He released a third solo album, Hotel Shampoo on 14th February 2011, Gruff said “I thought that as I’m getting on a bit, the time had come to buy a suit and record an album of piano ballads” Gruff Rhys explains. “However, I got bored, the record diversified and evolved – things turned out a bit differently…”
American Interior is his fourth solo album, released in 2014.
Vitamin K
Gruff Rhys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now I sing it because I'm saved,
Because she said goodbye,
So long it's time to die.
Sitting in limbo in a limousine,
She was betrayed by ideas,
Homemade skirt,
And died black hair,
Hey Vitamin K,
Do you even remember my name?
As fragments of the past come tumbling sharply now into focus,
Like a big red typhoon,
And gallons and litres of shame,
Waterfall from heights unknown in the universe,
What matters is what happened to you my love,
For you my love.
Estuary English was her second tongue,
She climbed a rung in the ladder,
Bladder bursting overflow,
Long time ... in the eighties or so.
There she stumbles crying insane,
She was swayed by the money,
Tummy full of tumbleweeds,
Nose bleeding into the reeds.
Hey Vitamin K,
Do you even remember my name?
As fragments of the past come tumbling sharply now into focus,
Like a big red typhoon,
And gallons and litres of shame,
Waterfall from heights unknown in the universe,
What matters is what happened to you my love,
For you my love.
I wrote this song to save myself,
And now I sing it because I'm saved,
Because she said goodbye,
So long it's time to die.
The lyrics of Gruff Rhys's song "Vitamin K" tell a story of a past relationship and its aftermath. The singer explains that he wrote the song as a way of saving himself, but he now sings it because he has been saved. The reason for this is because his lover had left him, and he had to come to terms with that loss. The loss is reflected in the line, "so long it's time to die," indicating that the singer's former self has come to an end.
The song explores the impact of this loss on both the singer and his former lover. The singer holds onto memories of the relationship, asking "Do you even remember my name?" as he recalls the past. He also remembers his lover's struggles; she spoke Estuary English, and was swayed by money despite the consequences, as shown by her bursting bladder and bleeding nose. The lyrics also express the singer's emotions towards his lover, calling her "my love" throughout the song, indicating that he has not completely let go of the past.
Overall, "Vitamin K" is a melancholic yet reflective song about a lost love and its impact on both parties. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and regret, but they also show the singer's growth and acceptance of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote this song to save myself,
This song was created as an attempt to get through a tough time in the artist's life.
And now I sing it because I'm saved,
The artist has come out on the other side and is better now, so he is able to perform this song as a sign of victory over his past struggles.
Because she said goodbye,
The artist went through a difficult breakup that inspired this song.
So long it's time to die.
The relationship was over, and it was time to move on.
Sitting in limbo in a limousine,
The artist is in a transitional state in his life and is unsure of what direction to go in.
She was betrayed by ideas,
The artist's former partner was deceived by certain beliefs or opinions that didn't hold up in their relationship.
Homemade skirt,
The artist's ex wore a skirt that was made by herself or someone else, adding a personal touch to her style.
And died black hair,
The artist's ex had black hair that she may have dyed, signaling a change or transformation.
So long, oh! Ages ago.
The past relationship seems distant and far away from the present moment.
Hey Vitamin K,
The artist is addressing someone, perhaps a friend or part of his own subconscious, that he refers to as 'Vitamin K.'
Do you even remember my name?
The artist is questioning the significance of his own identity and whether or not it matters in the grand scheme of things.
As fragments of the past come tumbling sharply now into focus,
Memories from the past resurface sharply, bringing back specific emotions and details.
Like a big red typhoon,
These memories are intense and chaotic, much like a typhoon.
And gallons and litres of shame,
There is a lot of guilt and embarrassment associated with these memories.
Waterfall from heights unknown in the universe,
These feelings are overwhelming and seem to come from a place that's hard to comprehend.
What matters is what happened to you my love,
The focus shifts to the artist's ex and what she went through during their relationship.
For you my love.
The artist still cares deeply for his ex, and this song is his way of processing their breakup and showing his love.
Estuary English was her second tongue,
The artist's ex had an accent known as Estuary English, which is a mix of standard British English and Cockney.
She climbed a rung in the ladder,
The artist's ex made progress in her personal or professional life, perhaps climbing the ranks or improving her social status.
Bladder bursting overflow,
The artist's ex felt a physical strain or pressure, possibly from holding in urine for too long.
Long time ... in the eighties or so.
The events being described took place sometime in the past, around the 1980s.
There she stumbles crying insane,
The artist's ex appears to be struggling with her mental health, possibly crying or acting erratically.
She was swayed by the money,
The artist's ex may have made certain decisions based on the promise of financial gain.
Tummy full of tumbleweeds,
The artist's ex had an empty or uneasy feeling in her stomach due to stress or anxiety.
Nose bleeding into the reeds.
The artist's ex had a nosebleed that happened close to a reedy area or swampy environment.
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.