The song was co-written by Rae, John Beck, and Steve Chrisanthou, and produced by Chrisanthou. It crashed into the UK charts at number two and was only kept off the top spot by Madonna's "Sorry." The carefree, chilled out style of both the song and the video – set in South Africa – caught people's imagination and created hype around Corinne that a British urban music artist hasn't enjoyed since Craig David and Ms. Dynamite's emergence in 2000 and 2002 respectively. The song's opening line, "Three little birds sat on my window/ And they tell me I don't need to worry," is a reference to Bob Marley's hit song, Three Little Birds.
"Put Your Records On" enjoyed a wealth of critical and commercial acclaim which helped rocket the album to number one in its first week of release. The track has topped a wealth of charts including the UK Top 40 Downloads and the UK Top 40 R&B Singles; it was also a smash hit on radio reaching at least number two on the UK Top 50 Airplay. However, the single did not chart as well in the US, peaking at #64. As of March 1, 2006, Corinne Bailey Rae became only the second female solo act to top the UK Top 40 Downloads in history.
The acoustic version of this song was a featured "Free Single of the Week" at the Canadian and the U.S. iTunes Music Store.
The song earned a 2007 Grammy Award nomination for "Song of the Year".
The single ended 2006 as the 40th best selling single of the year, with 2,267,000 points.
This song has been covered three times in reality television programmes in 2007. On "American Idol 6", semi-finalist "Antonella Barba" performed this song during the Top 16 week. Also, in the UK's "The X Factor 4", finalist Alisha performed this song during the Top 8. Carly Rae Jepsen also sang it on Canadian Idol. week.
The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore.
Your Records On
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they told me I don't need to worry
Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet
Little girls, double-dutch on the concrete
Maybe sometimes we got it wrong, but it's all right
The more things seems to change, the more they stay the same
Ooh, don't you hesitate
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Sipping tea in a bar by the road side
(Just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you
Gotta love that Afro hairdo
Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Just more than I could take
Pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake
I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Ooh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Corinne Bailey Rae’s hit song “Put Your Records On” captures a moment of freedom, self-love, and bliss. In the opening verse, three birds tell the singer that they don’t need to worry. This is a metaphor for the gifts of nature that provide us with solace and offer lessons in resilience. The birds have no care in the world, and they remind the singer that it’s okay to let go of worry and stress. Summer is referred to as “cinnamon” and is sweet, which is a nod to childhood and simpler times. The image of little girls playing double-dutch on the concrete conjures up feelings of carefree happiness, nostalgia, and sisterhood.
The chorus of the song emphasizes self-love, acceptance, and the pursuit of one’s passions. The singer encourages the listener to let their hair down or be their truest selves. The mention of “sapphire and faded jeans” shows the importance of individuality and the beauty in wearing things that make you feel good, as opposed to following trends. Rae goes on to mention the presence of loneliness and fear, while reassuring that it’s alright to have those feelings. The line “gotta love that Afro hairdo” is significant as it celebrates Black culture and identity, particularly in a time where natural hair was not typically accepted in mainstream beauty standards. The song relates to the idea of self-acceptance and living a life that honors one’s truth, passions, and unique experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Three little birds sat on my window
There were some birds outside my window
And they told me I don't need to worry
The birds seemed to reassure me that everything will be okay
Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet
The arrival of summer was joyful and pleasant
Little girls, double-dutch on the concrete
Young girls were playing double dutch outside
Maybe sometimes we got it wrong, but it's all right
It's okay if we make mistakes sometimes
The more things seems to change, the more they stay the same
Things may change, but sometimes things remain the same
Ooh, don't you hesitate
Don't be afraid to take chances
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
Hey girl, put on some music and share your favorite song with me
You go ahead, let your hair down
Feel free to relax and be yourself
Sapphire and faded jeans
Describing the attire of the subject
I hope you get your dreams
I hope you can achieve your aspirations and goals
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Relax and be yourself some more
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
You will eventually figure out who you are and where you belong in this world
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Describing the emotional state of the subject
Sipping tea in a bar by the roadside
Painting a picture of the subject's activities
(Just relax, just relax)
Repeating the message to relax and take it easy
Don't you let those other boys fool you
Don't let other people deceive you or make you feel inferior
Gotta love that Afro hairdo
Complimenting the subject's hair
Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right
It's okay to feel scared sometimes
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change
Things around you may change even if you stay the same
Don't you think it's strange?
Questioning the peculiar nature of change
Just more than I could take
The situation was overwhelming
Pity for pity's sake
Feeling sympathetic for the sake of feeling so
Some nights kept me awake
Having trouble sleeping sometimes
I thought that I was stronger
Believing to be stronger than what was actually the case
When you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?
Realizing that sometimes, one doesn't need to try so hard to please others or achieve their desired outcomes
Do what you want to
Encouraging the listener to follow their heart and do what they want
Ooh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Reiterating the idea that the listener will eventually find their place in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Steven Chrisanthou, John Robert Beck, Corinne Jacqueline Bailey Rae
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ov3rkill
Lyrics (Please keep this on top so people won't have trouble finding it.)
Three little birds sat on my window
And they told me I don't need to worry
Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet
Little girls, double-dutch on the concrete
Maybe sometimes we got it wrong, but it's all right
The more things seems to change, the more they stay the same
Ooo, don't you hesitate
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side
(Just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you
Gotta love that Afro hairdo
Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's all right
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Just more than I could take
Pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake
I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realize that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans
I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
Ooo, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
@santreeago
This song is what fresh lemonade tastes like.
@anthonyspinnichio7766
This is like the perfect comment
@santreeago
@@anthonyspinnichio7766 I have seen it online before and it sounded perfect for this song 🥰
@accountwithallmystuff3508
Yes!
@AaronNHancock
DAMN STRAIGHT!
@tankmathieu9058
superboulous analogy i concur =)
@BLAKIEEISHERE
She was ahead of her time
@BuXnAMaN
Ahead of her time ? I mean this sounds like a 90's song .
@carolchikwa933
Why was? Where is she ?
@BuXnAMaN
@@carolchikwa933 she alive and well i think... i just guess he means cuz its a 2015 song ...