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.
I Am Sold
James Blake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
You said it was a flash of green
But you hadn't known
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
But I am going to shoot
There's nothing like a break
But it may be a consolation
That shows us where we are
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
So most of how you felt
I'm glad I could help
I could talk this over twenty times again
Everything you've learned from a past island
So most of how you felt
I'm glad I could help
But I am going to shoot
There's nothing like a break
But it may be a consolation
That shows us where we are
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
And we late, nocturnal
Speculate what we feel
The opening line of the song "Link my door tonight, I am sold" sets a tone of imprisonment or entrapment. The use of "sold" and "link my door" evokes a feeling of being caged or trapped. The singer is not in control of their situation and is being held against their will. The use of the word "sold" implies that the singer has been bought or negotiated away and is now under someone else's control. The repetition of "And we late, nocturnal, speculate what we feel" adds to the sense of confusion and disorientation.
The second verse begins with "But I am going to shoot." This line can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be a reference to drugs or alcohol, or it could be a metaphorical way of saying that the singer is going to escape their current situation. The following lines "There's nothing like a break, but it may be a consolation that shows us where we are" suggest that the singer feels trapped and is looking for a way out. The repetition of "And we late, nocturnal, speculate what we feel" emphasizes the feeling of uncertainty and unknown.
The final verse seems to be a reflection on a past relationship or experience. The line "Everything you've learned from a past island" suggests that the singer has gained some wisdom or insight from a past experience. The repeated line "So most of how you felt, I'm glad I could help" could be interpreted as the singer trying to provide comfort to someone who has gone through something similar to what they are currently experiencing. The song ends with the repetition of "And we late, nocturnal, speculate what we feel" to emphasize the ongoing feeling of confusion and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Link my door tonight, I am sold
Lock my door tonight, I am shutting everything out and surrendering to my thoughts.
And we late, nocturnal
It's late and we prefer the night, when it's quiet and we can think and talk about our feelings.
Speculate what we feel
We are trying to figure out what emotions we are experiencing and what they mean to us.
You said it was a flash of green
You described your feeling as a sudden and brief moment of enlightenment, but you didn't fully understand it.
But I am going to shoot
I am going to take a risk and go after what I want, even if it's scary or uncertain.
There's nothing like a break
Sometimes you need to step back and take a break to gain clarity and perspective.
But it may be a consolation
Taking a break can be comforting and provide some relief from the stress and confusion.
That shows us where we are
Taking a break can help us understand where we stand and what we want out of life.
So most of how you felt
You are sharing with me how you have been feeling lately.
I'm glad I could help
I'm happy that I could be a listening ear and provide some support and comfort to you.
I could talk this over twenty times again
I am willing to talk about your feelings and our experiences as much as necessary to help you reach a better understanding.
Everything you've learned from a past island
You have gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom from your past experiences, which have shaped who you are now.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES BLAKE LITHERLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind