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.

What's The Use
Jamie Lidell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's a fine day
Just escaped from a bad dream
Asking
What's the use of figuring it all out?
I'm not starting again
Just continuing the same
Asking
What's the use of figuring it all out?

I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark
I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark
I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark

But what is the question again?
Ooohhhhwah
What's the use of figuring it all out?

I guess a man alone
Always talks too much
Can't start again
So he's just continuing the same
Asking what's the use?

What's the use?
What's the use?
What's the use?

Now we know where we're going
And who we are
Doesn't seem to get us
Too far
Coz everything else is still a mystery
And that mystery is

Life
I just wanna live

Life may be sad sometimes but it's always beautiful
Life may be sad sometimes but it's always beautiful
Life may be sad sometimes but
But it's always a question mark

A walking talking question mark
I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark
Oh
I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark
What is the question
I'm a question mark
A walking talking question mark
I'm a question mark
Baby I'm a question mark
But what
Is the question again

What's the use?
Yeah
What's the use?
What's the use baby
What's the use baby

Ooohohh

Figuring it all out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jamie Lidell's song What's the Use demonstrate a sense of confusion and questioning about the purpose and meaning of life. The singer has just escaped from a bad dream and seems to be grappling with the idea of starting anew versus continuing the same routine. The repeated question "what's the use of figuring it all out?" suggests a sense of hopelessness and perhaps even apathy towards trying to find answers to life's big questions. The singer recognizes that life is full of mysteries and acknowledges that the answer is not easy to come by.

Throughout the song, the singer identifies themselves as a "question mark" or a "walking talking question mark," embodying the idea of constant questioning and uncertainty. Despite this, there seems to be a desire to simply exist and live life fully, even in the face of sadness or difficulty. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of existentialism and encourage the listener to find joy and meaning in life, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

It's a fine day
The singer has escaped from a bad dream and is enjoying the beauty of the day.

Just escaped from a bad dream
The singer has recently had a terrible dream they have just awoken from.

Asking What's the use of figuring it all out?
The singer wonders if all the effort to figure life out is worth it.

I'm not starting again Just continuing the same Asking What's the use of figuring it all out?
The singer feels like they are stuck in a rut and questions the point of trying to change anything.

I'm a question mark A walking talking question mark
The singer feels uncertain about their life and their future.

But what is the question again? Ooohhhhwah
The singer realizes that they don't even know what question they should be asking about their life.

I guess a man alone Always talks too much Can't start again So he's just continuing the same Asking what's the use? What's the use? What's the use?
The singer acknowledges that sometimes people talk too much when they are alone and wonders if there is any point to trying to change their life.

Now we know where we're going And who we are Doesn't seem to get us Too far Coz everything else is still a mystery And that mystery is Life
The singer realizes that even though they have direction in life and have a sense of their identity, they still don't have all the answers.

I just wanna live Life may be sad sometimes but it's always beautiful Life may be sad sometimes but it's always beautiful Life may be sad sometimes but But it's always a question mark
The singer admits they just want to enjoy their life but recognizes that life can be both sad and beautiful, and ultimately a mystery.

What is the question I'm a question mark Baby I'm a question mark But what Is the question again
The singer again reflects on the uncertainty of their life and questions what question they should be asking.

What's the use? Yeah What's the use? What's the use baby What's the use baby Ooohohh Figuring it all out
The singer repeats the question of whether figuring out life is worth it and acknowledges that it's a difficult question to answer definitively.

Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: DOMINIC SALOLE, JAMIE LIDDERDALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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