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 ā women as bitches, homosexuals as faggots ā 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.
bless the telephone
Labi Siffre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've waited all day long
Even wrote a song for you
It's strange, the way you make me feel
With just a word or two
I'd like to do the same for you
It's nice to hear you say "hello"And "how are things with you?
I love you"
But very soon it's time to go
An office job to do
While I'm here writing songs for you
Strange
How a phone call can change your day
Take you away
Away
From the feeling of being alone
Bless the telephone
It's nice, the way you say my name
Not very fast or slow, just soft and low
The same as when you tell me how you feel
I feel the same way, too
I'm very much in love with you
I'm very much in love with you
In "Bless the Telephone," Labi Siffre expresses how a simple phone call from a loved one can make all the difference in someone's day. He talks about waiting all day just to hear the voice of his loved one and even writing a song for them. The way they make him feel with just a few words is astounding, and he wants to reciprocate the feeling.
Throughout the song, Siffre talks about the beauty of hearing his loved one's voice say hello and tell him they love him. However, the sad reality is that the call eventually comes to an end, and his loved one has to go back to work. While they spend their time at work, Siffre is writing songs for them.
Thus, the song is a beautiful ode to the telephone and how it is a medium that can bring people closer and make them feel loved in a world where loneliness often creeps in.
Line by Line Meaning
It's nice to hear your voice again
I'm glad to have the chance to hear from you today
I've waited all day long
I've been anticipating this moment all day
Even wrote a song for you
I wrote a song to express how I feel about you
It's strange, the way you make me feel
I'm amazed by the impact you have on my emotions
With just a word or two
You have the ability to brighten my day with your words
I'd like to do the same for you
It would bring me joy to make you feel the same way
It's nice to hear you say 'hello'
I cherish hearing your greeting
And 'how are things with you?
I appreciate your interest in my well-being
I love you'
It means the world to me when you tell me you love me
But very soon it's time to go
Unfortunately, our conversation must end soon
An office job to do
I have work responsibilities waiting for me
While I'm here writing songs for you
I make time to compose music as a way to express my affection for you
Strange
It's remarkable how a single phone call can have such an impact
How a phone call can change your day
A simple phone call can transform your mood or outlook on life
Take you away
Transport you to a different emotional state
Away
Provide a temporary escape from loneliness or sadness
From the feeling of being alone
Relieve the emotion of isolation that can come with being by oneself
Bless the telephone
Expressing gratitude for the phone as a means of keeping in touch with loved ones
It's nice, the way you say my name
I find great comfort in the way you speak my name
Not very fast or slow, just soft and low
The pace and tone of your voice when you say my name is gentle and calming
The same as when you tell me how you feel
You use the same gentle voice when you're expressing your emotions
I feel the same way, too
I share the same emotions as you
I'm very much in love with you
I am deeply in love with you
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Labi Siffre
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@betaniaj.rsantana8697
It's nice to hear your voice again
I've waited all day long
Even wrote a song for you
It's strange, the way you make me feel
With just a word or two
I'd like to do the same for you
It's nice to hear you say "hello"
And "how are things with you?
I love you"
But very soon it's time to go
An office job to do
While I'm here writing songs for you
Strange
How a phone call can change your day
Take you away
Away
From the feeling of being alone
Bless the telephone
It's nice, the way you say my name
Not very fast or slow, just soft and low
The same as when you tell me how you feel
I feel the same way, too
I'm very much in love with you
I'm very much in love with you
@kujasan
thank you joel.
as someone in a long distance relation ship this made me bawl.
@Emma-Maze
š
@Sarah-uv6wb
Little Joel has never betrayed me.
@TheDudeSmashTrash
happy pride, y'all <3
@Emma-Maze
Happy pride š
@Aethelhadas
Happy pride month ā¤š
@unicomplex
this is about his BOYFRIEND :)
@honeynina3170
My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago and I miss her dearly. Every saturday since I was a child she would call me and my brothers at 6pm. Every Saturday. She would never forget to call. Looking back I took it for granted because now, that hour between 6 and 7 on a Saturday that is no longer filled with her voice feels pointless. I heard this song the first time today and absolutely sobbed. Bless the telephone for letting me gain so much more time talking to my granny over the years. I'm so very lucky to have experienced a love like the one she gave me.
@lvmln7843
Aww, that's a really touching story. I'm sorry that you lost such an important person in your life and I'm in awe that you are able to dress it in such poetic words. Honestly, this comment made me tear up! Wishing you all the best :)
@brookecorry4827
My Nana passed 6 years ago, but reading your comment brought back both her love and my grief over losing her like it was just weeks ago. It is a sort of beautiful pain, only made possible by the deep and unending love we shared through the years.
Iām sorry you are now experiencing the loss of your grandmother. The loss you feel is only as big as the love you shared, which is both painful and magical. I wish you so much peace and a reliving of your many wonderful memories together as you travel along your grief journey <3