It's narrated by Tenaglia himself from his dj booth at the Tunnel, which was a legendary club in New York at 1998, where he held the residency for two years after his departure from the Twilo.
Elements
Danny Tenaglia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got the four Elements
About to take you through the four stages of nature
The combinations of danger
It's like that
Killah Priest
I'm deep into the page
I focus on the brain cause it be the enterprise
It's like life within the center of the eyes
Descend off the soundwaves, that are bound for days
The atom is surrounded with rays
My frame be the mercury, it circles degrees
Developed the strength in Hercules
Wisdom changes my continent
When I quiz them I build up the confidence
You burnin me is like tryin to culture a pig
I teach knowledge and culture the kids
I inject the rhyme into the depths of the mind
The proper insight gives effects on the blind
See I don't entertain, I enter the brain
The Killah Priest always come and represent the name
A daily study stimulates the thought
Correct diet, I meditate with less talk
Makes me deep as the ocean floor
The ink soaks in and I'm prepared to explore
MC's fall like the city of Rome
I'm inspiring like Solomon and witty in the dome
Yeah, writing rhymes with a liquid pen
Next to appear, be the holy wizard
Knowledge I obtain is mystic, realistic
There's hittin gems in sins if you missed in
Thou have to contain the power to unravel
It's like walkin a-stray on the edge of the earth without a map to travel
Once false step, you enter the depths of darkness
the triple stains that engraved to the conscious
As I drag your mind off the edge of sanity
I leave you floatin, you have to figure your way back to gravity
Taken beyond the orbits of NASA, at rates much faster
Your chest tightens up like asthma
And you be gaspin for oxygen
Inhalin fatal gas, light-headed from the hydrogen
Driftin in the wind like a cloud that can't rain
You lack the element so it's relevant to strain
Your brain lacks water like the moon
Dependin on the earth since you first left the womb
Words engraved to paralyze you in the mental
Too much weight to analyse the potential
Amounts of pressure that'll tilt your scale
And as for 85's I describe it in braille
The blind language, the deaf and dumb I use sign language
Cause I was blessed to exorcise stress and anguish
Niggas be strainin with they sick sound-es
I'm splitin atoms and spillin holy water on their conscious
Travellin 186,000 miles per second
Then shine forth as far thoughts if you can catch em
Life is hell, hell tells lies in your face
Every other day we're killin off our own race
When you trapped inside hate
It's hard to escape inside a slave mindstate
Cause you go out like a blind date
Surrounded by danger when you're livin in the world full of anger
The pain I drop just to get you got is a brain strainer
Deadly talk, silent thoughts
I can't overstand when the man want to live long
And you think too short and distorted
Payin for your religion when you really can't afford it
I'd rather live like the god then instead of dyin for a devil
You couldn't climb this level with a ladder made of knowledge
I demolish, abolish, so don't try to follow
I look into your body in the dark and I could tell you that you're hollow
You're sleepwalkin, blind ass zombie
I hell raze from the grave of ignorance (yo)
Just to finish men lookin guilty of sin
Cryin' deep within the mental, my soul is intoxicated
Opressed with stress, aggrevation, pain and frustration
I can't take it no more as I journey through the halls of hell
Justice prevail, unrighteous will surely fail
Now may my enemies be defeated in the Chamber
of danger facin life full of strife, filled with anger
Forced to enter as an avenger of sin
I roar like the mighty lion as I contrive of Benjamin
Experimentin with all types of fuckin gases
I got the potion to turn your flesh to fuckin acid
Atoms Shatter, and lemons start to scatter
Illusion dwellin in path for mental confusion
The lyrics to Danny Tenaglia's song Elements are primarily focused on the four stages of nature through the lens of Killah Priest, the featured artist on the track. The lyrics delve into the intricacies and complexities of each stage and how they relate to the world and human consciousness. Killah Priest speaks of the importance of knowledge, wisdom, and meditation, and how they can lead to a deep exploration of the mind and self. He also touches on the dangers of hate, mental oppression, and systemic anger, and how they can trap people in a cycle of negative emotions and thoughts. The lyrics are cryptic and poetic, allowing for various interpretations and insights.
