Dufus music itself is difficult to pin down, as it is primarily experimental in nature, but still manages to maintain a melodic centre. Justin Cober-Lake, in his 1:3:1 review for Pop Matters puts it simply, "If all this sounds crazy to you, you're on the right track."[1] They have been associated with the New York Antifolk scene, although they seem to harbour more ambition than most of players in that scene. In true antifolk fashion, they have eschewed mainstream popularity in order to retain credibility, as well as artistic integrity.[1][2]
Black and Blue
Dufus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where has it gone
What are you thinking about
And all the things you do or say
May come back to you one day
What do i know
I don't know what
But i think you care
And took the dare
I'm standing there naked and begging for milk
When things get weird
As often they do
Feel pressing on by the crowd
I just relax and feel the blue
I think of the clearest sky without a cloud
Are there things i cannot change about me
When i look in your eyes i see that i am made for changes
I listen outside of myself for the words
The sign is still out of range
Desperately searching for you
Deep in the city, up in the mountains
Next i travel to the sea
Sky black, sky blue
Black and blue, black and blue
Someone in my mind keeps saying
I gotta get through to you
There's a letter in my hand explaining
Afraid of it breaking through
What's the point of this game we play
And how does it hold to you?
I'm gonna break out of this cage we've made
Black and blue, black and blue
Sky black, sky blue
Black and blue, black and blue
When you're breaking through
From the night into morning
There's a being come alive
Come alive into you
A piece of knowledge been imparted to your heart
Where is your heart
It's waiting dormant inside
When you had thought it had died
This is the change of the tide
When day and night can collide and make a bubo
Black and blue black and
Are there things i cannot change about me
When i look in your eyes i see that i am made for changes
I listen outside of myself for the words
The sign is still out of range
Desperately searching for you
Deep in the city, up in the mountains
Next i travel to the sea
Sky black, sky blue
Black and blue, black and blue
The lyrics to Dufus's song "Black and Blue" suggest a sense of confusion and insecurity within the singer. The questions "Where is your heart?" and "What are you thinking about?" speak to a feeling of disconnection from oneself and a sense of not knowing one's own emotions. The singer acknowledges that they are just as confused as the person they are addressing in the song, but they believe that this person cares and has taken a risk.
The lines "When things get weird/As often they do/Feel pressing on by the crowd" suggest that the singer may feel overwhelmed or lost in a chaotic world. However, they also mention a sense of peace in imagining a clear blue sky. The repeated refrain "Black and blue" could be interpreted as a reflection of the struggle between chaos and peace, or between the singer's inner turmoil and their longing for clarity.
Overall, the lyrics to "Black and Blue" are introspective and seek to explore the singer's inner world. Despite the confusion and insecurity expressed in the song, there is a sense of hope and a willingness to change and grow.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is your heart
What is motivating and driving you?
Where has it gone
Have you lost touch with what makes you happy?
What are you thinking about
What's on your mind right now and how is it affecting your actions?
And all the things you do or say
Your actions and words have consequences.
May come back to you one day
The consequences of your actions and words may impact you later in life.
What do i know
I'm just as clueless as you are.
I don't know what
I have no clue what's going on or how to proceed.
I'm just as confused as you
I'm in the same boat as you and trying to figure things out.
But i think you care
Despite the confusion, I believe you have good intentions.
And took the dare
You took a chance, even if it didn't work out.
I'm standing there naked and begging for milk
I'm vulnerable and in need of comfort and support.
When things get weird
When life gets confusing and difficult to navigate.
As often they do
As happens frequently in life.
Feel pressing on by the crowd
The pressure and expectations of society can feel oppressive.
I just relax and feel the blue
I try to find peace and calm amidst the chaos.
I think of the clearest sky without a cloud
I try to focus on positive imagery to calm my mind.
Someone in my mind keeps saying
I have a voice in my head urging me to take action.
I gotta get through to you
I need to communicate with you more effectively.
There's a letter in my hand explaining
I have written my thoughts and feelings down to try and express them better.
Afraid of it breaking through
I'm worried that my message won't be well-received or will cause conflict.
What's the point of this game we play
I question the purpose and value of societal norms and expectations.
And how does it hold to you?
Do you also struggle with the expectations placed on us by society?
I'm gonna break out of this cage we've made
I'm determined to break free of societal expectations and live my life on my own terms.
When you're breaking through
When you're finally able to overcome your challenges.
From the night into morning
From the darkness of struggle into the light of success.
There's a being come alive
You feel energized and renewed after overcoming obstacles.
Come alive into you
You feel a newfound sense of purpose and motivation.
A piece of knowledge been imparted to your heart
You have learned something valuable that you will carry with you moving forward.
It's waiting dormant inside
Your potential for growth and change is always there, even if it's not immediately visible.
When you had thought it had died
Sometimes we think we've hit a dead end, but there's always a way forward.
This is the change of the tide
This is a turning point in your life where you can start to create real change.
When day and night can collide and make a bubo
When opposites come together in harmony to create something beautiful and new.
Sky black, sky blue
A reference to the ever-changing nature of the world around us.
Black and blue, black and blue
A repetition of the title to reinforce the message.
Desperately searching for you
Trying to find someone special and important to me.
Deep in the city, up in the mountains
I will search high and low to find this person.
Next i travel to the sea
I will stop at nothing and go to great lengths to find this person.
Contributed by Ella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.