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.
Sell Sell Sell
David Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To break the chain
To draw a line right through
Tomorrow
And cancel every claim
I've seen reflections
Beneath my skin
And drums beating for battle
And turning it over
Right down
Where the eye don't see no color
Where the war don't make a sound
Ice on the shoulder
Noel
Praise the Lord above
And sell sell sell
Oh violent flowers
You fill the screen
Betray your mother
And change your name
So tall and fickle
And blind as snow
Running headfirst for oblivion
Cause you've nowhere else to go
And turning it over
Right down
Where the eye don't see no colour
Where the war don't make a sound
Ice on the shoulder
Noel
Praise the Lord above
And sell sell sell
In chill of winter
In dead of night
Each so familiar with the hunger
That they got no appetite
They talk of loving
I hear her say
That as fast as I can give it
He's taking it away
And turning it over
Right down
Where the eye don't see no color
Where the war don't make a sound
Ice on the shoulder
Noel
Praise the Lord above
And sell sell sell
And turning it over
Right down
Where the eye don't see no color
Where the war don't make a sound
Ice on the shoulder
Noel
Praise the Lord above
And sell sell sell
A weeping willow
The desert wind
So many learn to swallow
So few to understand
The deepest longing
This cup of faith
Where to put them in a world
Where no innocence is safe
The song Sell Sell Sell by David Gray speaks about the struggles and challenges that mankind has faced due to greed and materialism. The lyrics of the song depict the singer's frustration with the world around him, and highlight his desire to break away from these negative influences. He wants to draw a line through the future and cancel every claim that might come along the way. He is aware of the reflections that lie beneath his skin and the drums beating for battle in the eyes of children.
The phrase 'Sell Sell Sell' is repeated throughout the song, possibly symbolizing the greed that has taken over humankind. The line "violent flowers" might refer to the way humans have uprooted nature to build and nurture their own materialistic desires. The singer points out their foolishness, describing them as fickle, blind as snow, and running headfirst towards oblivion. In the chill of winter, in the dead of night, people are familiar with the hunger that cannot be satisfied. They talk of love, yet the singer questions its authenticity, stating that as fast as one can give it, someone will always be there to take it away.
The song's overall message emphasizes the need for people to wake up and break free from the shackles of materialism and greed. David Gray uses evocative imagery and powerful symbolism to draw attention to these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
I beg to differ
I have a different opinion or perspective from what was previously stated.
To break the chain
To escape from a continuing pattern or tradition that has negative impact.
To draw a line right through
To create a clear boundary or distinction.
Tomorrow
The future or the possibilities that await.
And cancel every claim
To deem unimportant or invalidate every argument made so far.
I've seen reflections
I've noticed particular traits or similarities.
Beneath my skin
Within myself, deep down.
And drums beating for battle
The atmosphere is charged with tension or impending conflict.
In the eyes of children
As seen in the innocent perspective of children, who are often unaware of the dangers.
And turning it over
Introspecting or reviewing one's thoughts and feelings.
Right down
Going to the fundamental truth or essence of things.
Where the eye don't see no color
In a place where race, class, or social standing don't matter.
Where the war don't make a sound
In an environment free from aggression and conflict.
Ice on the shoulder
Feeling cold or isolated.
Noel
A word that doesn't appear to have a direct meaning, but is often used in Christmas songs as an exclamation of joy or blessing.
Praise the Lord above
An expression of hope or faith in a higher power.
And sell sell sell
Despite everything, the society still values selling or commercial appreciation over other values.
Oh violent flowers
The irony of combining beauty and destruction, a common theme in nature.
You fill the screen
Your actions, no matter how violent, still capture the attention and fascination of others.
Betray your mother
Turning against one's roots, either out of survival or a sense of rebellion.
And change your name
A symbolic gesture to show the possibility of starting anew.
So tall and fickle
Referring to people, who despite their apparent height, are easily swayed or could easily topple over.
And blind as snow
Unaware and insensitive to their surroundings and to others' suffering.
Running headfirst for oblivion
Acting recklessly, or without regard to the consequences.
Cause you've nowhere else to go
The feeling of being trapped and hopeless, and having no other options.
In chill of winter
A metaphor for a difficult, harsh situation or moment in life.
In dead of night
In a time of darkness and uncertainty.
Each so familiar with the hunger
Used to feeling deprived or wanting more in life.
That they got no appetite
Despite the hunger, people have lost their drive or interest in life.
They talk of loving
People claim to have love or feel love for each other.
I hear her say
The singer is listening to someone else's words or thoughts.
That as fast as I can give it
No matter how much effort or love is shown, it is taken away in equally fast manner.
He's taking it away
Someone else, likely a metaphor for life, is taking or claiming what was given.
A weeping willow
A popular image of sadness or grief, associated with the tree's canopy.
The desert wind
A metaphor for the harshness and unpredictability of nature.
So many learn to swallow
Many people have no choice but to accept a bitter or difficult reality.
So few to understand
Only a few individuals or groups can comprehend or relate to the struggle of many others.
The deepest longing
The strongest desire or craving one can feel.
This cup of faith
The singer's ability to hold on to hope and belief, despite the hardships.
Where to put them in a world
The challenge of finding a place or position in society where these desires and beliefs can be fulfilled.
Where no innocence is safe
Not even those who are innocent or pure are free from the dangers of this world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind