His debut studio album, I Created Disco, was released in June 2007. Its singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls" both reached the top 10 in the UK. In 2009, he released his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and whose lead single, "I'm Not Alone", became his first song to top the UK Singles Chart.
In 2012, Harris rose to international prominence with the release of his third studio album, 18 Months, which topped the UK Albums Chart and became his first album to chart on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 19. All eight of the album's singles reached the top 10 in the UK, breaking the record for the most top 10 songs from one studio album on the UK Singles Chart with eight entries, surpassing Michael Jackson's record. In 2014, he released his fourth studio album, Motion, which debuted at number two in the UK and number five in the US. In 2017, he released his fifth studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, which reached the top two in the UK and the US and became his third consecutive number one album on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
In October 2014, Harris became the first artist to place three songs simultaneously on the top 10 of Billboard's Dance/Electronic Songs chart. He also became the first UK solo artist to reach more than one billion streams on Spotify. Harris has received 18 Brit Award nominations–winning British Producer of the Year and British Single of the Year in 2019, as well as five Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Music Video in 2013. In 2013 he also received a Ivor Novello Award, and was named the Top Dance/Electronic Artist at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. He appeared on Debrett's 2017 list of the most influential people in the United Kingdom. He topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid DJs for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018 until being dethroned by The Chainsmokers in 2019.
Limits
Calvin Harris Lyrics
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I took a chance with your mind, I've come to play
I get the buzz from your girl, I buzz away
In my car, in my house and my babe today.
I never wanted to stand the loving game
I write your name on my hand to fan the flame
I look twice at your girl, we're not the same
And if we fight, you're the one to blame
But now suddenly, I don't find the time to see you
Become close to me, and then act like I don't know you
It's not good for me, I can't find the time to see you
Become close to me, and then act like I don't know you
Keep spending limits of my life
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Keep spending limits of my life
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
And it starts with the beat of a drum, far away
I took a chance with your mind, I've come to play
I get the buzz from your girl, I buzz away
In my car, in my house and my babe today.
I never wanted to stand the loving game
I write your name on my hand to fan the flame
I'm looking twice at your girl, we're not the same
And if we fight, you're the one to blame
Keep spending limits of my life
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Keep spending limits of my life
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Keep spending limits of my life
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
Trying to keep up with my friends
The lyrics of Calvin Harris's song Limits explore themes of relationships, social status, and materialism. The song opens with a drum beat that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The first verse describes the singer's willingness to take risks in pursuing someone they're interested in. They admit to being motivated by the attention of the other person's partner, in both an emotional and physical sense.
The chorus of the song creates a contrast between the pressures of trying to keep up with one's social circle and the pursuit of deeper connections. The singer laments that they're spending the limits of their efforts and resources just to stay on par with their friends. This struggle seems to be fueled in part by the singer's desire to impress those around them and maintain their social status.
The second verse continues to explore the singer's desire to pursue superficial connections, particularly with someone who is involved with another person. However, they seem to be growing disillusioned with this pattern and feeling as though they're wasting their time. The repetition of the chorus once again emphasizes how this struggle is taking a toll on the singer.
Overall, the song seems to be about someone who is caught up in the need to impress others and maintain their social standing, at the expense of deeper connections and personal fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
And it starts with the beat of a drum, far away
The song begins with a distant drumbeat that sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics.
I took a chance with your mind, I've come to play
The singer is willing to take risks and play mind games with the object of their affection.
I get the buzz from your girl, I buzz away
The singer enjoys the attention and thrill of seducing another person's significant other, but ultimately it is not meaningful to them.
In my car, in my house and my babe today.
The singer spends their days driving around and being with their significant other in their own space.
I never wanted to stand the loving game
The singer is not interested in traditional romantic relationships and prefers to keep things casual and non-committal.
I write your name on my hand to fan the flame
The singer uses physical reminders of the person they're interested in to stoke their own desire.
I'm looking twice at your girl, we're not the same
The singer is comparing themselves to the person whose significant other they're interested in, and believes themselves to be superior.
And if we fight, you're the one to blame
The singer is not willing to accept responsibility for any conflict that may arise from their actions.
Keep spending limits of my life
The singer is struggling to keep up with the lifestyles of their wealthy and extravagant friends.
Trying to keep up with my friends
The singer feels pressure to match the material possessions and experiences of their peers, even if it means exceeding their own financial means.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM WILES, CALVIN HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind