Fronted by British / Nigerian vocalist Eno Williams, London based Ibibio S… Read Full Bio ↴Fronted by British / Nigerian vocalist Eno Williams, London based Ibibio Sound Machine combine elements of West African highlife, disco, post-punk & psychedelic electro soul. Folk stories, recounted to Eno by her family as a child in her mother's South-Eastern Nigerian Ibibio language form the creative lyrical fabric of their debut album that is due for release on Soundway Records late February 2014.

A unique sound born out of the mixed up nature of London today, Ibibio Sound Machine was started by producers Max Grunhard, Leon Brichard and Benji Bouton along with singer Eno. After first tracking all the bass and drum tracks they joined up with Ghanaian guitar legend Alfred 'Kari' Bannerman (who like Max Grunhard is from fellow Soundway signing Konkoma), before adding Brazilian Anselmo Netto on percussion and synth/horn men Tony Hayden & Scott Baylis to Eno Williams' lyrics.

A dose of electronica with a forward-looking, refreshingly un-retro approach that's influenced by London as much as by West Africa, give the vocals and guitar lines space to breath without being overwhelmed. From the banging sub-bass of 'Lets Dance' to the spiritual, gospel-tinged notes of the album's opening track 'Voice of the Bird', the band have turned in a dynamic and, at times, beautiful take on modern afro-soul music.

A force of nature on stage, the 8-piece live band made their official live debut at this year's Transmusicales in France.

The full lineup of the band consists of Eno Williams (vocals), Alfred Bannerman (guitar), Anselmo Netto (percussion), Leon Brichard (bass/synth), Benji Bouton (drums/keyboards), Max Grunhard (alto sax), Tony Hayden (trombone/synth), Scott Baylis (trumpet) & Ben Hadwen (baritone sax).

- See more at: http://www.ibibiosoundmachine.com

Electricity
Ibibio Sound Machine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Electricity
Elementary
Emergency
Fiddle diddle diddle dee
Equality
Eternity
Expectancy

What does it mean to me?
All these words
Big, big English, big, big grammar
All these words
Mean so much to some people
To me, it′s all the same

Let me speak from the heart, without love
There's no, no, no electricity
Let me speak from the heart, without love
There′s no, no, no electricity

Hypocrisy
Financially
Stability
Sentimentality
Humanity
Them all crazy
Simplicity

What does it mean to me?
All these words
Big, big English, big, big grammar
All these words
Mean so much to some people
To me, it's all the same

Let me speak from the heart, without love
There's no, no, no electricity
Let me speak from the heart, without love
There′s no, no, no electricity

Let me speak from the heart, without love
There′s no, no, no electricity
Let me speak from the heart, without love
There's no, no, no electricity

Let me speak from the heart, without love
There′s no, no, no electricity

Let me speak from the heart, without love
There's no, no, no electricity

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ibibio Sound Machine's "Electricity" express the idea that all the big words and grand concepts in the world mean very little without love. The song begins with a list of words, seemingly chosen at random but all starting with the letter "E," including electricity, elementary, emergency, equality, eternity, and expectancy. The repetition of the phrase "all these words" emphasizes how overwhelming and at times meaningless these concepts can seem. The singer acknowledges that while these words might hold great significance for some, they "mean so much to me," suggesting that ultimately they are all just words, and it is love that gives them real meaning.

The chorus drives home this point by stating plainly that "without love, there's no electricity." This can be interpreted in a few different ways - on a literal level, it could refer to the fact that electricity is a source of power that is harnessed and utilized, much like love itself. On a more metaphorical level, it speaks to the idea that life can feel dull and lifeless without the vibrant energy that love brings.

The second verse continues the litany of random words, this time with "Hypocrisy, financially, stability, sentimentality, humanity, them all crazy, simplicity." Once again, the singer acknowledges that these are all important concepts but ultimately they all "mean so much to some people" and it is only love that matters to them personally. The repetition of the chorus reinforces this theme, underscoring that no matter how many big words we throw around, they are all ultimately meaningless without love.

Line by Line Meaning

Electricity
The power that is transferred through wires and other conductors to run machines, lights, and other appliances.

Elementary
Related to the basic principles that are taught in school.

Emergency
An unexpected situation that requires immediate action to prevent harm.

Fiddle diddle diddle dee
Nonsense syllables that do not have any significant meaning.

Equality
The state of having equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or other characteristics.

Eternity
An endless period of time that goes on forever.

Expectancy
The state of expecting or anticipating something to happen.

Let me speak from the heart, without love
The act of speaking with genuine emotion and honesty, without the presence of romantic love.

There's no, no, no electricity
Without love and emotional connection, there is no spark or energy in a relationship or situation.

Hypocrisy
The act of claiming to have moral beliefs or virtues that one does not actually possess.

Financially
Related to money and finances.

Stability
The state of being steady, balanced, and unchanging.

Sentimentality
Excessive emotional attachment or nostalgia toward a person, object, or memory.

Humanity
The quality or state of being human, including compassion, empathy, and kindness toward others.

Them all crazy
A dismissal or rejection of people who do not align with one's beliefs or values.

Simplicity
The quality of being uncomplicated, easy to understand, and free from complexity.

What does it mean to me?
A rhetorical question that asks for personal interpretation and understanding of the given concepts.

All these words
Referring to the various concepts and ideas presented in the lyrics.

Big, big English, big, big grammar
A description of the complex language and syntax used to express these concepts.

Mean so much to some people
Acknowledgment of the importance and significance of these concepts to different individuals.

To me, it's all the same
A personal perspective that suggests these concepts hold no greater importance or meaning than any other.

Writer(s): John Alexander Scott Baylis, Eno Williams Uffort, Alfred Clayton Bannerman, Anthony Jon Hayden, Max Grunhard, Ishmael Nii Afla Sackey

Contributed by Kylie P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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