(1) The hard-ro… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one band with the name Knowledge:
(1) The hard-roots reggae vocal group Knowledge, recorded the 'Hail Dread' album for Tappa Zukie in 1978. It was released by A&M UK, but inappropriately marketed. The album consequently failed to attract the attention of reggae collectors and is, today, a largely unrecognised classic of the genre.
The original line-up consisted of singer/songwriter Anthony Doyley and Michael Smith on guitar with Earl McFarlane, Michael Samuels and Delroy Fawlin on vocals.
‘Hail Dread’ was followed by ‘Judgement’. Selected tracks from both albums are available on ‘Straight Outta Trenchtown: 1975-1980’
The next decade saw the release of further recordings, although by this time several of the group had met violent ends.
(2) Knowledge were formed by Link 80 lead singer Nick Traina (The Son of Daneile Steel, who wrote a Biography about him called "His Bright light"). Before the death of Nick Traina in 1997, they recorded one demo album called 'Gift Before I Go', which was released on Asian Man Records.
(3) A Hip-Hop artist from Skelmersdale, UK, part of the Hip-Hop group Skem Poet Society
(4) An up-and-coming UK Hip-Hop artist signed to the independant label, RawTalk Recordings
Cynic
Knowledge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought this was all your fault but we just stay here in despair
Pledged, once more, forever, then you went and f*cked around
I gave you everything I have and then you let me down
Said you'd love me for all time but that wasn't long ago
Forever's still the time we need, the end's not good enough
Forgiveness is a curse (Oi, Oi, Oi)
Forgiveness is a curse...Cynics don't get hurt
I promised you my heart, you will laugh until I die
My love goes beyond all words coz they both fall from the sky
I had to turn my back on you, but you stabbed me in it first
And I'll never take you back, coz forgivness is a curse
Somethings never fix...and a broken word is one
So I'll add you to the list of trade in, no break, whores!
In the song "Cynic" by Knowledge, the lyrics reflect a painful break-up and betrayal. The first verse describes the disappointment and hurt caused by a partner who was unfaithful, and who had made promises of everlasting love. The singer gave everything to this person, but they were ultimately let down. The chorus repeats the phrase "forgiveness is a curse," emphasizing the feeling that forgiveness can be detrimental, and that it's better to be a cynic who avoids getting hurt.
The second verse continues the theme of betrayal and broken promises. The singer had promised their heart to their lover, but instead, they were betrayed and stabbed in the back. The lyric, "My love goes beyond all words coz they both fall from the sky," suggests that the love the singer gave was immeasurable and profound. However, the betrayal was too great, and the singer has decided to move on, recognizing that some things cannot be fixed. The final line adds an air of cynicism and anger, "So I'll add you to the list of trade-in, no-break, whores."
Overall, "Cynic" is a powerful song that explores the pain of betrayal and the feeling that forgiveness can be a curse. Rather than trying to move forward with forgiveness, the singer has chosen to be cynical and protect themselves from further hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw me back in tears that you have only shared
You made me cry like no other, revealing the vulnerability that we only shared between us.
I thought this was all your fault but we just stay here in despair
Initially, I blamed you completely for our situation, but now we both remain in a state of hopelessness.
Pledged, once more, forever, then you went and f*cked around
We renewed our commitment to each other, but you broke it by cheating.
I gave you everything I have and then you let me down
I gave you my all, but you disappointed me.
Said you'd love me for all time but that wasn't long ago
You promised to love me forever, but that was not too long ago for me to forget.
Forever's still the time we need, the end's not good enough
Although we have reached the end, I still believe that forever was what we needed to keep going.
Forgiveness is a curse (Oi, Oi, Oi)
Forgiveness may seem like the solution but it can have negative consequences.
Forgiveness is a curse...Cynics don't get hurt
Cynical people tend to avoid getting hurt, and forgiveness may not be part of their coping mechanism.
I promised you my heart, you will laugh until I die
I promised to love you wholeheartedly, but now you take pleasure in seeing me suffer.
My love goes beyond all words coz they both fall from the sky
My love is not just limited to words, it is immeasurable and endless like the falling sky.
I had to turn my back on you, but you stabbed me in it first
I had no choice but to leave you behind, but before I could do so, you betrayed me first.
And I'll never take you back, coz forgivness is a curse
I have decided to move on and never take you back, as forgiving you may only cause me more pain and misery.
Somethings never fix...and a broken word is one
Some things can never be repaired, and one of those is a broken promise.
So I'll add you to the list of trade in, no break, whores!
I will add you to the list of people I will forget about, just like every other person who betrayed me.
Contributed by Caleb M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.