Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.
She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.
Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.
The Key
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
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You tell me that you need
My loving
But when you gonna
Give me the key
To the basement
Every other lover
Got a key to the door
You say you're gonna
See me on Sunday
But when you gonna
Give me the key to your heart
All of my friends
Have walked down the aisle
Now we're miles apart
They say that love is often blind
And I'm blind I'm blind
I know I'm blind
They say that love will fool us all
And I'm fooled I'm fooled I know I'm fooled
I want the key to your heart
You tease me cos you know I need you
But how much waiting
Can one girl do for
One boy
To look at your now
Why am I waiting at all
The lyrics of the song "The Key" by Joan Armatrading, are a declaration from the singer to her lover to give her access to all of his heart or love. She expresses her love, and states that she needs access, particularly to the basement, which may symbolize deeper or hidden emotions. She highlights that all of his previous lovers had access to his heart, but she is yet to receive it. Her lover tells her that he needs her love, but she demands the key to his heart.
In the second verse, the singer refers to her friends who have found their partners and are now married. She is in love with her partner, but he is yet to commit to her. She acknowledges that love can often be blind, and in her case, she is blinded by love, as she is very much in love with him. However, she is still waiting for him to give her the access she needs, but it seems like he is teasing her with no signs of giving her what she needs.
In summary, the song is a plea from the singer for her lover to trust her with his love and to give her access to the key to his heart so she can love him more deeply. It highlights the vulnerability of someone in love and the need for trust and access to strengthen that love.
Line by Line Meaning
I want the key to your heart
The singer desires to unlock the emotional barriers of the person she loves.
You tell me that you need
The person she loves indicates that they require the singer's affection.
My loving
The singer's love and care.
But when you gonna
The artist expresses her frustration with the person she loves.
Give me the key
She desires to unlock the person's heart and know their true feelings.
To the basement
The singer desires to know the deeper, hidden parts of the person's soul.
Every other lover
The people that the person has previously been involved with.
You had before
They all received access to a greater degree of the person's emotional self.
You say you're gonna
The person she loves makes a promise to meet her.
See me on Sunday
They schedule a meeting for a particular day.
But when you gonna
The singer repeats her earlier sentiments, displaying her frustration.
Give me the key to your heart
She desires to receive the password to the person's heart to unlock the emotions completely.
All of my friends
The singer's acquaintances.
Have walked down the aisle
They have gotten married.
Now we're miles apart
The singer is separated from the person she loves despite her desire to be closer to them.
They say that love is often blind
The artist shares a common saying speaking about how people in love become blind to the faults/mistakes of people they love
And I'm blind I'm blind
She confesses that she is in love and immune to rational thinking about that person.
I know I'm blind
She seems aware that her affection for the person is clouding her judgement.
They say that love will fool us all
The singer uses another saying that implies love can have deceiving effects.
And I'm fooled I'm fooled I know I'm fooled
She confesses that she might be deceived by love and that might lead her to make mistakes in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind