Barnett's debut studio album, LP1 (2014), reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the US Billboard 200. It was also nominated for that year's Mercury Prize. She then released the EP M3LL155X (2015) and took a four-year hiatus, after which she released her second studio album, Magdalene (2019). After signing with Atlantic Records, she released the mixtape Caprisongs (2022). Her work has consistently garnered acclaim and has been described as "genre-bending", drawing on various genres including electronic music, trip hop, R&B, and avant-garde.
Figure 8
FKA twigs Lyrics
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Through your vice
Mass appeal
I feel in ten breaths it's a miracle if we're still alive
Can you touch it? Is it real?
Paper cards that I feel
The slightest rip is a river that's overflowing me
I've a baby inside
But I won't give birth till you insert yourself inside of me
I hear you whining, baby lively
I am an angel (hush now)
My back wings give the hardest slap that you've ever seen
Figures of 8 around your face
Elaborate, your eternity
You're so fucking fake that it's hurting me
I'm just jealous cause you're more alive than what I'll ever be
I take a step, I break my neck
Teach me how to lead with my middle finger
Boys growing boys growing girls into women
Teach me how to live life like I'm not a singer
3-3-3-3-3-3, hold that pose for me
Hush now, hush now
Let me live
Let me live (hush now, hush now)
The lyrics of FKA twigs's song Figure 8 seem to point towards a sense of longing and envy towards someone who appears more alive and authentic than the singer. Throughout the song, the singer questions the realness of their experiences and emotions, comparing them to the elaborate and seemingly genuine experiences of the person they are addressing. The lines "Figures of 8 around your face, elaborate, your eternity" hint that this person has a conviction and clarity that the singer cannot comprehend. This comparison leads the singer to ask for guidance on how to live life genuinely and raw, which is why she asks to be taught how to live without the constant pretenses of being a "singer."
The song's hook "Let me live" emphasizes the singer's desire to be free from the stifling ideas and limitations that she feels are holding her back. The line "I take a step, I break my neck" alludes to the pressure to be perfect and the fear of failure. However, by breaking her neck, the singer seems to accept the risk of failure and the imperfections that come with it.
Overall, FKA twigs's songs and lyrics often explore themes of identity, femininity, and raw emotion. Figure 8 seems to be about the struggle to find authenticity and be able to experience life without pretenses.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me live
Allow me to exist and experience life in my own way
Through your vice
By means of the bad habits or negative actions you engage in
Mass appeal
Popularity among the general public
I feel in ten breaths it's a miracle if we're still alive
Life is fragile and unpredictable, and we should cherish every moment
Can you touch it? Is it real?
Questioning the tangible existence of something
Paper cards that I feel
Emotions that are as fragile and easily damaged as paper
The slightest rip is a river that's overflowing me
Even the smallest issue or imperfection can have a significant impact on my emotional state
Something happened, just above me
An event occurred close to me or affected me indirectly
I've a baby inside
Metaphorically carrying something new and important within myself
But I won't give birth till you insert yourself inside of me
Waiting for someone else's influence or input before fully realizing or expressing myself
I hear you whining, baby lively
Acknowledging someone else's complaints or grievances, but still finding them energetically stimulating
I am an angel (hush now)
Asserting a peaceful, calming presence
My back wings give the hardest slap that you've ever seen
Despite appearing gentle, I have the power to deliver a significant blow if necessary
Figures of 8 around your face
Moving in a circular, repetitive pattern around someone's identity or persona
Elaborate, your eternity
Describing the intricate, endless nature of someone's persona or essence
You're so fucking fake that it's hurting me
Feeling physical or emotional pain from someone's insincerity or lack of authenticity
I'm just jealous cause you're more alive than what I'll ever be
Envy over someone else's vitality and ability to experience life to the fullest
I take a step, I break my neck
Risking or sacrificing oneself for the sake of progress or expression
Teach me how to lead with my middle finger
Encouraging someone to approach life with a bold, rebellious attitude towards societal norms and restrictions
Boys growing boys growing girls into women
Commentary on the cyclical nature of gender roles and societal expectations
Teach me how to live life like I'm not a singer
Desiring to experience life as an individual, rather than being tied to a specific career or identity
3-3-3-3-3-3, hold that pose for me
Requesting persistence or endurance in a particular behavior, movement, or stance
Hush now, hush now
Commanding silence or tranquility
Let me live (hush now, hush now)
Reiteration of the desire to live life freely, while also maintaining a sense of peace or stillness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: . BOOTS, TAHLIAH BARNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind