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.
You Know My Name
Jamie Lidell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Totally detached
This is kinda funny
But I find it hard to laugh
Wind up in the streets
Wind up in a crowd
Wind up one thing
I will never be found
(Chorus):
This is all I can ever be
You know my name
Gonna make ya proud
I′ve been messed up all day
'Til the day I die
Total disconnection
Who the hell am I?
Superficial overdoses
Coloring my mind
How am I supposed to scream
In this shell?
Trying? emptiness
Maybe I?
(Chorus)
Look, there′s someone there
You know my name, you know my name
You know my name, you know my name
Ooh alright
You know my name, you know my name
You know my name, you know my name
Ooh alright
(Chorus)
In the song "You Know My Name" by Jamie Lidell, the singer reflects on the different stages of his life and the emotional turmoil he's been through. It starts with a sense of detachment as he describes himself as being "totally surrounded" yet "totally detached" from everything around him. The situation is somewhat amusing to him, but he finds it difficult to laugh about it. The singer then talks about how he's been lost in the crowd and in the city streets, and how he'll never be found. This is a metaphor for how he's been feeling lost and disconnected from himself, unable to find his purpose or identity.
In the chorus, he seems to be addressing someone who knows him and is urging them to be proud of him despite his struggles. He acknowledges that he's been messed up all day, but regardless, he promises to make them proud until the day he dies. In the second verse, he talks about the superficial things that have overwhelmed him, clouding his mind and preventing him from discovering who he truly is. He wonders how he can break free from this shell of emptiness and scream out his true self.
The final lines of the song signal a change in tone, as he seems to have found someone who knows him and wants to be with him. He repeats the title of the song, emphasizing how this person knows his name and therefore his true identity. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer feeling less lost and isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
Totally surrounded
Feeling surrounded by everything going on in the world.
Totally detached
Feeling detached from oneself and others.
This is kinda funny
Finding irony in the situation despite feeling disconnected.
But I find it hard to laugh
Despite the irony, it's still difficult to find joy or laughter.
Wind up in the streets
Getting lost in the chaos of society.
Wind up in a crowd
Getting lost in the anonymity of a crowd.
Wind up one thing
One thing that the artist will never become is lost in the noise of the world.
I will never be found
Despite feeling lost, the artist knows that they will never truly lose themselves.
This is all I can ever be
Despite the challenges of disconnection, the artist accepts that it's all they can be in this world.
Gonna make ya proud
Despite their struggles, the artist wants to make their loved ones proud.
I've been messed up all day
Acknowledging the emotional challenges they are facing.
'Til the day I die
The struggles with disconnection and emotional challenges will persist until the end of life.
Total disconnection
Feeling completely disconnected from oneself and the world around them.
Who the hell am I?
Questioning their identity in the midst of disconnection.
Superficial overdoses
Trying to fill the emotional void with external, material things.
Coloring my mind
Those material things are clouding the artist's true perspective.
How am I supposed to scream
Expressing the emotional turmoil despite being disconnected from oneself and others.
In this shell?
Feeling trapped and unable to fully express themselves.
Trying emptiness
Attempting to find meaning and identity in an empty void.
Maybe I?
Considering the possibilities of finding oneself amidst the disconnection.
Look, there's someone there
Noticing someone nearby despite the struggles with disconnection.
You know my name, you know my name
Despite feeling lost and disconnected, there are still those who know the artist and their true identity.
Ooh alright
An expression of acceptance and acknowledgement.
Writer(s): Lidderdale Jamie Alexander, Rowland James
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidleiva5966
Fell in love instantly with this tune when I´ve heard it. I love Jamie for how he is able to take risks. It would be much easier to make a regular soul album to have success, but instead of that, he takes riks and is able to develop a unique and contemporary sound, which is the common charateristic that defines big artists. I guess it already exists, but I will call this type of music "nu funk". This tune and this record REALLY deserves to havesuch a new and unique label.
@Leoheart4eva
straight up Prince throwback....love it
@kennethdemeester4069
Super performance at AB Brussels yesterday. Had a little chat with him afterwards, Really nice guy ! Looking forward to the next performance.
@karienf
a bit of zapp, a zest of rogers, a whiff of george, cameo and da likes, a whole lotta prince before the name went astray and the symbol came to be and a truckload of ya personal funk 'n vibe! Good for you, Monsieur Lidell! I definitely like like like - straight on my playlist - zoofffff you go! Smiling and dancing in da kitchen now! kx
@Djpuzzle
it's sick love it
@skldmnfasdo
I sense some prince love in this one. Awesome.
@Chimpfinga
Album of the year
@WayneBoucaud
This is on it!!..
@karienf
ps. and the sames goes for "Blaming Something" - damn nice, Monsieur!
@Quasarx
Reminds me of Jamiroquai.