1) a Br… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists by the name of David Gray, including:
1) a British singer-songwriter
2) an Italian disco musician
3) an American singer-songwriter
4) drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
5) a musician from South Africa
6) a British classical hornist
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1) David Gray is a British singer-songwriter born on June 13, 1968 in Sale, United Kingdom. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later in 1999.
Gray moved to Wales at age 9 and later returned to the north-west of England to attend the University of Liverpool. His musical career got early support from a dedicated Irish fan base. After a few marginally-successful releases through the 1990s, Gray's breakthrough came with the worldwide release in 1999 of his fourth album, White Ladder; this was a critical and commercial success and included his best-known songs, "This Years Love" and "Babylon". In the United States, the album received a boost from jam-band leader Dave Matthews, who made it the first release by the record company he co-founded, ATO Records.
On August 11, 2001 White Ladder at last reached the top of the UK charts, having been selling steadily since its reissue the previous May, thereby setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted climb to No. 1. The follow-up, A New Day At Midnight, also hit No. 1, and Gray's seventh album, Life in Slow Motion was released on September 12, 2005.
Gray's early music was in a contemporary folk-rock, singer-songwriter mode; his primary instrument was acoustic guitar, with occasional piano. 1996's Sell Sell Sell featured some rock arrangements and electric instrumentation. Starting with the release of White Ladder in 1999, Gray began to make significant use of computer-generated music to accompany his voice and acoustic instrumentation, a technique which differentiates him from many of his peers. Despite the move to more complex music, Gray has used small-scale, often home-based, recording methods and equipment and espoused a "do it yourself" approach to music production. However, Life in Slow Motion is a collaboration with noted producer Marius De Vries.
David Gray's brothers-in-law are Paul and Phillip Hartnoll, formerly of the Techno/Rave band Orbital. Because of this relationship, Gray performed guest vocals on the Orbital single Illuminate, while Paul Hartnoll produced a breakbeat remix of Gray's song "Please Forgive Me".
His successful single "January Rain" was included in the original soundtrack of the movie Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Pictures and additional information can be found on his website, www.DavidGray.com.
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2) David Gray was an Italian disco musician who had a hit with "Dead in the Water"
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3) David Gray is an American singer-songwriter
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4) David Gray is drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
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5) David Gray is a musician from South Africa
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6) British classical hornist, originally from London, England, UK, residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Studied at the Curtis Institute Of Music. Former Principal Horn with The London Symphony Orchestra (1964-1972). Member of The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.
Made Up My Mind
David Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roaring down the open road, wind on my skin
I'm hungry to begin, my cup has overflown
So let fall the rain down into these desert veins
Taking back what they stole
These diamonds in the mine
Can afford to become fine
So I made up my mind
Made up my mind
Gonna move on ahead
Instead of lagging behind
Half past seven way up in the heaven
The stars are singing in the sky
Lying half dressed, your head upon my breast
Listening to the ocean's lullaby
Standing where we are, it seems so far
From the cold light of day
With the faces full of grief,
And the grinding up of teeth
Has been eating my belief away
So I made up my mind
I made up my mind
Gonna move on ahead
Instead of lagging behind
Instead of lagging now..
Cracks in the veneer and the light so severe
Shining down the avenue
Try to join the throng
But it's feeling all wrong
What are you supposed to do
Shoulder that despair take a lung of dirty air
Turn to watch the sun set red
And the ruins of a culture
Of a sky that's filled with vultures
Circling over your head
So I made up my mind
I made up my mind
Gonna move on ahead
Instead of lagging behind
Instead of lagging behind
I made up my mind.
The lyrics of David Gray's "Made Up My Mind" delve into the themes of moving forward and letting go of the past. The opening lines, "Lightening strikes, silver motorbikes, roaring down the open road, wind on my skin" evoke an image of speed and freedom. This sense of freedom is perhaps a metaphor for the liberation from a previous mental state, as the singer expresses that they are "hungry to begin" and their "cup has overflown". The next lines, "So let fall the rain down into these desert veins, taking back what they stole" suggest a cathartic release from pain or other negative emotions.