The song was released in 1995 on Danny Tenaglia's album Hard & Soul. It quickly became a classic within the house music scene, known for its dark and hypnotic sound, which was typical of Tenaglia's style at the time. The song was heavily influenced by the techno and acid house scenes that were prominent in the early 90s. The song's lyrics were a departure from the typical themes found in house music, which often dealt with love, dancing, and partying. Instead, the lyrics focused on spirituality and the larger questions of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm deep into the page
I am fully immersed in writing and expressing my thoughts
Each stage is like a maze, it's like sperm reaching the egg
Every phase or level of life is complex and filled with challenges, just like the process of fertilization
I focus on the brain cause it be the enterprise
I prioritize the mind because it is the center of intelligence and creativity
It's like life within the center of the eyes
Life is experienced and perceived through the eyes, making them a symbol of awareness and consciousness
Descend off the soundwaves, that are bound for days
My music travels through time and stays relevant for an extended period
The atom is surrounded with rays
Atoms are surrounded by energy and radiate a powerful presence
My frame be the mercury, it circles degrees
My body and being are fluid like mercury, adapting and rotating constantly
Developed the strength in Hercules
I have cultivated immense strength and power, comparable to the mythical hero Hercules
Wisdom changes my continent
Gaining wisdom alters and expands my perspective
When I quiz them I build up the confidence
By asking thought-provoking questions, I help others gain confidence and knowledge
You burnin me is like tryin to culture a pig
Attempting to harm me or go against my teachings is futile, like trying to cultivate intelligence in a pig
I teach knowledge and culture the kids
I educate and instill cultural values in the younger generation
I inject the rhyme into the depths of the mind
Through my music and lyrics, I penetrate deep into the subconscious mind
The proper insight gives effects on the blind
Offering profound understanding has a profound impact on those who are unaware or ignorant
See I don't entertain, I enter the brain
I don't simply provide entertainment, I enter people's minds and provoke thoughtful reflection
The Killah Priest always come and represent the name
As the Killah Priest, I consistently represent and uphold my name and reputation
A daily study stimulates the thought
Engaging in daily intellectual pursuits stimulates and sharpens the mind
Correct diet, I meditate with less talk
Maintaining a proper diet and practicing silent meditation help me focus and enhance my spiritual connection
Makes me deep as the ocean floor
This lifestyle and mindset make me incredibly profound, like the depths of the ocean
The ink soaks in and I'm prepared to explore
My words seep deep into the soul, priming it for introspection and exploration
MC's fall like the city of Rome
Other rappers and performers crumble and decline, much like the fall of the great city of Rome
I'm inspiring like Solomon and witty in the dome
I serve as a source of inspiration, comparable to the wise King Solomon, and possess sharp wit and intelligence
Yeah, writing rhymes with a liquid pen
Crafting my lyrics is smooth and fluid, like writing with a pen filled with liquid ink
Next to appear, be the holy wizard
I am the next presence to emerge, embodying a sacred and mystical essence
Knowledge I obtain is mystic, realistic
The knowledge I acquire is both mystical and grounded in reality
There's hittin gems in sins if you missed in
Within our mistakes and sins, valuable lessons can be found if we pay attention
Thou have to contain the power to unravel
One must possess the ability to uncover deep truths and unravel complex mysteries
It's like walkin a-stray on the edge of the earth without a map to travel
Navigating through life without guidance or direction feels like wandering aimlessly on the edge of the world
Once false step, you enter the depths of darkness
A single mistake can lead to plunging into a state of despair and darkness
The triple stains that engraved to the conscious
Repeated and significant offenses leave lasting imprints on the conscience
As I drag your mind off the edge of sanity
Through my words and influence, I challenge conventional thinking and push boundaries of sanity
I leave you floatin, you have to figure your way back to gravity
I leave you lost and adrift, forcing you to find your own path back to stability and reality
Taken beyond the orbits of NASA, at rates much faster
I take you to dimensions and realms beyond what NASA can explore, moving at an accelerated pace
Your chest tightens up like asthma
The intensity and impact of my words create a sense of suffocation and overwhelm, like an asthma attack
And you be gaspin for oxygen
You struggle to catch your breath and find a source of relief or clarity
Inhalin fatal gas, light-headed from the hydrogen
Breathing in toxic and deadly substances, feeling dizzy and disoriented due to the hydrogen present
Driftin in the wind like a cloud that can't rain
Being aimless and lacking purpose, like a cloud that cannot fulfill its purpose of producing rain
You lack the element so it's relevant to strain
You lack the essential qualities or traits, causing tension and difficulty in your life
Your brain lacks water like the moon
Your mind lacks nourishment and hydration, similar to the dry and barren surface of the moon
Dependin on the earth since you first left the womb
Since birth, you have relied on external factors and influences, never fully developing your own independence
Words engraved to paralyze you in the mental
My words are etched deeply in your mind, rendering you mentally paralyzed or immobilized
Too much weight to analyse the potential
The burden and complexity of analyzing your potential becomes overwhelming and difficult
Amounts of pressure that'll tilt your scale
The immense pressure and stress will disrupt your balance and equilibrium
And as for 85's I describe it in braille
For those who lack knowledge and awareness, I make it comprehensible by using a tactile form of communication like braille
The blind language, the deaf and dumb I use sign language
With my lyrics and communication, I reach those who are blind to the truth or deaf to the message, adapting to their needs like sign language
