Following the split of One Dove in 1995, she released her debut single Tomorrow Never Comes in 1998 and the following year saw the LP, Afterglow, released to generally positive reviews. A song-oriented pop outing, it was followed by the electro and house music inspired We Are Science in 2002. Following her folk-like third effort, Exaltation of Larks, she continued further down this path and released her fourth solo album Room 7 1/2 in August 2009.
In addition to solo ventures, Allison's career has concentrated on collaborative efforts, and has seen her work beside the likes of Death in Vegas, Hal David, Arab Strap, Scottish dance troupe Slam, Kevin Shields (of My Bloody Valentine), Peter Doherty/Babyshambles, Gary 'Mani' Mounfield (of The Stone Roses & Primal Scream) and club stalwarts Massive Attack. Dot recently dueted on the co-write Sheepskin Tearaway on Peter Doherty's solo album.
Allison's touring group includes members of The Fall, Two Lone Swordsmen, Tindersticks, Death in Vegas, Massive Attack, and Tokyo Windbag.
Message Personnel
Dot Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
Embrace me, release me
Embrace me, release me
Deny me, then feed me
Deny me, then feed me
I'll own you, then lose you
I'll own you, then lose you
So distant, so near me
So distant, so near to me
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm inside, I'm outside
I'm with you, without you
I'm with you, without you
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't love me, don't leave me
Don't trust me, believe me
Don't trust me, believe me
The lyrics of Dot Allison's song Message Personnel depict an inner conflict within a person who is in a complex relationship. The repetition of the lines 'I'm inside, I'm outside' and 'I'm with you, without you' emphasize the ambiguity of the situation. The singer is probably torn between staying in a relationship where they feel trapped and leaving and losing the person they love. The lines 'Don't love me, don't leave me' and 'Don't trust me, believe me' show the singer's insecurity and fear of being hurt. The singer is trying to make sense of their emotions, but it's not easy.
The lines 'Embrace me, release me' and 'Deny me, then feed me' show that the relationship is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The singer is probably seeking affection and attention from their partner, but at the same time, they want to be free and independent. The lines 'I'll own you, then lose you' and 'So distant, so near me' capture the complexity of the situation. The singer is trying to take control of the relationship, but they know it's not sustainable. The song ends on the same lines that it started with, showing that the singer is still struggling to come to terms with their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm inside, I'm outside
I exist both mentally and physically in two places at once
I'm with you, without you
I am present with you but also absent from you at the same time
Don't love me, don't leave me
I am afraid of being hurt by love, but also afraid of being abandoned
Don't trust me, believe me
I struggle with being trustworthy, but I want to be believed and understood
Embrace me, release me
I long to be held close, but also need space and freedom
Deny me, then feed me
I want to be desired, but I also push people away by denying their advances
I'll own you, then lose you
I have a possessive nature, but I am also prone to losing people and things
So distant, so near me
I am emotionally distant yet physically close
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOROTHY ELLIOT ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind