He approached his music with a new found freshness and decided to put some songs down on record. His grandmother told him he had a distant cousin in London in the music business. Borrowing money from those that would lend it, he recorded his demo and sent it off to his cousin, renowned producer and film composer, David Arnold (Bjork, James Bond). Arnold liked what he heard and provided enough money for Damien to buy his own mobile studio.
Damien Rice formerly sang with Lisa Hannigan and released his debut solo album, O, in Ireland in early 2002. In July 2002 O was released in the UK and it received widespread critical acclaim. In June 2003 O was released in the USA and Europe, with Rice appearing on The Letterman Show and receiving more acclaim from publications such as Rolling Stone, Newsweek and The Boston Globe. Arnold joined him on stage in New York to perform a version of the Björk/Arnold track Play Dead.
He gained further popularity after some of his most famous songs were included in the media. An example of this is 9 Crimes used in the soundtrack of the summer blockbuster Shrek Three and The Blower's Daughter was featured in the movie Closer. Delicate was also featured in the hit T.V. show Lost.
Damien Rice is an intense live act - with emphasis laid on emotional intensity and experiments, rather than technical perfection. At a 2005 concert, for instance, he threw out big cheeses to the audience. This can sometimes be more demanding for the listener than the radio hit edit of the song Cannonball suggests. 'Cannonball' was re-mixed in 2004, for UK radio, to make it more radio-friendly. Rice later was reported to be very unhappy with it, saying to Tom Dunne on PetSounds (Today FM) that he did not "...really like it". He stated that he had allowed the remix to go through only if he signed a contract that would forbid anyone from ever remixing one of his songs ever again.
Damien spent 2004 and 2005 recording the follow-up to O. The album, 9, was released in Ireland on November 3, 2006, on November 6 in the rest of Europe, and in North America on November 14, 2006. Even though the new album maintained Rice's sense of "emotionality," some argued that it did so through volume and intensity rather than with the reflection and lyrical commentary that characterized his first release, O.
Rice has also developed a reputation as a live performer, selling out at venues across Europe and the United States. He is a performer who gives a lot of himself to the audience.
As of March 25th, 2007, this was posted on the Damien Rice official website: After much thought and discussion Damien has decided that his professional relationship with Lisa Hannigan has run its creative course. As a result Lisa will not be appearing at any of the upcoming live shows. Lisa is embarking on her own artistic endeavours and there are no plans for them to work together in the foreseeable future. The current band on tour at the moment are - Damien Rice, Joel Shearer, Shane Fitzsimons, Tom Osander, and Vyvienne Long.
Rumors that Damien Rice is currently dating Mélanie Laurent, a French actress, has not been verified. However, there have been reports that he is working with the actress to record her debut album.
Colour Me In
Damien Rice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I reached out to undress it and love let me down
Love let me down
So I tried to erase it, but the ink bled right through
Almost drove myself crazy when these words led to you
And all these useless dreams of living alone
So come let me love you
Come let me love you and then color me in
Well, I tried to control it and cover it up
I reached out to console it
It was never enough, never enough
So I tried to forget it, that was all part of the show
Told myself I'd regret it, but what do I know
About all these useless dreams of living alone
Like a dogless bone
So come let me love you
Come let me love you and then color me in
Come let me love you
Come let me take this through the end
Of all these useless dreams of living in all these useless dreams
All these useless dreams of living in all these old noes
Come let me love you
Come let me love you
Come let me love you
Come let me
Damien Rice's song "Me" is about the challenges of loving someone and being vulnerable. The lyrics describe the struggle to control one's emotions, to protect oneself from the risk of being hurt, and the eventual realization that love cannot be controlled, it is a force that cannot be suppressed or hidden. The song is essentially about letting go of fear and embracing love.
The first verse describes the struggle to resist the pull of love, to "repress it" and "undress it" but ultimately being let down by love. The second verse talks about trying to forget, but again being unsuccessful. The chorus is a plea to the object of love to "come let me love you" and "color me in" meaning to fill in what is missing in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to repress it, then I carried its crown
I attempted to suppress my emotions, but eventually gave in to them and now they consume me.
I reached out to undress it and love let me down
I tried to confront and understand my feelings, but ultimately love failed me.
Love let me down
My expectations and hopes for love were not met.
So I tried to erase it, but the ink bled right through
I attempted to forget about my emotions, but they were too deeply ingrained.
Almost drove myself crazy when these words led to you
My thoughts and feelings became overwhelming and I couldn't handle them when they pertained to you.
And all these useless dreams of living alone
My aspirations of being independent and solitary are pointless and empty.
