The fourth album Seventh Tree placed a greater emphasis on ambient and downtempo music, drawing inspiration from nature and paganism, while their fifth album, Head First, found the group exploring 1980s-influenced synthpop. Head First also earned the second Grammy Award nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album in 2010. Goldfrapp released their critically acclaimed sixth studio album, the folktronica-influenced Tales of Us, in September 2013. Goldfrapp released their seventh studio album, Silver Eye, in March 2017, which debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart.
Discography
Felt Mountain (2000)
Black Cherry (2003)
Supernature (2005)
Seventh Tree (2008)
Head First (2010)
Tales of Us (2013)
Silver Eye (2017)
human
Goldfrapp Lyrics
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Propelled by your belly and your tongue
I shiver when you shake
And I fold into jelly
I think I loved you more than me
Are you human
Or a dud
Or do you make it up
My baby cherry slipped
Pass me through your fingertips
Throw me down like an old rag
I'm not standing
Don't look back
Are you human
Or a dog
Are you human
Or do you make it up
Are you human
Or a dud
Are you human
Or do you make it up
They went searching
For your body
They went looking
But there's nobody
Who smells like you
Who looks like you
You're not human, too
Are you human
Or a dog
Are you human
Or do you make it up
Are you human
Or a dud
Are you human
Or do you make it up
(are you human)
The lyrics to Goldfrapp's song "Human" describe a complex relationship where the singer is deeply infatuated with their partner, who they see as having a powerful and irresistible presence. The first stanza features vivid imagery of the partner's words and gestures as they affect the singer emotionally, causing them to "shiver" and become "jelly." The line "I think I loved you more than me" suggests that the singer is almost overwhelmed by the intensity of their feelings and the power their partner holds over them.
The chorus poses a series of questions about the nature of the partner's identity: "Are you human / Or a dud / Are you human / Or do you make it up?" This ambiguity could be interpreted in a number of ways. It could suggest that the singer is unsure whether their partner is truly human, or whether they are simply playing a role. Alternatively, it could reflect the singer's sense of disorientation and confusion in the relationship, unsure whether they really know who their partner is.
The final verse introduces a twist, with the suggestion that the partner is in fact not human at all. "They went searching / For your body / They went looking / But there's nobody / Who smells like you / Who looks like you / You're not human, too." This revelation adds an element of science fiction or fantasy to the song, and changes the meaning of the chorus once again. The questions about the partner's identity now become even more fraught, hinting at a deep sense of alienation and distance between the singer and their non-human partner.
Line by Line Meaning
They fall from your mouth
You speak words that come from deep within
Propelled by your belly and your tongue
The words you speak come from your emotions and desires
I shiver when you shake
Your movements have a powerful effect on me
And I fold into jelly
I become weak and vulnerable in your presence
I think I loved you more than me
I sacrificed my own needs to love you more deeply
Are you human
I question if you are truly human
Or a dud
Or if you are fake and unfeeling
Or do you make it up
Or if you are simply pretending to be something you're not
My baby cherry slipped
My love for you slipped away
Pass me through your fingertips
You let me go easily
Throw me down like an old rag
You treat me with no respect
I'm not standing
I won't tolerate being treated so poorly
Don't look back
And I won't be coming back
They went searching
People searched for something they couldn't find
For your body
For your physical presence and touch
But there's nobody
But you weren't really there
Who smells like you
No one else has your unique scent
Who looks like you
No one else has your physical appearance
You're not human, too
Similar to the idea of 'ghosting,' you disappeared and left no trace
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Fintage House Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALISON ELIZABETH GOLDFRAPP, ROBERT LOCKE, ROBERT MILTON LOCKE, TIM NORFOLK, WILL GREGORY, WILLIAM OWEN GREGORY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind