Jake Edwin Charles Kennedy, known professionally as Jake Bugg, is an Englis… Read Full Bio ↴Jake Edwin Charles Kennedy, known professionally as Jake Bugg, is an English singer-songwriter.

He was born in Nottingham to musical parents who separated when he was young. His father, David Bugg, was a nurse and his mother worked in sales, both parents having previously made recordings. He grew up in the Clifton council estate of Nottingham and started playing guitar at the age of 12 after being introduced to the instrument by his uncle Mark. He attended Farnborough School Technology College in Clifton. He has described a formative musical moment when, aged 12, he heard Don McLean's "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" on an episode of The Simpsons. He was enrolled in a music technology course but, by the age of 16, he had dropped out and was writing and performing his own songs.

Simple Pleasures
Jake Bugg Lyrics

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You've been huntin' round for treasure
Find it all in the simple pleasures
I don't understand this life you lead
Tryna be somebody else and
Tryna be the one's who help
Wanna find the one who helps you breathe

Maybe it's all a big mistake

And you live on all you take
From the lives that have always been close
I've been roaming around for hours
Singing all your songs of praise
How on earth can I complain
How in hell can I be safe
From this sudden fear of change
This sudden fear is strange

Tryna understand your ways
You hide them with convulsive rage
You tried to be the best you could be
People finding the most pleasure
All within the smallest treasures
This don't seem possible to me

And maybe it's all that you've done wrong
So just bite your silver tongue
That you lied with, lied to yourself

I've been roaming around for hours
Singing all your songs of praise
How on earth can I complain
How in hell can I be safe
From this sudden fear of change
This sudden fear is strange

You've been huntin' round for treasure
Find it all in the simple pleasures
I don't understand this life you lead
Maybe it's all a big mistake
And you live on all you take
From the lives that have always been close

I've been roaming around for hours
Singing all your songs while
Standing at the edge about to fall
Faces crushed against the wall
The sudden fear of singing all your songs of
Staring into space I hear the sound
From a voice that's never found
The sudden fear is strange

But maybe it's all a big mistake
And you live on all you take
From the lives that have always been close
I've been roaming around for hours
Singing all your songs of praise
How on earth can I complain
How in hell can I be safe

This sudden fear is strange
This sudden fear of change

Overall Meaning

In "Simple Pleasures," Jake Bugg muses on the idea that people often search for happiness and fulfillment in complicated ways, when true contentment can be found in the small things in life. He questions why someone would try to be someone they're not and chase after fame and fortune, when they could find all they need in simple pleasures. The singer admits to not understanding this way of life but considers the possibility that it's all a big mistake and that people are just living off the energy of those around them. The fear of change that comes with living this kind of life is strange to the singer, who is content with living a simple life and finding pleasure in life's simple pleasures.

Bugg's lyrics call to mind the idea of mindfulness, a practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, finding peace and joy in the little things. On the other hand, the lyrics could also be interpreted as a commentary on society's obsession with material possessions and the constant quest for fame and fortune. The singer questions why someone would go to such great lengths to be someone they're not when they could find satisfaction in the small, everyday things.

Line by Line Meaning

You've been huntin' round for treasure
You've been searching for something valuable and meaningful.

Find it all in the simple pleasures
The small things in life are often the most important and rewarding.

I don't understand this life you lead
I don't comprehend the choices you make and the way you live.

Tryna be somebody else and
Attempting to be someone else and not living as your true self.

Tryna be the one's who help
Striving to be the ones who help others, possibly at the expense of oneself.

Wanna find the one who helps you breathe
Desiring to find someone who brings comfort and relief to your life.

Maybe it's all a big mistake
Perhaps everything that's happened so far has been a significant error.

And you live on all you take
You consume and take from others without giving in return.

From the lives that have always been close
From those who have been in your life for a long time.

I've been roaming around for hours
I've been wandering aimlessly for a long time.

Singing all your songs of praise
Spending time honoring and celebrating someone else at my own expense.

How on earth can I complain
I have no right to express dissatisfaction or criticize.

How in hell can I be safe
I feel unsafe and unsure in this situation.

From this sudden fear of change
The fear of something new or unknown is causing anxiety and discomfort.

This sudden fear is strange
It's unusual how sudden and strong this fear is.

Tryna understand your ways
Trying to comprehend the actions and mindset of someone else.

You hide them with convulsive rage
You cover up your feelings with intense and uncontrolled anger.

You tried to be the best you could be
You attempted to do your best and achieve great things.

People finding the most pleasure
Many individuals derive the most enjoyment from...

All within the smallest treasures
...the simplest and smallest things in life.

This don't seem possible to me
This concept is difficult for me to believe or understand.

And maybe it's all that you've done wrong
Possibly everything that's going wrong is due to your own mistakes.

So just bite your silver tongue
Stop speaking deceitfully or insincerely.

That you lied with, lied to yourself
The lies that you've told to others, you've also believed and told yourself.

Standing at the edge about to fall
Being dangerously close to a significant and negative shift or problem.

Faces crushed against the wall
Feeling trapped and helpless against a difficult or painful situation.

The sudden fear of singing all your songs of
The sudden fear and anxiety associated with constantly praising someone else.

Staring into space I hear the sound
Absorbing the world around me and feeling the vibrations of beliefs or ideas.

From a voice that's never found
Learning something important from an unexpected or surprising source.

This sudden fear is strange
It's unusual how sudden and strong this fear is.

This sudden fear of change
The fear of something new or unknown is causing anxiety and discomfort.