The group came to prominence in 2012 with the release of their first self-titled album and an unexpected partnership with Skrillex's predominantly electronic Owsla record label. Hundred Waters wrote and produced most of their second album, The Moon Rang Like a Bell, while on tour with alt-J, The xx, Julia Holter and others; it was released on May 27, 2014.
Xtalk
Hundred Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No relation to you
Out of your mouth came flying
Terrifying! Full of
Hey now
Will you will you
Will you sit down?
Can I tell it to you?
Why now can't I get some quiet?
I don't know who you want me to be
But tomorrow I'm leaving
And I won't do it kneeling
Do you have, do you have, do you have
Do you have time?
To lay around, around, around
And pick out all the folly in me?
Off with your crown love
Why can't I get some quiet?
All that I want
And all that I need
Is not a thing to believe in
It's not a thing for receiving
It's just a little, a little relieving
All that I want you to take from me
Is just my hand when I'm walking
Take my hand when I'm walking
Cause I don't know who
It wants me to be
But tomorrow I'm leaving
Tomorrow I'm leaving
Cause I can't and I won't take this feeling
Quiet the ring
That's ruining me
Cause with you I don't hear it
With you I don't fear it
With you I don't even get near it
Yea when I'm with you
I don't hear it at all
It's just noise to me
It's just bad electricity
It's just, it's just crosstalk
(Crosstalk… crosstalk…)
All that I want
And all that I need
Is not a thing to believe in
It's not a thing for receiving
It's just a little, a little relieving
So relieve me
Till I stop
Listening
The lyrics to Hundred Waters's song Xtalk seem to be a reflection on a one-sided conversation, and the frustration and fear that ensue from it. The song appears to begin with the singer being confronted by someone they do not have any relation to, and the person proceeds to talk endlessly without giving them any room to respond. The singer pleads for silence, but the stream of words does not stop, and they feel trapped and unable to truly express themselves. They question the expectations that the other person has for them and declare that they will not conform to them. The singer seems to find relief in simply being with someone who does not contribute to the overwhelming noise and chaos in their life.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's desire for release from the pressure to be someone they are not. They reject the idea that they need to believe in anything or receive anything from others. They just want a moment of relief and to be able to walk with someone who accepts them for who they are. The final line of the song "So relieve me till I stop listening" is a plea to be free from the constant chatter and inner turmoil that they feel.
Line by Line Meaning
It began in a conversation
The song starts with depicting a conversation between two people.
No relation to you
The conversation didn't have any connection with the listener.
Out of your mouth came flying
The other person suddenly said something extreme.
Terrifying! Full of
The sudden outburst was horrifying.
Hey now
The artist wants to grab the other person's attention.
Will you will you
The singer wants to know if the other person is willing to listen.
Will you sit down?
The singer wants the other person to be calm and settled while they talk.
Can I tell it to you?
The artist wants to share something with the other person.
Off with your crown love
The artist is asking the other person to come down to a more approachable level.
Why now can't I get some quiet?
The artist is tired of the constant noise and disturbance.
I don't know who you want me to be
The singer is uncertain about the expectations the other person has from them.
But tomorrow I'm leaving
The artist is leaving soon, regardless of the expectations.
And I won't do it kneeling
The singer won't be subservient to the other person's expectations.
Do you have, do you have, do you have
The singer is questioning if the other person has time to listen.
Do you have time?
The singer is asking for the other person's attention.
To lay around, around, around
The artist wants to spend some leisurely time with the other person.
And pick out all the folly in me?
The artist wants to know if the other person can accept their flaws.
All that I want
The singer is sharing their desires.
And all that I need
The singer clarifies that their wants are simple.
Is not a thing to believe in
The artist doesn't need an ideology to hold on to.
It's not a thing for receiving
The artist is not asking for anything in return.
It's just a little, a little relieving
The artist wants some solace in their life.
All that I want you to take from me
The singer wants the other person to accept them as they are.
Is just my hand when I'm walking
The artist is asking for a companion to walk with.
Cause I can't and I won't take this feeling
The singer is fed up with the negative emotions they've been grappling with.
Quiet the ring
The singer wants to silence the disturbing noises in their mind.
That's ruining me
The sounds in their mind are impacting the singer negatively.
Cause with you I don't hear it
The artist feels at ease in the other person's company.
With you I don't fear it
The other person helps the artist in facing their fears.
With you I don't even get near it
The singer doesn't entertain the negative thoughts when they're around the other person.
Yea when I'm with you
The singer expresses their contentment when they're with the other person.
It's just noise to me
The negative thoughts are just meaningless noise.
It's just bad electricity
The negative thoughts hold negative charge like a bad electrical connection.
It's just, it's just crosstalk
The negative thoughts are simply unhelpful crosstalk that needs to be silenced.
So relieve me
The singer is asking for help.
Till I stop
The artist wants the help continuously.
Listening
The singer doesn't want to be preoccupied with negative thoughts anymore.
Contributed by Lincoln D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kaylamccomb107
Absolutely beautiful. I've listened to this 10 times today.
@GarfilthOfficial
This tune is one of my favourite, I bought your album, it's been over a decade since I've loved a whole album and played it on repeat! please stay together and keep releasing songs, you have a bright future ahead of you! <3
@MJ-vd8bj
One of their best songs, the chorus melody is one of the best I've ever head.
@Bertoblam1
Love Hundred waters, LOVE this tune, and there's a new album? cant wait
I LOVE this band so much!
@highspacefox
this is the music of the spheres, the universal energy that connects us all greatly approves of this creation, i can tell beacuse im getting shivers listing to this :D
this damn song shakes my soul
@JosephinesDays
Superb! Thank you for that brilliant piece of music and words.
@HevyMetalSnap624
I dont get... how this doesnt have more views
@tourmalineKey
So so great, I love you guys and can't wait to see what you've done with the new album!
@microwaaave
As lovely as ever! Looking forward to your new album in which I will be pre-ordering!!!
@eduardovargas5598
I love this song, is beautiful ❤