Kelly grew-up in North Wales, UK, and moved to Manchester for a couple of years before settling in London, United Kingdom where she played bass in The History of Apple Pie and worked at XL Recordings, Pure Groove and Rough Trade East. After contributing with her writing and vocal skills to Daniel Avery's 'Drone Logic', a new collaboration emerged: 'Keep walking'. Another creative collaboration was formed after remixing Jenny Hval's song 'Kingsize (Kelly Lee Owens Rework)'; Jenny features on the single 'Anxi.'.
ON
Kelly Lee Owens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can't go forward
Can't go forward
Can only love as deeply as you see itself
You don't see me, hee (you don't see me, hee)
You don't see me (you don't see me)
And so let go of the hope
Let it could, let it could be
Let it could
So this is so we must go
And now I am movin' on
Now I am movin' on
So this is so we must go (so this is so we must go)
And now I am movin' on (and now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
Now I am movin' on (now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
Right or wrong no difference
We don't move forward, we don't move forward
Can only love as deeply as you see itself
You don't see me, hee (you don't see me, hee)
You don't see me (you don't see me)
And so let go of the hope (let go)
Let it could, let it could be (let go)
Let it could, let it could be (let go)
Let it could (let go)
So this is so we must go
And now I am movin' on
Now I am movin' on
So this is so we must go (so this is so we must go)
And now I am movin' on (and now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
Now I am movin' on (now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
So this is so we must go (so this is so we must go)
And now I am movin' on (and now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
Now I am movin' on (now I am moving on)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
The lyrics of Kelly Lee Owens's song "On" seem to convey a sense of resignation and letting go, as if the singer has come to terms with the fact that they can only love another person as deeply as that person is able to see them. The opening line of "headin' hard in unison" might suggest that the singer and their partner were once on the same page, but now they cannot move forward together. The repetition of "can't go forward" underscores this feeling of stagnation or being stuck.
The lines "let it could, let it could be" and "let go of the hope" suggest that the singer is acknowledging that things might not work out with this particular person, and they need to accept that and move on. The repetition of "now I am movin' on" in the chorus drives this point home. The refrain "you don't see me" reiterates the idea that the singer feels unseen, perhaps unappreciated or taken for granted.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the difficult realization that love alone is not always enough to make a relationship work, and that sometimes we have to acknowledge when it's time to move on. The repetition of the word "let" throughout the song also suggests a sort of surrender, as if the singer is giving up control and allowing things to unfold as they will.
Line by Line Meaning
Headin' hard in unison
Moving forward with determination and unity
We can't go forward
Unable to progress or move forward
Can't go forward
No possibility of moving forward
Can only love as deeply as you see itself
One can only love others as much as they love and understand themselves
You don't see me, hee (you don't see me, hee)
Feeling invisible or unnoticed by someone
You don't see me (you don't see me)
Feeling ignored or unrecognized
And so let go of the hope
Advice to give up hope or expectations
Let it could, let it could be
Letting go and allowing things to happen naturally
Let it could, let it could be
Letting go and allowing things to happen naturally
Let it could (let go)
Further encouragement to let go and let things unfold
So this is so we must go
Acknowledgement that it's time to move on
And now I am movin' on
Taking action and moving forward
Right or wrong no difference
Indicating that it does not matter if something is right or wrong in this situation
We don't move forward, we don't move forward
Reiteration that there is no progress being made
So this is so we must go
Stating that it is necessary to move on
And now I am movin' on
Action being taken to move forward
(Haaaaaaah, aaaaaah)
Musical interlude or vocalization
Now I am movin' on (now I am moving on)
Repeating the sentiment of taking action and moving forward
Writer(s): Kelly Owens, James Greenwood
Contributed by Alexander W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yuotueb
Head and heart in unison
We can't go forward
Can't go forward
Can only love as deeply
as you see yourself
And you don't see me
You don't see me
And so
Let go of the hope
that it could
that it could be
that it could
that it could be
that it could
So
This is how it must go
And now I am moving on
Now I am moving on
So
This is how it must go
And now I am moving on
Now I am moving on
Right or wrong, no difference
We don't move forward
We don't move forward
Can only love as deeply
as you see yourself
And you don't see me
You don't see me
And so
Let go of the hope
that it could
that it could be
that it could
that it could be
that it could
So
This is how it must go
And now I am moving on
Now I am moving on
So
This is how it must go
And now I am moving on
Now I am moving on
So
This is how it must go
And now I am moving on
Now I am moving on
@tamimazizadah
I just learned about Kelly via the Depeche Mode concert announcements. Wow, so absolutely amazing. She really is a perfect opening act for DM. This song and video are stunning and so beautiful.
@tonykara
Same! Going to see DM tonight in Sacramento and wanted to become familiar with Kelly's music
@kylearmour6405
Same , she was awesome in Toronto yesterday!
@malinkulasekera69
3:54 is a truly stunning moment. That shot alongside the swell in the music gives me goosebumps everytime.
@horewood88
Alright I think I've finally worked out this beautiful video, I admit I've been a little obsessed. Listening to the Song Exploder podcast where Kelly explains the inspiration for this song, she says that it was initially triggered by the death of Keith Flint of the Prodigy and then a series of losses in her life.
This video is a representation of death and our inability to influence it. With obvious visual cues like the bloody nose and then less obvious ones like the use of a ferry, I assume in reference to the river styx in which a ferryman transports you to the afterlife in greek mythology. Perhaps even the fields they play in are a reference to heaven, i.e. fields of gold by sting.
The use of a dog reflects the lack of control you have over the situation, no matter how much you love them you can't stop them leaving, you may as well be locked in a car without opposable thumbs. A journey between two friends will always end for one of you first, and all you can do, even though you barely have a choice, is move on.
Anyway thanks for attending my ted talk. LOVE this song and film clip
@TheDubstepHater
dude the dog is the god (spell backward) welcoming those death
@GeraldodeOliveiraDesign
i must say, i got little emotional....
@francescopoliti6171
you almost made me cry
@RL10
@Francesco Politi Capo :*
@latehala9820
Nice interpretation