Jamie Lidell (born September 18, 1973, Huntingdon, England) is a musician a… Read Full Bio ↴Jamie Lidell (born September 18, 1973, Huntingdon, England) is a musician and soul singer, signed to Warp.

Famed for his largely improvised shows, that see Jamie constructing his tracks live, voicing and layering right in front of your eyes, effortlessly whipping them out of the air and forging them into clanking electro riffs and deathprod funk grooves.

Likened to Sly Stone, Prince and Little Richard, he is Britain's voice of soul for the new era.

Jamie is/was half of the Super_collider project. He has also helped write and produce on the albums of Mocky, who in return drums in his live band.

I Wanna Be Your Telephone
Jamie Lidell Lyrics

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Breathe into my mouthpiece baby
Press your cheek against me honey
Push my buttons with your tender touch
Whisper to me till I can't get enough

I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone

All the things you say
Always in your pocket, never far away
I'd know all you could say
Share your ups and downs, joys and dismays

I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone

If you ever drop me in a puddle
I know you'd treat me so kind
Brush me off and wipe me down
Even though one day you'll trade me for a faster kind

I don't care
I don't mind, no
I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone

I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone
I wanna be your telephone
Telephone

I wanna be your telephone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jamie Lidell's song "I Wanna Be Your Telephone" express the desire to be someone's lifeline, their constant companion and the one they confide in. The metaphor of wanting to be a telephone is used extensively throughout the song to illustrate this point. The singer is asking the person to "breathe into my mouthpiece baby" and "press your cheek against me honey," to make a physical connection. They want the person to push their buttons with their tender touch and whisper sweet nothings until they can't get enough. This indicates that the singer wants to be a receiver of continuous communication, support and love.

The line, "All the things you say, always in your pocket, never far away" hits home, as it emphasizes the reliability factor that is associated with a telephone line. No matter how far, no matter where, the person on the other end of the line can always be reached. The trust factor is also highlighted in the lyrics, as the singer doesn't care if they are eventually replaced by a faster kind of phone or technology. The overall message of the song is about being a constant in someone's life, and providing them with a source of support and love, no matter what.

Line by Line Meaning

Breathe into my mouthpiece baby
Speak to me intimately and let me hear the sound of your breath through the phone

Press your cheek against me honey
Keep me close to your face, feel my warmth and embrace me

Push my buttons with your tender touch
Operate me with a gentle and affectionate keystroke

Whisper to me till I can't get enough
Talk to me softly and seductively until I become addicted to hearing your voice

All the things you say
Every single word that you express through me

Always in your pocket, never far away
I will always be in your possession, within arm's reach and never out of sight

I'd know all you could say
I would be acquainted with your entire vocabulary and every thought you wish to convey

Share your ups and downs, joys and dismays
Tell me about your happiest and saddest moments, pleasures and setbacks

If you ever drop me in a puddle
In the event that you accidentally drop me in a wet place

I know you'd treat me so kind
I am confident that you will handle me with care

Brush me off and wipe me down
Clean and remove any dirt or moisture that may have come in contact with me

Even though one day you'll trade me for a faster kind
Despite the possibility that one day you'll replace me with a newer model that is faster and more advanced

I don't care
I don't mind it or feel any negative emotions towards it

I don't mind, no
I am not bothered, no

I wanna be your telephone
I aspire to be your communication tool

Telephone
A device used to transmit and receive verbal information

I wanna be your telephone
I want to serve as your connector in a world of disconnect

I wanna be your telephone
I want to be your voice's messenger and your soul's companion

Contributed by Colton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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