Cause I was blessed to exorcise stress and anguish
I am fortunate to have the ability to relieve and expel the pain, stress, and emotional distress of others
Niggas be strainin with they sick sound-es
Other artists struggle and exert themselves with their low-quality music and weak performances
I'm splitin atoms and spillin holy water on their conscious
I am breaking things down to their fundamental elements and awakening their spirituality and consciousness
Travellin 186,000 miles per second
Moving at the speed of light, surpassing all limitations and boundaries
Then shine forth as far thoughts if you can catch em
My thoughts and ideas illuminate like distant stars, challenging others to grasp and comprehend them
Life is hell, hell tells lies in your face
Life can be arduous and challenging, and it often deceives and misleads us
Every other day we're killin off our own race
Sadly, we engage in self-destructive behavior and actions that harm our own community and people
When you trapped inside hate
When consumed by hatred and animosity
It's hard to escape inside a slave mindstate
Breaking free from a mindset of oppression and subservience is incredibly challenging
Cause you go out like a blind date
If you remain ignorant and unaware, you will face disappointment and failure, akin to a blind date going poorly
Surrounded by danger when you're livin in the world full of anger
Existing in a world filled with anger exposes you to constant threats and risks
The pain I drop just to get you got is a brain strainer
The profound truths and emotions I deliver through my music may be difficult for some to comprehend and process
Deadly talk, silent thoughts
My words can be lethal and impactful, even though they are expressed silently in my mind
I can't overstand when the man want to live long
I struggle to comprehend why individuals desire to prolong their lives when they lack true understanding and enlightenment
And you think too short and distorted
Your perspective is limited and warped, preventing you from seeing the bigger picture
Payin for your religion when you really can't afford it
Investing in a belief system or religious practices that you cannot truly afford or understand
I'd rather live like the god then instead of dyin for a devil
I choose to live a virtuous and enlightened life, embodying godliness, rather than succumbing to wickedness and negativity
You couldn't climb this level with a ladder made of knowledge
Even with vast knowledge, you would still be unable to reach my level of understanding and enlightenment
I demolish, abolish, so don't try to follow
I dismantle and eliminate false beliefs and systems, so do not attempt to imitate or replicate my path
I look into your body in the dark and I could tell you that you're hollow
I perceive the emptiness and shallowness within you, even in the absence of light or clarity
You're sleepwalkin, blind ass zombie
You are oblivious and passive, similar to a mindless and sightless zombie
I hell raze from the grave of ignorance (yo)
I rise up from the depths of ignorance and shine a light on the truth and knowledge
Just to finish men lookin guilty of sin
My purpose is to expose and uncover the sinful and guilt-ridden nature of humanity, leading to self-reflection and improvement
Cryin' deep within the mental, my soul is intoxicated
I experience intense emotional turmoil and my soul is deeply affected
Opressed with stress, aggrevation, pain and frustration
I am burdened by stress, irritation, pain, and feelings of frustration
I can't take it no more as I journey through the halls of hell
The weight of my emotions becomes overwhelming as I traverse through difficult and challenging situations
Justice prevail, unrighteous will surely fail
Ultimately, justice and fairness will triumph, while those who are unjust and immoral will face defeat
Now may my enemies be defeated in the Chamber
I hope for the downfall and defeat of my adversaries within a confined and intense environment
of danger facin life full of strife, filled with anger
They will confront the perils and struggles of life, overwhelmed by anger and hostility
Forced to enter as an avenger of sin
Compelled to act as a punisher or corrector of sinful actions
I roar like the mighty lion as I contrive of Benjamin
I express my power and strength boldly, much like a roaring lion, while devising plans like the wise biblical character Benjamin
Experimentin with all types of fuckin gases
I engage in various forms of experimentation, particularly with different intellectual concepts and ideas
I got the potion to turn your flesh to fuckin acid
I possess the ability to corrode and dissolve your physical existence and superficiality
Atoms Shatter, and lemons start to scatter
The fundamental particles of matter break apart and chaos ensues, causing disruption and disarray
Illusion dwellin in path for mental confusion
Deceptive and distorted beliefs and thoughts obstruct the path to mental clarity and understanding
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL TENAGLIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DaduWheat
This was one of those tracks I'd hear late at a party, when it's really getting wild. I was a newbie back then, And I would watch all the people dancing, feeling like a tribe, or a collective, try to figure it all out...why did it feel so important to who I was. Ahh....I miss those unexplainable feelings and wonder. Good times. πβοΈ
@mish_13
Collective coming in hot β¨β¨β¨β¨π₯
@556m4
Because humans are tribal beings and that has mostly been taken away from us over the years and you started to feel a connection to your soul
@antoniosanchez6290
@@mish_13 dπ
@lucid484
That's exactly how it was! Everything dancing as one in dark night clubs, strobes and smoke machines. Everyone just melting together into the music..My god, what this current generation is missing out on!
@moustafachoucair506
As a younger adept to house music, I love to read these first-hand accounts of experiences with these records. βοΈ β€οΈ π
@stoopidpants
Strange hearing this after 20 years - I thought it was perfect then and it still seems perfect now.
@wandsonsilva8856
I was just telling this to a friend a moment ago
@timdivine
Sound Factory, Tunnel, The palladium, Roxy limelight, Fan dancers, Voguers, wheels of energy trippin, ahh when new york city nightlife was the greatest! You couldnt care less if you were single.
@hungirl69cz23
True, I used to go to Sound Factory, it was so much fun!