"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.
The Last Time
Gnarls Barkley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All work an no play
That's the way it is, aint it
There's rhythm deep inside of you
And you must get reacquainted
When was the last time
You danced
You danced
Well come rock with me baby
Dance with me darling
Step with me sweetheart
The world is watching
Under an endless sky
Wish I could fly away forever
An ever
And the poetry is so pure
When we are on the floor together
It's been a long time
When was the last time
You danced
When was the last time
You danced
Well come rock with me baby
Dance with me darling
Step with me sweetheart
The world is watching
Ooh
Ooh
Mmm
Wooh
Ooh!
Don't deny me any further
Mmm mmm
Let me have my way
Mmm mmm
Ooh come closer, yeah
Let's dance the night away
Come rock with me baby
Dance with me darling
Step with me sweetheart
The world is watching
Woah
Ooh
Ah huh baby
Hee hee
In Gnarls Barkley's song The Last Time, the artist addresses the mundane lifestyle of working and not leaving time for play. The first lines of the song state, "All work and no play, That's the way it is, aint it." The song encourages listeners to remember the rhythm that's inside all of us and to reconnect with it by dancing. "And you must get reacquainted."
The chorus of the song asks listeners, "when was the last time you danced?" and encourages them to come dance with the artist, stating "come rock with me baby, dance with me darling, step with me sweetheart, the world is watching." The lyrics make a case that despite societal pressures and responsibilities, it is important to take time and dance in order to reconnect with ourselves and with others. The verses of the song touch on the feeling of being free that comes with dancing, with lyrics like "wish I could fly away forever" and "when we are on the floor together, it's been a long time."
Overall, the lyrics of The Last Time by Gnarls Barkley promote the idea of rekindling joy and freedom in our lives by making time for dancing and the connection it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Da da da da da
The opening sound sets the tone for the playful energy of the song.
All work and no play
Life is often just a series of obligations and responsibilities, leaving little time for joy.
That's the way it is, aint it
This is the resigned acceptance that many people feel about the mundane nature of life.
There's rhythm deep inside of you
Everyone has a deep inner rhythm or essence that makes them unique.
And you must get reacquainted
It's important to reconnect with that inner essence and embrace it fully.
When was the last time you danced
This is a call-to-action to remember the last time you truly let go and had fun, dancing being just an example.
Well come rock with me baby
An invitation to connect with someone who will join in the fun and dance together.
Step with me sweetheart
This is another invitation to join in the dance and be fully present in the moment.
The world is watching
This is a gentle reminder that we should let go of our inhibitions and concerns because the world is watching and waiting for our unique expression to shine through.
Under an endless sky
The limitless possibilities available to us when we honor our true selves and see the universe as full of possibilities.
Wish I could fly away forever
This is an expression of longing for complete freedom from responsibilities and the mundane aspects of life.
And the poetry is so pure
The beauty of life and all of its mysterious ways becomes evident when we allow ourselves to be fully present in the moment and dance freely.
When we are on the floor together
This is a recognition that dancing with others brings a sense of community and connectedness that is difficult to find otherwise.
It's been a long time
This is a lament that most of us stop dancing and lose touch with our inner rhythms as we get bogged down by life's demands.
Ooh
An expression of excitement and anticipation.
Don't deny me any further
This is a plea to not hold back and let ourselves fully enjoy the moment.
Let me have my way
This is a request to not let our inhibitions or doubts get in the way of our full expression.
Ooh come closer, yeah
This is an invitation to be fully in the moment and embrace the freedom and playfulness of life.
Let's dance the night away
This is a celebration of the freedom and joy that comes from letting go and dancing freely.
Ah huh baby
An expression of satisfaction and pleasure in the moment.
Hee hee
An expression of playful joy and happiness.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK KNIGHT, LUKE LARKIN, SHANNON DOUGLAS JONES, STEVE ESTOVERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@emilybeke
All I want is your understanding,
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
@arrrgr
One of the most slept on albums of all time
@JayPleezer304
Agreed
@annhitchcock3093
This entire album is a work of art.
@zugandi
too many people slept on Gnarls Barkley
@cronussaturn8558
What an album! I remember listening to this years back and being absolutely blown away. It sticks with me now, years on. I feel every track is different, every track has it's own ambience and they play on different moods. Shear brilliance in my opinion.
@zeljkaznatizeljka2758
I only heard Crazy on the radios, but the whole album is gold!
@KodakKid
I love DM's attention to detail... There's some kind of old projector sound that runs through the whole album like the album is a film. Show DM some love everyone!
@swolie
I got this album for "Crazy", I keep listening to it because "The Last Time"... And "Transformer"... And "Who Cares ?"... And "On the Line", Okay it's a good ass album.
@mjbset93
A decade later still in heavy playlist rotation. If a Grammy award winning album could be underated it is definitely one of them.
@Onigirli
Crazy is what I got it for too and was stunned at how good the rest of it was. Just to add a few others: Gone Daddy Gone, Just A Thought, Smiley Faces, and like you mentioned Online again which I even ended up liking more than Crazy in the long run. Even the ones I didn't mention aren't skippers.