Siffre released his first six albums of songs between 1970 and 1975, and a further three albums between 1988 and 1998. During this period he had several solo hits, including "It Must Be Love" (No. 14, 1971) (later covered by and a No. 4 hit for Madness, for which Siffre himself appeared in the video); "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (No. 11, 1972); and "Watch Me" (No. 29, 1972). In 1978 two of his songs, "Solid Love" (performed by Siffre) and "We Got It Bad" (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC's A Song for Europe. His 1987 hit "(Something Inside) So Strong", which reached No. 4, was an anti-Apartheid anthem that won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically", and has since been used in Amnesty International campaigns, a television advertisement and Alice Walker's film against female genital mutilation: Warrior Marks.
In 1997, Siffre's play "DeathWrite" was staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and later televised.
His song "I Got The..." was sampled in rapper Eminem's hit single "My Name Is," Siffre, who is openly gay, said in an interview that he turned down the offer to approve the song at first until the original sexist and homophobic lyrics were removed: "Dissing the victims of bigotry – women as bitches, homosexuals as faggots – is lazy writing. Diss the bigots not their victims." Siffre eventually allowed its usage when he was sent a censored "clean" version, not realizing that he was also allowing the riffs use on the alternative "dirty" versions with the original lyrics.
In 1984 Siffre began writing poetry and has since released three books of poetry: "Blood on the Page" 1995 and "Monument" 1997. His poetry addresses a variety of themes, from theology and childhood to sociology, love, hate, language, critical thinking, and communication. In 2006, he released a new album, The Last Songs.
Cannock Chase
Labi Siffre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my arms round my guitar
And the rain falls from the roof of the world
Nothing around just the trees and the ground
There's a bird in a tree singing a song just for me, just for me
I've been down for oh so long
It seemed like my soul was dead and gone
But it's alright - I'm back in the fight
Maybe it won't but I'll have fun
And I'll hold tight 'cause that way it might
Oh I know I'll be down again with my old friend
This friendship never ends
The blues is always the same, the blues is always the same
Well I don't know just where I am
I'm a nowhere man I'm a Desperate Dan
But I'll find out - maybe if I shout
Give me your hand I'll give you my mind
It's a fair exchange if your deaf, dumb and blind
And we're sold out well that's what it's all about.
In the song "Cannock Chase" by Labi Siffre, he describes the experience of sitting in the back seat of his car, holding his guitar, with the rain falling from the roof of the world. He finds himself surrounded by only trees and the ground, the stillness interrupted only by a bird in a tree singing a song just for him. Through the lyrics, he expresses the sense of being lost and alone in the world, but also suggests that he has found solace in music. In fact, he uses his guitar and music to find his way back into the fight against his feelings of despair.
Labi Siffre's lyrics tell the story of someone who has been down for a long time, expressing the sense of soul death and the feeling of being lost in the world. Despite this, he chooses to hold tight and have fun, even though he knows he will be down again at some point. The blues, for him, is always the same, but through music, he finds hope and connection that keeps him going.
The song seems to be about isolation and the search for meaning in a world that often seems to lack it. Through Siffre's use of imagery, he creates an atmosphere of solitude and contemplation, evoking a sense of the vastness and emptiness of nature. Despite the fact that he feels lost in the world, he still seeks connection with others – and ultimately finds it through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in the back seat of my car
Labi Siffre is physically sitting in the back of a car.
With my arms round my guitar
Labi Siffre is holding his guitar in his arms.
And the rain falls from the roof of the world
The rain is falling. It feels like it's coming from the roof of the world.
Nothing around just the trees and the ground
There's nothing but trees and ground around.
There's a bird in a tree singing a song just for me, just for me
Labi Siffre is enjoying the song that the bird is singing just for him.
I've been down for oh so long
Labi Siffre has been feeling down for a long time.
It seemed like my soul was dead and gone
Labi Siffre felt like his soul was gone.
But it's alright - I'm back in the fight
Labi Siffre is back in the game, even though it may have been tough.
I thought my day would never come
Labi Siffre did not think his day would ever come.
Maybe it won't but I'll have fun
Even though his day may not come, Labi Siffre will still have a good time.
And I'll hold tight 'cause that way it might
Labi Siffre will hold on tight because it might help his chances of success.
Oh I know I'll be down again with my old friend
Labi Siffre knows that he will feel down again and be with his old friend, probably referring to the blues.
This friendship never ends
The friendship between Labi Siffre and the blues will never come to an end.
The blues is always the same, the blues is always the same
The blues always gives the same feeling.
Well I don't know just where I am
Labi Siffre is unsure of his location.
I'm a nowhere man I'm a Desperate Dan
Labi Siffre is feeling lost and desperate.
But I'll find out - maybe if I shout
Labi Siffre will try to find out where he is by shouting, which could signal someone to respond.
Give me your hand I'll give you my mind
Labi Siffre is willing to exchange minds if someone gives him their hand, meaning he wants to make a connection.
It's a fair exchange if your deaf, dumb and blind
It's still a fair exchange even if someone can't hear, speak, or see, probably referring to the idea that everyone has something to offer.
And we're sold out well that's what it's all about.
They may be sold out, but that's just a part of what their situation is like, they don't have to explain it.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Melanie
So beautiful :)
@xl0tlll
Underrated song. The most beautiful song Labi has ever released, and it’s a tough competition. I love you Labi Siffre
@BabyHuey-nz3we
Labi...a genius. Such a beautiful writer and even more beautiful as a singer.
@SW-kq3eq
Thank you HBO for this amazing gift of a song.
@klfprankster
A great track from an excellent album. If you dont know the album, do yourself a favour and give it a listen. Labi is a great talent who deserves greater recognition for his wonderful song writing and amazing vocals. Let's hope there will be new material soon.
@888MAZZI
No bullshit, amazing album I gave Labi deep dive when I figured out Kanye sampled him a few years ago
@Spree2.0
Not just Kanye we're talking about Mr. Hi my name is himself, the Goats Goat 🐐@@888MAZZI
@smoly37
Well...he's 79 by now, hoping for new material is maybe too much to ask
@klfprankster
@@smoly37 I am sure that, despite his age, he is still able to write and record new material.
@5saxman7
I will do that. Hack’s brought me hear.