The singer also turns their focus to material possessions, "diamonds in the mine can afford to become fine in someone else's pigeon hole". This can be interpreted as a critique of societal norms or the pressure to conform. The next verse sees the singer in a moment of peace, as they lie with their lover listening to the ocean. However, this tranquillity is contrasted with the harsh realities of the world in the following lines, as the singer notes the "faces full of grief" and their own diminishing faith.
The final lines serve as a conclusion, cementing the central message of the song as the singer reiterates that they have "made up their mind" to move forward rather than stagnating in their current mental state. The metaphorical imagery throughout the lyrics and the contrast between peace and chaos creates a depth and complexity to the themes explored.
Line by Line Meaning
Lightening strikes, silver motorbikes
A visualization of a thrilling, adventurous journey with the imagery of lightening strikes and silver motorbikes
Roaring down the open road, wind on my skin
An inspiring portrayal of freedom and excitement, relishing the feeling of wind blowing past on an open road directionless to a destination
I'm hungry to begin, my cup has overflown
The eagerness to start a new journey, an excitement that cannot be contained
So let fall the rain down into these desert veins
A sense of catharsis, letting go of negative emotions, as rain pours down and washes away the desert's sand
Taking back what they stole
Retrieving something that was lost or taken away from you
These diamonds in the mine
An allusion to something precious, valued, and worth taking risk for
Can afford to become fine
Possibilities of a better, more resonating impact if done precisely even if it takes time
In someone else's pigeon hole
The futility of fitting in someone else's definition of success or happiness
So I made up my mind
The resolve and firm decision to move forward and make changes for the betterment of oneself
Gonna move on ahead
Eager to advance, grow and learn more realizations
Instead of lagging behind
Choosing to let go of wasteful opportunities or ideas to move closer to the defined objectives
Half past seven way up in the heaven
An abstract allusion to the transitory element of time passing by, difficult to hold or hold on to
The stars are singing in the sky
Imagery of an ethereal, heavenly essence where stars amuse or surprise us with their fleeting glow
Lying half dressed, your head upon my breast
An intimate moment of love's security, affection and dependability
Listening to the ocean's lullaby
The calming sound of the ocean waves, which evokes a sense of rest and tranquility
Standing where we are, it seems so far
Anticipation of a daunting challenge, doubt that if it will work out because of the perceived distance from the goal or objective
From the cold light of day
The harsh reality; the beginning to face it full of confidence and based on the decision you made
With the faces full of grief,
An image shrouded in sorrow, with faces marked by emotional pain
And the grinding up of teeth
A reflection of anxiety or stress, symbolized by the act of grinding teeth
Has been eating my belief away
Doubt that has weighed in the mind, destroying confidence and erasing self-belief
Cracks in the veneer and the light so severe
Figuratively, small imperfections or uncertainties that threaten to expose the truth, the apparent and straightforward light which would reveal these flaws
Shining down the avenue
The shining light that exposes everything exposed to it, like an avenue or road, that directs and focuses light into the path where it illuminates the way forward.
Try to join the throng
Trying to conform, fits into the so-called 'normal' part of society's standards and expectations'
But it's feeling all wrong
The difficulty in conforming, focusing too much on fitting in with everyone else and not enough on what really matters
What are you supposed to do
The question that comes to mind when the path is uncertain, and your mind will steer you in the right direction
Shoulder that despair take a lung of dirty air
Braving through despair, accepting the negative emotions, and inhaling contaminated air signifies the act of taking up the pain to move forward
Turn to watch the sun set red
The simple but remarkable act of observing a sunset, which symbolizes the end of one chapter and marks the beginning of another
And the ruins of a culture
A metaphor of the prevailing mentality and belief system that surrounds an individual, which has implications on their thoughts and behavior.
Of a sky that's filled with vultures
An image of foul, cynical environment with character accompanied by people who are opportunistic and preying for their own benefit.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind