"Crazy" - which was their first single - debuted at #1 on the British pop charts on April 2, 2006. It was the first #1 UK single to be obtained solely through Internet downloads. The success of the single in the UK was due largely to its use in a promotional trailer for Radio 1 across all of the BBC TV channels prior to the single's release. 'Crazy' stayed at #1 for almost 9 weeks.
The buzz for "Crazy" helped generate a lot of press coverage of their debut album, St. Elsewhere, which was released on May 9, 2006.
The album is seen as a cross-over between hip-hop, rock and soul. Both artists have previously been known to have a quirky experimental side, moving between different genres of music.
Producer DJ Danger Mouse began his career doing remixes of indie rock artists like Neutral Milk Hotel and downbeat instrumental music under the 'Pelican City' alias. He later went on to emphasize more hip-hop production: most notably his The Grey Album, a remix of Black Album, with samples exclusively from The White Album; 2005's Dangerdoom collaboration with MF Doom; and, most recently, the double platinum Demon Days.
Gnarls Barkley singer Cee Lo Green started out in the classic Southern rap group Goodie Mob, but later developed a unique funk-inspired soulful style of singing which developed on his solo albums.
Their new album The Odd Couple was released March 18, 2008.
Just A Thought
Gnarls Barkley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As in the small act of affection
Why is this my life?
Is almost everybody's question
And I've tried,
Everything but suicide,
But it's crossed my mind
I prefer peace,
Wouldn't have to have one worldy possesion,
But essentially I'm an animal,
So just what do I do with all the aggresion?
Well I've tried,
Everything but suicide,
But it's crossed my mind
Life is a one way street and,
If you could paint it,
I'd draw myself going in the right direction,
So I go all the way,
Like I really, really know but the truth is,
I'm only guessing
And I've tried,
Everything but suicide,
Ooh but it's crossed my mind
Just a thought
It's even dark in the day time,
It's not just good, it's great depression
When I was lost I even found myself,
Looking in the gun's direction
And so I've tried
Everything but suicide
But yes, it's crossed my mind
But I'm fine
The lyrics to Gnarls Barkley's Just A Thought reflect the universal struggle many people face in their lives. The first two lines of the song, "All I want is your understanding, As in the small act of affection," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is looking for someone to understand him, to validate his existence in some way. He then goes on to ask the question that many people ask themselves at some point in their lives: "Why is this my life? Is almost everybody's question." This is a question that speaks to the human experience; we all wonder at some point if there is something more significant out there for us.
The singer goes on to say that he has tried everything to feel better, except for suicide. He then questions his own nature, wondering how he can contain so much aggression when he would prefer peace. This is a struggle that many people can relate to, as we all have an innate animalistic side that we must learn to control. The ultimately hopeful chorus of the song, "Just a thought," leaves the listener with a sense of understanding and empathy for the singer's plight.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want is your understanding,
I desire your empathy and comprehension, just the small gesture of love and care.
Why is this my life?
Almost everyone has questioned the purpose of their existence.
Is almost everybody's question
People ponder why they have been given life and what they should do with it.
And I've tried, Everything but suicide, But it's crossed my mind
I have attempted everything to overcome my difficulties apart from killing myself, but I have thought about it before.
I prefer peace, Wouldn't have to have one worldly possession, But essentially I'm an animal, So just what do I do with all the aggression?
I would like to have peaceful surroundings and not care about materialistic possessions in life. However, being an animal, I have innate aggression, which makes me question what I should do with it.
Life is a one-way street and, If you could paint it, I'd draw myself going in the right direction, So I go all the way, Like I really, really know but the truth is, I'm only guessing
Life is a journey with no U-turns, and if it were ever possible to visualize it, I would want to see myself heading in the correct direction. I go on this journey with the intention of knowing what I am doing, but in reality, I am uncertain and just estimating.
Ooh but it's crossed my mind
Although I have tried everything else, killing myself has been a thought that has come across my mind.
Just a thought
This is just a mere idea, not a firm plan or resolution.
It's even dark in the daytime, It's not just good, it's great depression
The bleakness of life is not only limited to the night; it can persist in the daytime as well, resulting in severe hopelessness.
When I was lost I even found myself, Looking in the gun's direction
During my phase of confusion, I have even reached a point where I was gazing at a gun, contemplating suicide.
But yes, it's crossed my mind
Even though I have attempted everything else, ending my life, at some point, has been an idea or consideration of mine.
But I'm fine
However, I am okay and managing to hold on, despite everything that is going on in my life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, KEVIN JAMES PEEK, THOMAS CALLAWAY, THOMAS DECARLO CALLAWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind