James Blake began his final year at Goldsmiths in September 2009 studying popular music while recording songs in his bedroom. In July 2009, he attended the Latymer School and released his debut single "Air and Lack Thereof" on Hemlock Audio. It was a firm favorite with Gilles Peterson from BBC Radio 1, and Blake was invited to do a special mix on Peterson's worldwide show, which included an exclusive Mount Kimbie track.
Blake released his debut EP The Bells Sketch on 8 March 2010 on Hessle Audio, followed soon after by CMYK on 31 May 2010 and Klavierwerke on 10 October 2010, both on R&S Records. All three EPs were met with significant critical acclaim: BBC's Nick Grimshaw chose CMYK as his Record of the Week, the title track of CMYK was ranked 24th on Frontier Psychiatrist's top 40 songs of the year, and all three of Blake's 2010 EPs were collectively ranked 8th on Pitchfork's top 50 albums of 2010.
On 4 February 2011, Blake released his self-titled debut LP, James Blake, via ATLAS and A&M. Three singles were released for the album: "Limit to Your Love," "The Wilhelm Scream," and "Lindisfarne"/"Unluck". The album was very well-received by critics: on 29 September 2010, BBC's Zane Lowe made "Limit To Your Love" his "Hottest Record in the World," Pitchfork awarded the album Best New Music and ranked it the 12th best album of 2011 on their year-end list, and it was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize.
On 7 October 2011, Blake released his fourth EP, Enough Thunder, via ATLAS and A&M. Two singles were released for the EP: "Fall Creek Boys Choir," a collaboration between Blake and Bon Iver, and "A Case of You," a cover of Joni Mitchell. On 12 December 2011, Blake released another EP through R&S, Love What Happened Here.
Always
James Blake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a sweet world
Always
It's a sweet world
It's so easy
And I'm not afraid
And I have no hurt
Always
Grounds to an old war
And I'm acting like I'm never sure that it's
It's a sweet world
May I have her hand?
I won't protect myself
If I find her clothes, I'll keep her
Always
We're nothing left and uneven
This is how I wanna feel
It's so easy
Not disappearing
I'm no guardian
But if we're here again
I'll be on your side
I'll lose the glass
Always
It's a sweet world
But who's housing it?
I can unstick these things
And I'll be glad to see them leave forever
Always
And I'll just walk the land
Grounds to an old war
And I'll be acting so sure
It's a sweet world
This is how I wanna feel
Always
It's a sweet world
Always
In the song "Always" by James Blake, the lyrics convey a sense of optimism and contentment in a world that is described as "sweet." The repetition of the phrase "It's a sweet world" suggests a recognition of the beauty and potential for joy in life. The singer expresses a lack of fear and hurt, indicating a feeling of safety and emotional wellbeing. This attitude is further exemplified through the line "I won't protect myself," suggesting a willingness to be vulnerable and open to love and connection.
The presence of a female figure is also central to the lyrics. The singer desires to have her hand and promises to keep her if he finds her clothes, symbolizing a commitment to cherishing and protecting her. The line "I'll be on your side" further emphasizes the singer's willingness to support and stand by this person. The idea of walking the land and acting sure in an old war could be interpreted as a metaphor for navigating through life's challenges with confidence and determination.
Overall, the lyrics of "Always" convey a sense of appreciation for the sweetness and ease of the world, accompanied by a desire for connection and a willingness to embrace vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Glory
A feeling of great joy and delight
It's a sweet world
The world is beautiful and pleasant
Always
Constantly and without exception
It's so easy
Things are simple and uncomplicated
And I'm not afraid
There is no fear or worry
And I have no hurt
There is no emotional pain
Always
Constantly and without exception
She just walks the land
She peacefully roams the earth
Grounds to an old war
Connected to a past conflict
And I'm acting like I'm never sure that it's
But I pretend to be uncertain about it
May I have her hand?
Can I hold her hand?
I won't protect myself
I won't guard or shield myself
If I find her clothes, I'll keep her
If I discover her vulnerability, I'll provide support
Always
Constantly and without exception
We're nothing left and uneven
We are depleted and imbalanced
This is how I wanna feel
This is the desired emotion
Not disappearing
Not vanishing or fading away
I'm no guardian
I am not a protector
But if we're here again
But if we are together once more
I'll be on your side
I will support you
I'll lose the glass
I will let go of my illusions
Always
Constantly and without exception
But who's housing it?
But who is taking care of it?
I can unstick these things
I can detach and let go of these attachments
And I'll be glad to see them leave forever
And I will be happy to witness their permanent departure
Always
Constantly and without exception
And I'll just walk the land
And I will calmly wander the earth
Grounds to an old war
Connected to a past conflict
And I'll be acting so sure
And I will pretend to be confident
It's a sweet world
The world is beautiful and pleasant
This is how I wanna feel
This is the desired emotion
Always
Constantly and without exception
It's a sweet world
The world is beautiful and pleasant
Always
Constantly and without exception
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Breaux, James Litherland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind