Enter some of the finest talents on the contemporary African scene: world-class guitarist/vocalist Louis Mhlanga, bassman/vocalist Concord and vocalist/trombonist Siya Makuzeni. A few jams later and the project GRASSROOTS is born. The first album, "African Moods" continues in the spirit of those first few jams - a collaboration of highly skilled artists exploring new landscapes and textures, embracing everything from ancestral roots elements to the present and looking deep into the future.
Gained three South African Music Award nominations including best duo/group and best adult contemporary African, sold out premier shows at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the ground-breaking video "Emakhaya", a hit single on "the African Top Ten" on South African radio Kaya FM, a Xitsonga Music Award nomination on Munghana Lonene radio in South Africa, and a documentary entitled "Fresh Sounds from Southern Africa".
Personnel:
Louis Mhlanga (guitar & vocals) Dave Reynolds (steelpans & additional instruments) Concord (Bass & vocals) Jeff Maluleke (vocals & chants) Siya Makuzeni (vocals & trombone) Gito Baloi (Bass, vocals & chants) Sello Montwedi (drums) Kathy Van Rensburg (vocals) Sam Mataure (drums) Chris Tokalon (flute, sax, vocal effects, chants) Koffi (Bass & vocals) William Mudau (Kalimba) Ronan Skillen (digeridoo)
Tip of My Tongue
Grassroots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are buzzing 'round my head
So many words
Are still waiting to be said
I keep a-trying to tell you I'm sorry
I keep a-trying but my mouth gets numb
I keep a-trying to tell you I'm sorry
It's on the tip of my tongue
It's on the tip of my tongue baby
It's on the tip of my tongue
It's on the tip of my tongue
But the words they don't come
Each time you see me
You must be thinking "here comes a bad sceen"
But if you could just be me
Then you'd know what I mean
When I keep trying to tell you I'm sorry
When I keep hoping it's not over and done
When I keep trying to tell you I'm sorry
It's on the tip of my tongue
It's on the tip of my tongue baby
It's on the tip of my
It's on the tip of my tongue
But the words they don't come
What is it you want me to do
Do I have to come out and spell it for you
It might hurt you too, going on this way
Wanting to hear words that I just can't say
It's on the tip of my tongue baby
It's on the tip of my
It's on the tip of my tongue
But the words they don't come
It's on the tip of my tongue
It's on the tip of my tongue
It's on the tip of my tongue
The Grassroots’s Tip Of My Tongue is a song about unexpressed feelings of love and the struggle to articulate those feelings. The song’s lyrics suggest that the singer has a lot to say to their partner but is finding it difficult to express themselves. The lyrics in the opening verse, “So many words are buzzing 'round my head /so many words are still waiting to be said” depict the dilemma the singer faces. The chorus “It’s on the tip of my tongue, but the words don’t come” emphasizes the singer's frustration with not being able to communicate their feelings adequately.
The verse “each time you see me, you must be thinking "here comes a bad scene” portrays the singer’s fear of the relationship ending due to the lack of communication from their side. The lines “What is it you want me to do / Do I have to come out and spell it for you" convey the singer's confusion about why their feelings cannot be heard and why they must be so difficult to express. Tip My Tongue is a song that speaks to the importance of clear communication in relationships, and how not expressing our feelings can cause lasting damage.
Line by Line Meaning
So many words
I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about what has happened
Are buzzing 'round my head
These thoughts are causing me mental distress and confusion
Are still waiting to be said
I haven't fully expressed everything that I need to say
I keep a-trying to tell you I'm sorry
I keep attempting to apologize for my actions
I keep a-trying but my mouth gets numb
Every time I try to apologize, I become too overwhelmed to speak
It's on the tip of my tongue
I know what I want to say, but I just can't seem to say it
Each time you see me
Whenever we are in each other's presence
You must be thinking 'here comes a bad scene'
You probably anticipate that we will have an argument or unpleasant conversation
But if you could just be me
If you could experience what I am going through
Then you'd know what I mean
You would understand why I am struggling to express myself
What is it you want me to do
I am unsure of how to make things right between us
Do I have to come out and spell it for you
Do I need to explicitly state my apology for you to accept it?
It might hurt you too, going on this way
I understand that this lack of communication is also hurting you
Wanting to hear words that I just can't say
I know you want to hear my apology, but I am struggling to articulate it
But the words they don't come
I'm really having trouble finding the right words to express myself
Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.