Like a dogless bone
I am like a bone without a dog to cherish it or give it purpose.
So come let me love you
I invite you to allow me to love you.
Come let me love you and then color me in
I want to be fulfilled and made complete by loving you.
Well, I tried to control it and cover it up
I struggled to suppress my emotions and hide them from others.
I reached out to console it
I attempted to comfort and soothe my emotions, but couldn't.
It was never enough, never enough
My efforts were always insufficient to tame my emotions.
So I tried to forget it, that was all part of the show
I pretended to disregard my emotions, but inside I couldn't let them go.
Told myself I'd regret it, but what do I know
I convinced myself that ignoring my feelings was the right thing to do, but I now realize my mistake.
Come let me take this through the end
I want to continue our journey together until the very end.
Of all these useless dreams of living in all these useless dreams
I want to leave behind empty aspirations and focus on living in the present.
All these useless dreams of living in all these old noes
I want to move past my past failures and disappointments.
Come let me love you
I urge you to allow me to love you completely.
Come let me love you
My desire to love you continues.
Come let me love you
I persist in my plea to love you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMIEN GEORGE RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Girlane Silva
Oi, sou brasileira, tenho 19 anos e faz alguns anos que encontrei essa música.
Me emociono todas as vezes, como se fosse a primeira vez. É como se eu pudesse sentir cada nota e acorde em minha alma.
Essa música se tornou minha oração ao tempo, meu templo, minha religião em forma de música, minha casa.
Todas as vezes que me sinto exausta, fraca ou triste, eu busco essa música e ela sempre me acolhe, sempre alivia minhas dores.
O segundo refrão recarrega minhas energias como nenhuma outra coisa no mundo, me dá vida, esperança de dias melhores e me faz chorar e sorrir ao mesmo tempo.
E eu só tenho a agradecer por ter essa obra em minha vida!
Sou extremamente grata por conhecer o trabalho do Damien Rice e todas as músicas dele, especialmente essa música que me toca tanto.
Obrigada!!!! 28/01/2022
The oafs
Hi Damien!
First of all let me tell you how happy you've made when you released your new album.
As you know, this month you're coming to Porto, in Portugal, my country. And I'll be seeing you for the first time!! =)
I have to tell you that I follow your work for more than 15 years. You inspired me to create a band, The Oafs, where I am the lead vocals and the songwriter. Every song of yours makes me believe that music is not for the masses, that every chord you play must have a meaning, thank you for that.
I know that probably you have lost of requests like this, but I would sincerely love to meet you and tell you how much I love your work and your soul.
But more important, please continue to make your songs, your beautiful and meaningful songs.
Thank you so much.
Eva Gomes
Ebtehal Mohamed
I tried to repress it
Then I carried its crown
I reached out to undress it
And love let me down
Love let me down…
So I tried to erase it
But the ink bled right through
Almost drove myself crazy
When these words led to you
And all these useless dreams of living alone
Like a dogless bone…
So come let me love you
Come let me love you
And then… colour me in
Well I tried to control it
And cover it up
I reached out to console it
It was never enough
Never enough…
So I tried to forget it
That was all part of the show
Told myself I'd regret it
But what do I know
About all these useless dreams of living alone
Like a dogless bone…
So come let me love you
Come let me love you
And then… colour me in
Come let me love you
Come let me take this through the end
Of all these useless dreams of living
In all these useless dreams
All these useless dreams of living
In all these old noes
Come let me love you
Come let me love you
Come let me love you
Come let me…
Kate B
I remember Damien Rice forever as one of the voices that got me through my pain in my teens. Now he gets me through my pain in my 30's. His voice is the kind that sticks with me like an amazing movie. I am impacted by the emotions of his singing for days after hearing his songs. He is one of my greatest musical love affairs.
kellyabra
Just came back from his concert in Montreal. He was on stage for 3,5 hours straight: one mic, one guitar, one genius!
jesuisdeuce
I know this is an old comment, but I was in the second row of that concert, and it's the best show I've ever seen!
Renardo Lewis
Being in Jamaica there are so many things u miss out on. I would've loved to attend a Damien Rice Concert. Hopefully I will someday. He's real musical inspiration to me.
Growing Melancholy
I was there too. I didn't see you. Seems you weren't there.
Stacey Cholip
I wish he would come to my area
Nobody around me knows him, I've been listening to him for 10 years. I would love to see him live!!!!!!
katrina browne
Wow
시선
Whenever you feel empty or feel like there is a hole that can never be filled, listening to Damien's voice is a quick fix, and a guaranteed one also.
Bikiron Bora
a moment of silence for those who still haven't found Damien Rice
marc conner
May the rice gods touch them