La Havas was born in London, England to a Greek father and Jamaican mother. She was raised in Tooting and Streatham, spending the majority of her time with her grandparents, following her parents' separation as a child. La Havas' cites her parents' diverse musical tastes as having the biggest influence on her music. She began singing at seven. Her mother played Jill Scott and Mary j. Blige, while her father, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, taught her the basics of guitar and piano. Lianne wrote her first song at the age of 11 but did not learn to play the guitar until she was 18 years old. At 18, Lianne began attending Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls in Croydon, where she studied art and planned to take her A-Levels in art foundation. However, she left college and decided to pursue a career in music full-time.
While attending sixth-form in Croydon, a friend of La Havas', (who attended the Brit School) introduced her to other musicians who assisted La Havas in the recording of her first demos. Through that same friend, La Havas was also introduced to British singer, Paloma Faith; she later sang backing vocals on tour for Faith. La Havas was co-writer and performer in 'The Paris Parade' alongside Christian Pinchbeck (who designed the artwork for Lost & Found) and also is now part of the duo Elephant (Memphis Industries). They had a short career but it began La Havas' career in commercial music. In 2010, Lianne signed to Warner Bros. Records, spending two years developing her songwriting skills before releasing music publicly.
La Havas made her television debut on October 21, 2011, broadcast of BBC Two's Later, with Jools Holland, a program that also featured Wisconsin folk band Bon Iver. Following her appearance on Later, with Jools Holland, it was announced on October 25, 2011 that La Havas would be the supporting act for Bon Iver's December 2011 North American tour.
La Havas released her debut EP, Lost & Found, on October 12, 2011 on the Labour of Love label and featured Willy Mason on the opening track, No Room For Doubt. That same month, La Havas released a live EP, titled Live in LA, which was made available for free download on her website. La Havas released her third EP titled Forget, on December 30, 2011 on the label Warner Brothers.
Her official debut single, Lost & Found was released in the UK on April 30, 2012. Her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, was released on July 9, 2012 in the UK on Warner Brothers.
Green papaya
Lianne La Havas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This place I don't know, no yellow brick road to follow
This river of doubt, help me to swim my way out
I'm greedy with love, but my hunger to give is strong enough, mmh
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Our hearts overgrown, longing for peace of our own
Found Heaven in you, promise to be pure and true
Still mountains to climb, we will survive, still got time
My partner-in-crime, hoping you'll love me 'til it dies
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me out of the blue
My face turns to gold, hoping to find my way home
This place I don't know, no yellow brick road to follow
Oh, ohh, ohh, oh
Ohh-oh, ohh-oh, oh, oh, mmh
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Take me home, let's make real love, real love (real love)
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
Ohh, take me out of the blue
The lyrics of Lianne La Havas's song "Green Papaya" speak to the longing for love, connection, and a sense of home. The opening lines, "My face turns to gold, hoping to find my way home / This place I don't know, no yellow brick road to follow," suggest that the singer is searching for a place of belonging and a path to navigate life's uncertainties. The reference to turning to gold may symbolize the desire to find something valuable and transformative in the search for home.
The chorus emphasizes the yearning for real love and intimacy, with the repetition of the line "Take me home, let's make real love." This is a plea to find a genuine connection and to create a loving bond with someone. The singer wants to be taken out of the blue, perhaps indicating a longing to be liberated from feelings of loneliness or uncertainty.
The verses allude to the partnership and commitment in a relationship. Lines like "Our hearts overgrown, longing for peace of our own / Found Heaven in you, promise to be pure and true" express a desire for a deep, authentic connection with someone who is willing to navigate the challenges together.
Overall, "Green Papaya" captures the yearning for love, the search for a sense of home and belonging, and the desire to find a genuine and lasting connection.
Line by Line Meaning
My face turns to gold, hoping to find my way home
I am hopeful, searching for a sense of belonging and purpose.
This place I don't know, no yellow brick road to follow
I find myself in unfamiliar territory without a clear path to guide me.
This river of doubt, help me to swim my way out
I am faced with uncertainty and I need support to overcome my insecurities.
I'm greedy with love, but my hunger to give is strong enough, mmh
I may have a desire for love, but my willingness to give love is even greater.
Take me home, let's make real love, real love
I long to be in a place where true love can be experienced and nurtured.
Take me out of the blue
Bring me out of the unpredictable and uncertain circumstances I find myself in.
Our hearts overgrown, longing for peace of our own
Our emotions have grown and we yearn for a sense of tranquility in our lives.
Found Heaven in you, promise to be pure and true
We have discovered a profound sense of happiness and trust in our connection.
Still mountains to climb, we will survive, still got time
Despite the challenges ahead, we believe we can conquer them and there is still time for us.
My partner-in-crime, hoping you'll love me 'til it dies
You are my ally and I hope that your love for me will last till the end.
Oh, ohh, ohh, oh
Ohh-oh, ohh-oh, oh, oh, mmh
Expressing emotions through melodic sounds.
Ohh, take me out of the blue
Once again, longing to be freed from unpredictable circumstances.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frida Touray, Lianne Charlotte Barnes, Matthew Nicholas Hales, Samuel Crowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind