"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.
She Knows
Gnarls Barkley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I know that I know she knows
Could one live a lie?
Well neither will I
If she still try to try
But remarkably, my son,
All my work is done.
Wouldn't surprise me to see her ghost
And I'm almost sure
I was absolutely nothing before
Now I'm so, so much more
The one word that describes the past
I'm pretty much possessed
We are the reason, I suppose
And we've spoken so I know she knows
There was one to sacrifice
When you live more than twice
Or when I bet it's nice
Gonna be just like you
I'm giving my life, too
No other woman would wear your clothes
And it goes without saying she knows
She knows
The lyrics of Gnarls Barkley's "She Knows" speaks of being in a relationship with somebody who understands everything without the need for words, for they have a deep connection that transcends the physical. The song talks about the singer's partner's intuition and how she understands everything without him having to say anything, knowing every line in his palm, just as he knows every line in hers. The phrase "Up, up and away she goes" represents how she reads him so well that she could even read his thoughts as if he was transparent. Furthermore, he realizes how he was "absolutely nothing before," and now he has become something more significant thanks to their relationship.
The singer also speaks of how their relationship went through difficulties, but they managed to overcome these obstacles. He highlights this by saying "Could one live a lie? Well neither will I, If she still try to try, But remarkably, my son, All my work is done." This indicates that they might have gone through a rough patch or a point where they were unaware of how to move forward, but he knows that they have come out stronger. The reference to "remarkably my son, all my work is done" could suggest that he has invested a lot of time and effort into making the relationship work, and now it has paid off.
Interestingly, throughout the song, the singer refers to his partner's exceptional character and their bond, but only implies that they are in love. The decision to never use the word "love" throughout the song could suggest that the singer wants his listeners to understand a love that can transcend words, a love that could only be felt, not expressed. At the end of the song, the singer acknowledges that "No other woman would wear your clothes," emphasizing the intimate bond they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Up, up and away she goes
She's leaving and moving on
Now I know that I know she knows
I am aware of the fact that she knows
Could one live a lie?
Is it possible to deceive oneself?
Well neither will I
I will not live a lie either
If she still try to try
If she still tries to deceive herself
But remarkably, my son, All my work is done.
Surprisingly, all my efforts have paid off
Wouldn't surprise me to see her ghost
It would not be shocking to see her again
She would like me to know she knows
She wants me to be aware that she knows
And I'm almost sure, I was absolutely nothing before
I am almost certain that I was completely insignificant before her
Now I'm so, so much more
Now, I am so much greater in every way
The one word that describes the past
There is only one word that can describe the past
I'm pretty much possessed
I am almost entirely controlled by something
We are the reason, I suppose
We are responsible for the current situation
And we've spoken so I know she knows
We've had a conversation, so I am certain that she knows
There was one to sacrifice
Someone had to make a sacrifice
When you live more than twice
When you hang on long enough to live more than once
Or when I bet it's nice
Or when I'm sure it feels good
Gonna be just like you
I am going to be just like her
I'm giving my life, too
I am sacrificing everything as well
No other woman would wear your clothes
No other woman can replace her
And it goes without saying she knows
It's obvious that she already knows
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS CALLAWAY, BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, CY PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind