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 â women as bitches, homosexuals as faggots â 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.
Watch Me
Labi Siffre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See me sparkle, see me flame
Singing a song, playing a game
Oh, I'm so glad you came Watch me when you look my way
See me smiling, be my night and day
Touch me in your own sweet way
Feel me tremble if you take my words away All of the time I love you
Make you a rhyme, I love you
See me falling like the snow
Come and be the things you are
I am still falling, but not quite so far
Labi Siffre's song Watch Me is a remarkable track that revolves around the theme of love and passion. The song begins with the singer inviting someone to watch him as he sparkles and flares up in flames. He compares himself to a game that can be played and a song that can be sung. He expresses his joy that the person has come to see him. The next lines of the song are an invitation to the person to look his way and see him smile. He wants the person to be his night and day and touch him in their own way. However, he also admits that he will tremble if the person takes his words away.
The bridge of the song contains the chorus in which the singer proclaims his love for the person. He says that all the time, he loves them and can make them a rhyme. The singer emphasizes the importance of this sentiment by repeating it a few times in a row. The song then proceeds to the third verse where the singer expresses his vulnerability. He implores the person to watch him when he is on his own because he is like falling snow. He wants the person to come and be the things they are so that he can stop falling so far.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch me when you call me
Please pay attention to me and my actions when you address me
See me sparkle, see me flame
Observe my shining personality, my burning passion
Singing a song, playing a game
I am singing joyfully, playing carefree
Oh, I'm so glad you came
I am happy that you are here to witness my happiness
Watch me when you look my way
Take notice of me when you gaze at me
See me smiling, be my night and day
Witness my joyous expressions, be with me always
Touch me in your own sweet way
Show me affection in your unique, loving manner
Feel me tremble if you take my words away
You have the power to affect my emotions, leaving me shaken if you silence me
All of the time I love you
I love you always
Make you a rhyme, I love you
I will create a poetic verse to express my love for you
Say it in mine
Use my poem to express your love for me
Watch me when I'm on my own
Observe me even when I am without company
See me falling like the snow
Watch me descend like snowflakes from the sky
Come and be the things you are
Join me and be your authentic self
I am still falling, but not quite so far
I am still tumbling down, but with less intensity
Writer(s): Labi Siffre
Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ProphetizeDubz
This song changed my life
@Auntchovi
BEAUTIFUL! Iconic singer-songwriter musician.
@kyotocoversjimanderson782
Just amazing. He's a real treasure.
@GreenManalishiUSA
This song reminds me of when your children are small and they call out to you every five minutes, "Watch me...watch me...singing a song, playing a game," and then how quickly they grow up and grow away and don't want anything to do with you and act as if you don't exist. Makes me well up each time. đą
@voight-kampff3611
Everything comes so gently together: lyrics, music and singer.
@derekhughes-qw7sw
My favourite singer songwriter of all time
@martindennis1704
This is magnificent.Thank you
@NickStormReview
That intro reminds me a lot of something Jeff Buckley would improv and it wouldn't surprise me if he got a lot of his influences from Labi. All great music regardless đ„°
@JordanLally-iu5sm
First thing I thought too
@guyjiminjapan9824
Brilliant!