catastrophes happen in cycles.
Everything comes to an end, how many foes back then?
All things must eventually conclude, but how many enemies did I have during my journey?
How many of those were quick to pose while you're making ends?
How many of those foes were pretenders, taking advantage of my success?
Pats on the back, while they chat to their friends
People congratulate me superficially, but then gossip behind my back.
Scared of the crown, coz they'll lose their heads
People are afraid of my position of power, since they'll face repercussions if they challenge it.
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, DON'T LET EM DEFINE YOU
We will all make missteps at some point, but don't let them determine your identity.
BECAUSE THE SNAKES IN WAIT, THEY SNEAK UP BEHIND YOU
Be careful, because there are those who will take advantage of your vulnerable moments.
Writer(s): Adam Briggs, Phillip Eric Norman, Caitlin Rose Baker, James Peter Mangohig
Contributed by Logan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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on Purgatory (Let It Go)
It’s bigger than who
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