Bailey Rae told The Sun about this song: "It's quite an erotic song, a big … Read Full Bio ↴Bailey Rae told The Sun about this song: "It's quite an erotic song, a big love song about the intoxicating feeling of love. I went into a florists one day and saw this massive bunch of tuberose flowers and the smell just blew me away like that feeling of love does and I was overwhelmed and wrote that song about how I felt." (Source Are You Here Songfacts).

Are You Here
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics

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He's a real live wire
He's the best of his kind
Wait till you see those eyes
He dresses like this different scene
He'll kiss you make you feel sixteen
What's it even mean?

Are you here

Are you here
Are you here, cause my heart recalls that
It all seems the same
It all feels the same

Pick me up

It's hard to recall the taste of summer
When everywhere around, the chill of winter
It gets so far away

Are you here

And he comes to lay me down in a garden of tuberose's
When he comes around there's nothing more to imagine
Just tuberose's
Tuberose's

Are you here
Are you here
Are you here, cause my heart recalls that it
All seems like
All looks like
It all feels like
It tasted like
Tasted
Tasted like

When he comes to lay me down in a garden of tuberose's
When he comes around there's nothing more to imagine
Just tuberose's
Tuberose's

Wait till you see those eyes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Are You Here" by Corinne Bailey Rae are complex and layered, but they seem to be mainly focused on the singer's feelings towards a certain person. The first verse sets up this person as a thrilling and charismatic figure, someone who is passionate and exciting. The singer is drawn to him but also a bit uncertain about what he wants or what he means to her.

The chorus repeats the key question of the song's title "Are you here?" which suggests that the singer is struggling to connect with this person on some level. She feels like everything around her is the same, and she longs for something different and meaningful. In the second verse, she talks about how memories of the past can seem so distant and hard to recapture. It all feels like a dream, and the singer is searching for something real.

The final section of the song talks about this person in more sensual terms, describing how he comes to her and lays her down in a "garden of tuberose's". This image suggests something romantic and sensual, but it also recalls the earlier line about feeling like you're sixteen again. The singer seems caught between a sense of longing and uncertainty, trying to find meaning in her experiences but also unsure about what the future holds.

Line by Line Meaning

He's a real live wire
He's an exciting and unpredictable person

He's the best of his kind
He's exceptional

Wait till you see those eyes
His eyes are captivating and noteworthy

He dresses like this different scene
His fashion sense is unconventional and distinct

He'll kiss you make you feel sixteen
His kisses are passionate and intense, making the recipient feel youthful and alive

What's it even mean?
The situation is confusing and unclear

Are you here
Asking if the person is present and attentive

Are you here, cause my heart recalls that
Wondering if the person is emotionally invested and present due to past experiences

It all seems the same
Everything feels repetitive and monotonous

It all feels the same
Everything feels repetitive and monotonous

Pick me up
Asking for assistance in lifting one's spirits or situation